Archaeologists in Pacé, Brittany, have uncovered a remarkable 1,800-year-old gold ring depicting Venus Victrix, the Roman goddess of victory. The discovery, announced by the French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP), was part of an extensive excavation that uncovered artifacts and settlements spanning the Late Bronze Age to the medieval period.
The gold ring, dating to the 2nd or 3rd century CE, 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 bears an intricately carved image of Venus Victrix, embodying strength and beauty. Such jewelry often served as both personal adornments and seals for Roman elites, signifying status and carrying spiritual significance.
The ring was discovered along a Roman road constructed between the 2nd and 4th centuries CE. This well-preserved road, built with quartz gravel over natural ground and bordered by ditches, features visible wheel ruts, indicating heavy usage. Roads like this were critical for trade and connecting rural settlements with urban centers. According to INRAP, the road likely served a nearby Roman-era settlement, active during this period.
Adjacent to the Roman road, archaeologists identified remnants of a medieval hamlet dating from the 5th to 10th centuries. This settlement, structured with quadrangular plots connected by pathways, included houses, pastures, cultivation areas, and silos for grain storage. Many structures, built with wood, earth, and plant-based roofing materials, reveal insights into medieval building techniques.
A particularly striking find was a cache of a dozen silver coins from the Carolingian period, dating to the 9th or 10th century. These coins were uncovered in an exceptional state of preservation, possibly deposited during the Viking Age when the Carolingian Empire was under pressure from Viking raids. While the settlement was abandoned by the 10th century, it remains unclear if Viking activity directly caused this.
The site also yielded evidence of occupation from earlier periods. In the northern sector, pits containing Late Bronze Age pottery fragments and terracotta molds used for bronze production were discovered. These molds, likely used for crafting weapons like swords, hint at a workshop that remains undiscovered. In another area, two small enclosures, one possibly a funerary circle from the Early Iron Age, were unearthed.
This excavation has provided valuable insights into settlement patterns, agricultural practices, and technological advancements over millennia, revealing how the region evolved from a Bronze Age settlement to a medieval hamlet, and eventually into an area focused on agriculture by the Late Middle Ages.
More information: Inrap
