The Twelfth-Fourteenth-Century Finger-Rings and Signet-Rings from Eski-Kermen

Abstract

This paper introduces into the scholarship finger-rings and signet-rings discovered on the plateau of Eski-Kermen during the excavations in recent years. The twelfth- and thirteenth-century finger- and signet-rings uncovered in the churches in quarters I and II were modest bronze ornaments of featuring décor belonging to the group of Byzantine-circle artefacts. Adult women often wore a pair or a set of three pieces of the ornaments of the kind. The fourteenth-century hand ornaments comprise only signet-rings, partially attributable to the Byzantine circle and partially to the artefacts made by Seljuk artisans. Predominant were expensive ornaments of silver or gold. The difference between the assortment of ornaments from the twelfth and thirteenth centuries and those from the fourteenth century can be explained not only by the change of fashion, but also by the different social status of those who lived in various districts of the provincial town. In the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, only the ordinary townspeople lived in quarters I and II, where only the bronze ornaments originate from. In the fourteenth century, the members of wealthy families were buried into slabbed graves located in the area in front of the basilica in the town centre, where silver and gold signet-rings were found. In the fourteenth century, signet-rings made a part of women’s and children’s attire. Young women, 18–20 and 19–25 years old, wore one signet-ring at once, on the fourth finger of the right hand; older women, 30–35 years old, decorated their left hand with a set of two signet-rings made in the same style. Young girls wore only one signet-ring on the third finger of the left hand. There were no signet-rings specially made for children: they got reshaped adults’ ornaments.