Bronze Age golden ring unearthed in Furness

The find, believed to have been made by a local man within the past six months, was declared as treasure at an inquest on Friday.

Mr Ian Smith, coroner for South and East Cumbria, acted on advice from the British Museum.

Having studied the ring, museum experts reported it was made of rolled-up gold sheet and dated back to between 1300BC and 1100BC.

Mr Smith said: “In their view, because of it’s precious metal content, and its age, it amounts to treasure. I accept that view.”

The coroner could not say where in Furness the ring was found, as it could lead to copy-cat treasure-hunters scouring the spot.

The find will now go before the British Museum’s valuation committee, before a new home is found for it.

Because the ring is treasure, museums will be given the first option of expressing an interest in it, rather than it going to open auction.

Sabine Skae, collections and exhibitions manager at Barrow’s Dock Museum, said this was great news, as otherwise the museum could be priced out of the running...

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