A FRAGMENT of a silver arm band could have once been worn by a Viking settler has been declared treasure by the Pembrokeshire coroner.

The silver fragment is approximately 20mm in length and is believed to be part of a circular band which would have been worn as jewellery around the upper arm.

The piece of silver was found by Ken Lunn of Pembroke on May 10, 2017 while he was searching a field he often visits with a metal detector.

On Thursday, January 31, the coroner for Pembrokeshire Mark Layton officially declared the arm ring fragment as treasure.

Reading from a report by Dr Mark Redknapp, Head of Collections and Research into History and Archaeology at the National Museum of Wales, the coroner said the arm ring was likely to be of Hiberno-Viking origin, with links to medieval Norse settlers in Ireland.

“This is a rare example of Viking age jewellery found in south Wales from the late 9th or early 10th century.

“Two previous Viking items have been found in this field,” he added as further context.

The report added arm ring finds in other parts of the UK had led to larger Viking treasures being discovered.

Ken Lunn, 71, the metal detectorists who found the piece, said arm rings were found in fragments because the hack silver which they were made from was often cut into pieces and traded as currency in the later Viking age.

FROM THE ARCHIVE: When the same treasure hunter found a medieval pendant.

Mr Lunn said it was important the location of the field where he found the arm ring fragment remained secret, to prevent heritage crime.

“It is a farm we have been searching – myself and a friend – for 30 years or so.

“You search in places you hope you are going to find something, not every knowing there is something there,” he said.

Mr Lunn has previously attended four other treasure inquests, having found Roman artefacts, a medieval reliquary pendant now on display in the National Museum, an 18th century memorial ring and another Viking arm ring fragment.