A Middle Bronze Age gold ring from near Falkland, Fife

This paper describes the circumstances of discovery, form, technology and archaeological significance of a broken gold ring found near Falkland, Fife in 2007. Originally penannular, the ring is composed of seven separate strands of circular-sectioned gold wire which have each been joined along their length to create a ribbed band. Analysis by SEM-EDX suggests that the wire has been made by hammering wire with a quadrangular cross-section into a more rounded shape, and that the individual strands have been joined by using a brazing alloy or hard solder. Although only the second example found from Scotland, the ring is related to a class of composite gold rings of Middle to Late Bronze Age date known form the British Isles, Ireland and France.