Metal detectorist uncovers century-old engagement ring with mysterious inscription

A Norwegian man using a metal detector has discovered a gold ring buried for over a century, inscribed with the name “Julie” and the date 14 October 1917, Dagbladet reports.

Kenny Hansen, 53, made the find on farmland in Løten municipality while searching with a friend. Initially mistaking the signal for an old ploughshare, he later unearthed the ring just metres away. “When I saw what it was, I thought: wow!” Hansen told the newspaper.

The ring bears a hand-engraved inscription reading “Julie 14 – 10 – 1917”. Hansen believes the date marks an engagement rather than a wedding, as was common practice at the time. “It would have been normal back then to engrave the engagement date on the ring,” he explained.

Local records suggest a possible link to the Bolstad family, who previously owned the farm. A Julie Bolstad married landowner Petter Bolstad in 1918, with their eldest son born in 1919. “Since the previous owners were named Bolstad, we might be on the right track,” Hansen said, though he stressed other possibilities remain open.

The discovery has sparked widespread interest online, with researchers already tracing potential connections to the Stange and Fredrikstad areas. Hansen has shared images of the ring on social media, writing: “You think about this poor man who lost the ring. Unfortunately, he never saw it again. But I hope he and Julie still had a good life with many children and grandchildren.”

He now hopes to locate descendants of the couple. “It would be incredible to find today’s generation and return the ring to them,” Hansen said. “Maybe someone out there even has a wedding photo showing the ring on the groom’s finger—that would complete the story.”

Norwegian law requires valuable finds to be reported to county archaeologists, while other items must be returned to landowners. Hansen, who has used metal detectors for 16 years, emphasised his commitment to preserving local history: “I could have kept the ring, but I think it’s more important that these stories come to light.”