Ancient African Elephant Ivory Rings Found in Elite Anglo-Saxon Burials
Enigmatic ivory rings found in Anglo-Saxon burials in England have been identified as originating from African elephants living about 4,000 miles away, suggesting a trading network that spanned from eastern Africa to post-Roman Europe. The rings, too large to fit a finger, were likely used to hold open cloth bags tied to the waist. The discovery sheds light on the extensive and complex trading networks of the fifth to seventh centuries and provides insight into the status and cultural practices of wealthy Anglo-Saxon women.