An extremely rare ring that is believed to have belonged to a medieval bishop is tipped to sell for £18,000 after being unearthed by a metal detectorist.
Amateur treasure hunter Mark Sell was searching in a muddy field when he made the stunning find.
The 63-year-old discovered the item of jewellery nine inches into the ground.
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The ring dates back to the late 12th or early 13th century and has been immaculately preserved over the past 800 years, with its five original gemstones still in place.
It has a large sapphire in the middle which is surrounded by emeralds and garnets.
It was found in the historic village of Shipdham, near Norwich, Norfolk,
In medieval times these rings were associated with bishops.
Walter de Grey, the Archbishop of York, was known to have had one.
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And during the 13th century, when King Henry III was on the throne, the Bishop of Ely built a manor house at Shipdham, suggesting that the ring could have belonged to him.
“I had been on the field a couple of times before but had not found anything of importance,” Mr Sell, a retired fire service worker from Swaffham, told What’s The Jam.
“I’d been detecting for a couple of hours with a friend when just before it started to go dark, I got a faint signal.
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“I dug down about nine inches to find what has to be the best item I have found so far.
“I was amazed to see a thin line of gold in the clod of mud that I had dug up and as I wiped away the mud I could see the bezel of a Medieval gold, jewelled ring.
“I could also see that the ring was complete with all of the original jewels still in place and was in pristine condition.”
Mark reported the find to the landowner and took it to show him and his family.
It was then deposited with his local Finds Liaison Officer.
Norwich Castle Museum and the British Museum helped to process the item and the British Museum has now put the ring on temporary display.
Laura Smith, of auctioneer Noonans, said: ”This form of Medieval ring with a principal cabochon stone, usually a sapphire, surrounded by smaller collet set satellite stones, garnets or rubies and emeralds, can be securely dated to the late 12th or early 13th century.
“Other similar rings include one belonging to Walter de Gray, the wealthy and powerful Archbishop of York, until his death in 1255.
“It is now on display at York Minster as well as the Bishop of Chichester’s Ring and the Whithorn Cathedral ring.”
Mr Sell’s stunning find is being auctioned by Noonans on March 26 and is estimated to fetch between £15,000 and £18,000.
The proceeds from the sale will be shared between Mr Sell and the landowner.
Mr Sell said he has no plans on how to spend his portion of the money just yet.
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