Roman Gold Wedding Ring Discovered in Bulgaria – History Blog

A Roman-era gold wedding ring was discovered in the ancient Bulgarian city of Bononia (now Vidin). It weighs 26.63 grams and dates to the second half of the 2nd century AD

The center panel of the ring is oval and contains an image of a couple, typical of the “marital fidelity rings” exchanged between newlyweds during this period. Oval plates are welded to a ring band decorated with cannulas (parallel grooves) on both sides. It was produced locally, probably in a goldsmith’s workshop in the nearby city of Ratsiaria (today’s village or Achar).

Bononia was founded in the late 1st or early 2nd century. It is believed to have originated from the military fortress of the 1st Legion of Sisipadensim. This brick fortress was built during the reign of Constantine (306-337 AD). It had a rectangular layout, with its long sides aligned with the Danube, one of the empire’s natural boundaries. The walls were very thick, over 14 feet wide at the base, and had equally massive towers at regular intervals. The tower is circular in shape with an inner diameter of 65 feet and a decagonal upper part.

This is the 11th consecutive year of excavations in Bononia, focusing on the comprehensive exploration of Tower 10, one of only two towers still visible today. On the final day of this year’s excavations, the ring was discovered in 2nd- and 3rd-century strata 20 feet below the surface.

The site is now out for the winter, but archaeologists will return next year to continue exploring ancient Bononia. The municipality plans to discover as much of Bononia as possible and open it to the public as part of the rich history of one of Bulgaria’s oldest cities.