A medieval seal with a blood-red jewel found in Britain holds an ancient secret, researchers have discovered.
Metal detectors discovered a medieval seal in Gosfield, east Essex, in autumn 2024. However, a recent analysis of the seal by experts at Britain’s Portable Antiques Project revealed that the center of the 800-year-old object prominently featured 2,000-year-old Roman jewelry.
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According to the artifact’s entry in the Portable Antiquities Scheme database, the silver seal is just 1 inch (27.5 millimeters) long and the entire memorabilia weighs 0.23 ounces (6.44 grams). A loop attached to one end of the oval seal suggests that it was probably hung on a necklace rather than a signet ring.
Around the bezel is a mirrored inscription that reads “SECRETUM.RICARDI”, meaning “Richard’s Secret” or “Secret”. [seal] Richard’s” and a cross putty, a plus-shaped Christian symbol commonly used by the Knights Templar in the Middle Ages.
The center of Gosfield’s seal is carved with carnelian, a brownish-red semi-precious stone, engraved with the image of a two-horse chariot. Behind the carriage stands a driver with reins and a whip, suggesting that they are competing in an ancient circus race. The carved gemstones date from the late 1st century BC or early 1st century AD, making them at least 1,200 years older than the base material of the metal seal.
The mirror carving and intaglio chariot design will appear correctly when Richard presses it into wax as a stamp.
Mr Rogerson said Richard may have chosen the Roman jewels specifically to demonstrate his knowledge of the classical world and his ability to source things from distant places and times.
Mr Rogerson told the BBC: “It definitely would have indicated the social status of the owner, and it would have shown that he was very important, or perceived himself to be very important.”
The Gosfield Seal is made of silver and is over 300 years old, so it is considered treasure under the British Treasures Act 1996. Braintree Museum in Essex is hoping to acquire the object following a treasure hunt.
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