Escrick sapphire ring's mystery history sparks meeting

University of York

Leading experts gathered in York last month to try and solve the mysteries of a unique sapphire ring found near the city.

The ring, which is the second earliest example of the use of sapphire ever found in the country, has baffled archaeology experts because nothing has ever been found like it before. Its intricate design was made by a highly skilled craftsman for an extremely wealthy and powerful person.

But its style and material makes it hard to date – meaning it can’t be placed in any historical context which would give clues to its origins or possible owners.

Experts came together in York on January 25 in a bid to try and solve some of the ring’s mysteries at an event organised by the University of York and the Yorkshire Museum, where the ring is on public display.

Funds needed to keep 17th century ring on display in Middlewich

A FUNDRAISING mission has been launched to keep a relic from Middlewich’s history in the town. Kerry Fletcher, Middlewich Town Council’s heritage officer, is asking for the support of Guardian readers so that a rare 17th century ring can be put on permanent display. The gold ‘mourning’ ring has an inscription on it which says ‘Death is the waye to life’ and was classified as treasure at an inquest in Crewe.

It matched two rings in the British Museum with the makers’ mark ‘TS’, dated 1658 and 1669.

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The Search For King Richard III - The Archaeological Dig

Metal detectors turn up bronze age treasures

CREWE and Nantwich Metal Detecting Society (CNMDS) led searches that have discovered a treasure trove of medieval artefacts on Cheshire Wildlife Trust land.

The society found a bronze age ‘Palstave’ axe, thought to date from the early-middle Bronze Age of 1500-1400 BC, at Bickley Hall Farm, south of Nantwich.

Another dig at Gowy Meadows in Ellesmere Port unearthed an array of medieval coins and artefacts, some stretching back almost 800 years to the 13th century.

Medieval sword hangers, a Middle Eastern ‘silver snake’, clothing buckles, musket balls and dozens of coins were among finds located by around 150 enthusiasts across the two sites.

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Official Press Release: Richard III remains found

The University of Leicester today confirms (Monday, Feb 4) that it has discovered the remains of King Richard III.

Issued by University of Leicester Press Office on 4 February 2013

Image courtest of Leicester University

• Wealth of evidence, including radiocarbon dating, radiological evidence, DNA and bone analysis and archaeological results, confirms identity of last Plantagenet king who died over 500 years ago

• DNA from skeleton matches TWO of Richard III’s maternal line relatives.  Leicester genealogist verifies living relatives of Richard III’s family

• Individual likely to have been killed by one of two fatal injuries to the skull – one possibly from a sword and one possibly from a halberd

• 10 wounds discovered on skeleton - Richard III killed by trauma to the back of the head.  Part of the skull sliced off

• Radiocarbon dating reveals individual had a high protein diet – including significant amounts of seafood – meaning he was likely to be of high status

• Radiocarbon dating reveals individual died in the second half of the 15th or in the early 16th century – consistent with Richard’s death in 1485

• Skeleton reveals severe scoliosis – onset believed to have occurred at the time of puberty

• Although around 5 feet 8 inches tall (1.72m), condition meant King Richard III would have stood significantly  shorter and his right shoulder may have been higher than the left

• Feet were truncated at an unknown point in the past, but a significant time after the burial

• Corpse was subjected to ‘humiliation injuries’ –including a sword through the right buttock

• Individual had unusually slender, almost feminine, build for a man – in keeping with contemporaneous accounts

• No evidence for ‘withered arm’ –as portrayed by Shakespeare – found

• Possibility that the individual’s hands were tied

• Grave was hastily dug, was not big enough and there was no shroud or coffin