BURIED treasure is all around us in Herefordshire, with some incredible items found over the years.
Here, for a list with a festive twist, we have taken a look at five gold rings dug up by lucky finders in Herefordshire.
All of these finds have been reported by the finder, with some declared treasure.
This slightly distorted gold finger-ring with external black-letter inscription, dating to the 15th-century, was found near Ross-on-Wye.
The Portable Antiquities Scheme said the ring's flat broad band is engraved with "highly accomplished floral forms" of lilies and leaves.
The ring bears the inscription "en bon an". The PAS said French phrases and mottoes were associated with gifts and expressions of love in 15th-century England.
Found by a metal detectorist, this distorted posy ring dates back to to around 1600-1700.
It features an alternating pattern of chevrons and love-hears, while tooling suggests the ring might once have been enamelled, according to the PAS.
The internal band is inscribed in an italic script with "Thy virtue is thy honor".
Dating back to 1200-1500, this medieval gold finger ring was found in the Weobley area by a metal detectorist.
It features a polished rectangular blue gemstone within it, with analysis by the British Museum identifying it as a corundum gemstone, likely sapphire.
The ring is decorated with chevrons around the band and punched annulets between them.
Discovered in Stretton Grandison, this gold finger ring dates back to the 1740s and features an inscription reading “God for me apointed thee” and the makers mark SLR in gothic script to left of inscription.
The inscription suggests the ring was a posy ring, exchanged as lover's gift, the PAS said.
This incomplete medieval, gold gem-set finger ring was discovered by a metal detectorist in Munsley.
It has a large hollow rectangular bezel with an oval aperture and a purple stone set within. Flanking the bezel are small flanges with a ridged line pattern. In the centre of the shoulders is an oval mount for a stone, one is missing but the other still retains a hemispherical green stone, the PAS said.
Similar examples with rectangular bezels are generally dated to the 13th-14th century, the PAS said.
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