Description

Summary: 1 jet belt ring with two grooves and three v-perforated holes around the edge, locality unknown, excavated by William Cunnington. Attributed to The Grove, Tring, Hertfordshire, by Woodward & Hunter.

Research results

A Bronze Age jet belt ring excavated by William Cunnington in the 19th century, from the Grove, in Tring, Hertfordshire. Similar belt rings are commonly found with Beaker period graves and spread from the continent, elaborate black examples, initially of shale, appear to be an indigenous development of the wessex region and were prized posessions. Like many such rings, this ring is worn and broken but appears to have continued in use even after its initial break, suggesting it had a long use life.

This object was examined as part of the research published in Ritual in Early Bronze Age Grave Goods; a six-year research project carried out by Professor John Hunter and Dr Anne Woodward and funded by the Leverhulme Trust. Aided by a large number of other specialists the pair undertood an exhuastive study examining over 1000 objects held in 13 museums across the country in order to provide an extensive overview of burial practices in the period and identify regional practices.