Archaeologists from the French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP) discovered a 1,800-year-old gold ring carved with the image of Venus Victrix near the town of Pacé in Brittany, France, in what they describe as "an exceptional state of preservation," according to Live Science.
The ring dates to the second or third century CE, during the Roman Empire's rule over the region. It features a finely chiseled mount and an intaglio crafted from Nicolo, a type of onyx with a bluish surface over a black base. The gemstone is engraved with an image of Venus Victrix, symbolizing beauty and strength. Such jewelry often served as both personal adornments and seals for Roman elites, signifying status and carrying spiritual significance.
The discovery was made along a stretch of a Roman-origin road constructed between the 2nd and 4th centuries CE, which is still visible today with wheel ruts indicating its extensive use in antiquity. The road is notable for its structure, consisting of a layer of quartz gravel covering the natural ground, with lateral ditches lining its course. It likely facilitated the transport of people and goods between nearby settlements, connecting different areas of the Empire. The Roman infrastructure linked rural communities with urban centers, aiding trade and travel.
It is unknown to whom the ring belonged or how it ended up on the Roman road.
Adjacent to the Roman road, archaeologists uncovered the remains of a medieval hamlet dating from the 5th to the 10th centuries. The village prospered during the Carolingian era, which encompassed most of modern France and neighboring parts of Western Europe. The medieval settlement featured quadrangular plots connected by pathways. Buildings in the hamlet were constructed using simple materials such as earth, wood, plaster, and adobe, with roofs made of plant-based materials.
Archaeologists identified the remains of houses, agricultural fields, pastures, and underground silos used for food storage in the hamlet. Pottery, cooking utensils, and millstones were found, revealing the continuity and cultural transformations over the centuries in Brittany. These findings offer insights into patterns of settlement, agricultural practices, and technological developments over millennia.
A remarkable discovery was a cache of twelve Carolingian silver coins from the 9th or 10th century, found deposited together in a surrounding area, according to O Globo. The deposition of the coins suggests a possible burial ritual or a voluntary deposit, potentially related to the abandonment of the hamlet during the Viking Age.
The village appears to have been abandoned in the 10th century, likely due to strong instability caused by Viking raids.
In the northern sector of the site, pottery fragments from the Late Bronze Age were discovered in pits. Terracotta molds used to make bronze were also found, which were probably used to make swords and other weapons, suggesting an unidentified workshop. Additionally, two tiny enclosures were uncovered in another location, one of which may have been an Early Iron Age funerary circle.
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq