Skywizard
22nd August 2013, 18:46
Bulgarian archaeologists have unearthed a medieval bronze ring that might have been used for political murders some 700 years ago, local authorities have announced.
Found at the site of a former medieval fortress in Cape Kaliakra, not far from the Black Sea coastal town of Kavarna in northeast Bulgaria, the finely crafted ring was probably worn by a male on the little finger of the right hand.
Intriguingly, it features a round, hollow cartridge decorated with granulation and an artificial hole.
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“The cartridge was adapted into the ring for the poison to be poured into a glass quite seamlessly,” the Kavarna municipality said in a statement.
Dated to the 14th century, the poison ring adds to more than 30 gold rings, earrings with pearls and other jewels found at the site since 2011.
But according to Bonnie Petrunova, head of the dig and deputy director of the National Archaeology Institute and Museum in Sofia, that piece of jewelry has no comparison in the whole of Bulgaria.
“It’s a unique ring,” Petrunova said. “I have no doubts that the hole is there on purpose and the ring was worn on the right hand, because the hole was made in such a way so as to be covered by a finger, thus the poison could be dropped at a moment’s notice.”
“Clearly, it was not worn constantly and would have been put on when necessary,” he added.
Source: http://news.discovery.com/history/archaeology/medieval-poison-ring-used-for-political-murders-found-bulgaria-130821.htm
peace...
skywizard
Found at the site of a former medieval fortress in Cape Kaliakra, not far from the Black Sea coastal town of Kavarna in northeast Bulgaria, the finely crafted ring was probably worn by a male on the little finger of the right hand.
Intriguingly, it features a round, hollow cartridge decorated with granulation and an artificial hole.
22502
“The cartridge was adapted into the ring for the poison to be poured into a glass quite seamlessly,” the Kavarna municipality said in a statement.
Dated to the 14th century, the poison ring adds to more than 30 gold rings, earrings with pearls and other jewels found at the site since 2011.
But according to Bonnie Petrunova, head of the dig and deputy director of the National Archaeology Institute and Museum in Sofia, that piece of jewelry has no comparison in the whole of Bulgaria.
“It’s a unique ring,” Petrunova said. “I have no doubts that the hole is there on purpose and the ring was worn on the right hand, because the hole was made in such a way so as to be covered by a finger, thus the poison could be dropped at a moment’s notice.”
“Clearly, it was not worn constantly and would have been put on when necessary,” he added.
Source: http://news.discovery.com/history/archaeology/medieval-poison-ring-used-for-political-murders-found-bulgaria-130821.htm
peace...
skywizard