​The Oxfordshire Roman Scored Signet Ring

​Period: 2nd – 3rd Century AD (High Roman Britain)

​Original Material: Copper Alloy (Bronze)

​Find Location: Oxfordshire, UK

Style: Tapering band with incised linear “scoring”

Significance of the Design:

• The defining feature of this ring is the rhythmic, incised scoring across the central bezel. In the Roman world, these deep, parallel lines were more than mere decoration; they were designed to create a play of light and shadow, mimicking the appearance of more expensive “knotted” or “twisted” gold wire rings favoured by the Roman elite.

  ​The tapering shoulders and the wide, flat face are characteristic of a style known as the “Henig Type II” ring, which was widely popular among the military and administrative classes in Britain. Found in Oxfordshire – a region that sat at the crossroads of major Roman roads and villa estates – this ring was likely a personal “trinket” worn by a citizen or soldier. The geometric scoring provided a tactile grip and a rugged beauty, making it a functional piece of jewellery intended to survive the demands of daily life on a Roman estate.

The Find: 

Discovered by a metal detectorist in Oxfordshire, the original artifact shows a beautiful, deep-brown patina that has preserved the sharp edges of the original scored lines. The slight wear on the “peaks” of the scoring tells a story of long-term use, where the metal was gradually softened by decades of contact with the owner’s clothing and tools.