A “remarkable” Pictish ring with an intricate setting has been discovered at Burghead Fort by a volunteer during a dig led by the University of Aberdeen.
The kite-shaped ring with a garnet or red glass centre had remained undiscovered for over a thousand years and was found in an area that was previously believed to have been “archaeologically vandalized” due to the construction of a new town.
The historical significance of the Pictish site in Burghead was thought to be lost when the town was built in the 1800s. Much of the fort was covered over and the remaining stones were dismantled for construction.
Among the families encouraged to relocate to the new town to support the fishing industry were the ancestors of John Ralph. John, a former engineer and graduate of the University of Aberdeen, has had a 50-year association with his alma mater. After retiring, he signed up as a volunteer for the Burghead digs. He came across a social media post by the University’s Professor of Archaeology, Gordon Noble, and decided to join the excavation work, which has been funded by Historical Environment Scotland over the last three years.
This work has shed new light on the importance of the site and has enabled the development of 3-D reconstructions of how it might once have looked. This was John’s third dig at the site, and although he considers himself an ‘enthusiastic amateur’, he often thought he had discovered something, only to be told by the experts that he had a knack for finding ‘shiny pebbles’.
On the final day of the excavation, John discovered an object that appeared intriguing, he did not harbour high expectations. It was only after he presented it to a fellow volunteer, whose eyes brightened with excitement, that he understood he might possess something of significance.
Professor Noble says that what he was presented with was ‘truly remarkable’. “John was digging and then came over and said ‘look what I’ve found’. What he handed over was incredible,” he added.
“Even before the conservation work we could see it was something really exciting as despite more than a thousand years in the ground we could see glints of the possible garnet setting.”
“There are very few Pictish rings which have ever been discovered and those we do know about usually come from hoards which were placed in the ground deliberately for safekeeping in some way. We certainly weren’t expecting to find something like this lying around the floor of what was once a house but that had appeared of low significance so, in typical fashion, we had left work on it until the final day of the dig.”
The ring is currently with the National Museum of Scotland’s Post-excavation Service for analysis and John, who grew up in Burghead, is delighted to have added his own piece to the puzzle in understanding the region’s Pictish past.
“It is a real thrill to dig up an artefact in the knowledge that you are probably the first person to see it for 1000-1500 years,” he said.
“It becomes a real guessing game of who owned it, what did they use it for and how was it lost.”
Professor Noble and his team will use the ring and other evidence uncovered on the dig to start to answer those questions.
Professor Noble added: “We will now look at the ring, evidence of buildings and other artefacts to consider whether the ring was crafted on the site and who such an important piece of jewellery might have been made for.”
“We have some other evidence of metalworking and the number of buildings we have uncovered is quite striking. This further indicator of the high-status production of metalwork adds to the growing evidence that Burghead was a really significant seat of power in the Pictish period.”
Susan O’Connor, Head of Grants at Historic Environment Scotland, said: “Given Scotland’s remarkably rich history, it shouldn’t be surprising that that we are still uncovering important pieces of Scotland’s past, even where we least expect it. We are proud to have funded and supported the excavation work conducted by the University of Aberdeen, and are delighted that volunteer John Ralph played such a pivotal role in bringing it to light – literally!”
“Whilst the materials used themselves are not particularly valuable in today’s monetary sense, this find is hugely significant for what it tells us about Pictish lives and society. We’re excited to find out more once our colleagues in the National Museum have finished their investigations.”
The public will have the opportunity to learn more about this discovery and the ongoing work at Burghead. An open day will be held at the fort on Sunday, 8 September, from 10 am to 4 pm. Visitors can speak with archaeologists, view Pictish stone carvings, see a weapons display, and observe traditional leatherworking skills.
