Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. This is a lovely plaited Viking Ring which was excavated during the 1800’s in York, England. York is well-known as the “Viking Capital of England”, being known as the Kingdom of Jórvík from 865-954, and Earldom from 954-1066. This was likely the period during which the ring was made and subsequently lost, being found by diggers in the 1800s.

York was first recorded by Ptolemy around the year 150 as Eborakon. Under the Romans it became the provincial capital and bishopric of Eburacum. The Roman settlement was regularly planned, well defended and contained a stone legionary fortress. The Romans withdrew around 407 and the Anglo-Saxons occupied the settlement from the early 7th century. Post-Roman York was in the kingdom of Deira; it was taken over in 655 by its northern neighbour Bernicia to form the kingdom of Northumbria. The Anglo-Saxon king Edwin of Northumbria was baptized there in 627 and the first Anglo-Saxon archbishop Ecgbert of York consecrated in 780. The settlement became the Anglo-Saxon trading port of Eoforwic.

The Vikings had been raiding the coasts of England from the late 8th century, but in 865 a Viking army landed with the intention of conquering rather than just raiding. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle described the army as the "mycel heathen here" (Great Heathen Army). They landed in East Anglia where the locals, under Edmund of East Anglia, "made peace"[d] with them in return for horses.

The army, led by Ivar the Boneless and his brother Halfdan Ragnarsson, made its way north to Northumbria where the Anglo-Saxons were embroiled in a civil war. In 862 the ruler of Northumbria, Osberht, had been deposed by Ælla of Northumbria. Ivar the Boneless was able to capitalize on the Anglo-Saxons disarray and captured York in 866/ 867.

The ring is plaited, meaning that it is made up of three of more interlaced strands. It measures 1” in diameter and is roughly a size 11. The ring is non-magnetic, meaning it is likely made of an alloy. There are some rust spots, but this is not from the ring itself.

This is a very interesting piece which could absolutely still be worn today! In fantastic shape for being over 1000 years old! Comes ready for further research and display.