According to NRK, Jan-Andre Fredriksen, who has been searching for historical objects as a hobby for over 25 years, found the ring with a metal detector about 10 centimetres deep. Fredriksen stated that a finder's fee is not his motivation. He also expressed his belief that the ring belonged to a priest or someone from the upper class, as gold was reserved for the wealthy at that time.
Alf Hammervold, an expert on medieval finger rings, described the find as unique. "Gold rings are the rarest we find. Usually they are of more common materials like silver or bronze," he said.
I was shocked! This is probably the first intact gold ring anyone has found from the Middle Ages in Southern Norway.
According to Hammervold, the ring features a deep red gemstone, probably an almandine garnet. Hammervold noted that many rings from the period are without stones. He suggested the ring may have been lost, used as an amulet, or ground into medicine.
According to NRK, it is not known how much the ring is worth. Archaeologist Joakim Wintervoll shares Fredriksen's hypothesis that the ring came from a grave, but according to NRK, Wintervoll noted that burial with such items was uncommon at the time, adding that the ring's history may never be fully known. Under Norwegian law, objects from before 1537 found in the ground are state property, as stipulated by the Cultural Heritage Act.
I first thought it was a cork or a piece of chocolate paper. I was shaking when I saw it and realized what it was.
According to NRK, the site, known as 'kapelljordet' (chapel field), has a historical tradition of a medieval church and likely a churchyard. The ring is currently in the possession of archaeologist Joakim Wintervoll at Agder county municipality, NRK reports. It is unclear whether Fredriksen will receive a finder's fee.
The ring was maybe ten centimeters down in the ground.
Gold was only for the wealthy in the Middle Ages. Therefore I think the ring belonged to a priest or another person from the upper class.
Much indicates that the ring has lain undisturbed in the ground all these years, before it was now churned up.
At that time one should not be buried with such things. But we will probably never know the ring's history.