THREE Pembrokeshire gold and silver rings, dating from the fifteen to the eighteenth century, were declared as treasures last Thursday, August 27, by HM Coroner Mark Layton.

A fifteenth - or early sixteenth - century silver signet ring was found on March 11, 2014 at Haverfordwest by Alun John Rees while metal detecting.

One shoulder is engraved with a tau cross, associated with St Anthony, and Mayo’s tau cross may have represented a continuing connection with Antonine hospitals, which devoted themselves mostly to the treatment of the disease known as St Anthony’s fire.

A late fifteenth century silver gilt religious ring, engraved with the words ihs ave maria, was found at Carew on October 12, 2013 by Phil Jenkins.

A post-medieval gold mourning ring with a stylised skull was found by Mr K Lunn on November 28, 2013, while metal detecting at Hundleton.

The inner face of the hoop is inscribed with the text A. E. obijt 30 Jan’ 17034, in italic script (A. E. died 30th January 1703/4).

In a similar find, another gold mourning ring, again bearing a skull, found in May 2013 at Kidwelly by detectorist Derek Raven, was also declared treasure.

Head of Collections & Research in the Department of History & Archaeology, National Museum Cardiff Dr Mark Redknap said: “The late medieval silver signet ring with tau cross corresponds in date with that of other rings bearing this symbol, coinciding with the popularity of the Antonines in England and Wales from the mid-fifteenth century to the early sixteenth century.

“The late fifteenth-century ring from Carew is a fine example of personal devotion on a finger ring.

“The skull/death’s head on the Hundleton and Kidwelly rings is a motif which occurs on the earliest mourning rings, dating to the fifteenth century, and the motif remained popular thought the seventeenth century.”