Dozens of Anglo-Saxon burials in England contain “ivory rings” that have perplexed archaeologists for quite some time. They were not sure where the rings originated or what animal they were from.
But scientific research conducted in 2023 has revealed that the rings likely came from African elephants that lived about 4,000 miles away from where the burials are located.
The finding indicates that the objects traveled from eastern Africa and across Europe to England through a trading network.
“It’s a really long way,” said Hugh Willmott, a co-author of the study and an archaeologist at the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom.
“It’s crossing the Mediterranean world, and then the Alps, and then probably going via the Rhineland…so it’s crossing multiple cultures.”
The research team analyzed one of the seven rings that were found in graves at an early Anglo-Saxon cemetery, dating back between the late fifth and early sixth centuries A.D. The cemetery is near the village of Scremby, which is located about 65 miles east of Sheffield.
After examining the ivory’s collagen protein, they discovered that the ring was created from the tusk of an African elephant. Radiocarbon analysis showed that the elephant lived around the 5th century A.D.
For over 200 years, archaeologists have been unable to puzzle out the purpose of the ivory rings. Hundreds of them have been found at Anglo-Saxon burial sites in England. Only a few have been found in other parts of northwestern Europe.
The rings are between four and six inches in diameter. Another interesting observation about the rings was that they were only present in the graves of wealthy women, suggesting that they had a special societal status.
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They were too large to fit on a finger, so it was thought that they were worn on the upper arm. But now, archaeologists believe the rings were tied around the waist and held small bags. The bags carried whatever objects the women needed to have with them.
“We often find [the bags] contained objects, and they tend to be quite random,” said Willmott. “Broken copper, Roman coins, things like that.”
The researchers also measured the ratio of strontium isotopes within the ivory. The isotopes reveal the geology of a region. They showed that the elephant grew up in an area with young volcanic rocks, most likely the Rift Valley region of East Africa.
Since little evidence of ivory workings has been identified in Anglo-Saxon England, the ivory rings were probably crafted in Africa, particularly in Aksum, which was a center for ivory production at the time. From there, they were traded until they arrived in England.
The ivory rings were popular among Anglo-Saxons for at least 100 years. Their use appeared to have ended in the 7th century, possibly because the established trade route was interrupted.
Overall, the study confirmed that the elephant ivory rings were imported from Africa. They also supported the growing body of evidence that trading networks from the 5th to 7th centuries were more extensive than previously assumed.
The findings were published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.
By Emily Chan
Emily Chan is a writer who covers lifestyle and news content. She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in... More about Emily Chan
