'Rare' gold ring found in Alresford declared treasure (From Romsey Advertiser)
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'Rare' gold ring found in Alresford declared treasure
8:50am Tuesday 17th April 2012 in Winchester
The gold ring was found at an Alresford farm last November
ANOTHER “extremely rare” gold ring found near Winchester has been declared treasure.
The ring, originally from the Bronze Age, was found at Barton House Farm, Alresford, by metal detector enthusiast Ian Laws in November.
Mr Laws, from Surrey, had been at the farm with his detector club when he discovered the ring, which dates back to 1150-750BC.
It comes a few weeks after another Bronze Age gold ring was confirmed as treasure after being discovered near Winchester in 2010.
After the first ring was found, Winchester Museums Service finds liaison officer Rob Webley said it was “extremely rare” to find either gold items or objects from the Bronze Age.
Graham Lailey, who owns Barton House Farm and permitted the club to search his fields, said he thought it was the first find made on his land.
He said: “I do not think anything previously has been found there at all.”
The ring was declared treasure by Central Hampshire Coroner Grahame Short at an inquest on Wednesday, April 4.
Mr Webley said it will now be valued by the British Museum and the Winchester service was interested in buying it.
