Discovery of a 'noteworthy' piece of jewelry during an archaeological excavation in Scotland.

After 30 days of searching at Burghead fort in Scotland, a volunteer discovered a Pictish ring, marking the first find after weeks of digging with no success.

"Ralph, who had been digging for more than 30 days without finding much of interest, finally discovered something that left him feeling a mix of relief, disbelief, and happiness. He shared his experience with Planet Chronicle Digital in an email."

Ralph felt lucky and privileged after discovering something important.

An ancient Pictish ring, untouched for over a thousand years, was discovered by Ralph at the site, according to a Sept. 4 news release from the University of Aberdeen. The ring resembles a kite with a red detail at its center.

The Picts were an ancient civilization that inhabited eastern and northeastern Scotland, as per Britannica. However, their history remains largely unknown due to the limited evidence left behind, according to the University of Aberdeen.

Over the past three years, Professor Gordon Noble has led excavations at Burghead. Ralph, a former engineer and University of Aberdeen graduate, joined the team as a volunteer after seeing a Facebook post about assisting with the digs.

"Ralph, who recently retired and emerged from COVID, was seeking an engaging activity to pursue. He stumbled upon a Facebook post seeking volunteers for a dig at Burghead, a town he grew up in and where his sister resides. Intrigued, he thought, "Why not?" and decided to participate."

The news release stated that Noble deemed Ralph's discovery "truly remarkable."

"Noble stated in the press release that only a few Pictish rings have been discovered, and they are usually found in hoards that were intentionally buried for safekeeping. The discovery of a Pictish ring in a house that had been of low significance was unexpected, and work on it was left until the final day of the dig."

The National Museum of Scotland's Post-excavation Service now has custody of the ring, and research is being conducted to uncover more information about the ancient artifact.

Noble stated in the press release that we will examine the ring as evidence of buildings and artifacts to determine if it was created on the site and who might have made such an important piece of jewelry.

Ralph has gained valuable knowledge from his experience volunteering at archaeological excavations, including the demanding physical labor involved in unearthing discoveries, which is not always as simple as it appears.

"Archaeologists may appear to be working easily while troweling the ground, but the task can be physically demanding and requires vigilance for changes in ground patterns, features, and artifacts, according to Ralph, who spoke to Planet Chronicle Digital."