Gold ring with a garnet

A ring was found whilst conducting archaeological investigation work in the territory of the Vilnius Lower Castle Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania. The gold item of jewellery is inlaid with a reddish yellow oval-shaped garnet that is held in place by four small teeth (only three have survived). Judging by the dendrochronological research of the cultural layer, the ring can be dated to the late 14th–early 15th centuries, making it the oldest inlaid ring to have been found in the territory of the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania from this time. Historic sources tell us that Lithuania's rulers and their wives liked and had numerous varied rings and other types of jewellery decorated with gemstones and pearls.