TWO Romano British silver rings laid undiscovered for centuries have been unearthed at Eshton, near Gargrave, and declared "treasure" by a coroner.

A mediaeval silver brooch, with its pin still intact found at Rylstone, has also been judged by Rob Turnbull to be treasure.

All three precious finds were discovered last year and museums have expressed an interest in requiring them, said Mr Turnbull at a hearing in Skipton.

The mediaeval circular silver brooch and the two silver finger rings each qualify as "treasure" under the 1996 Treasure Act.

The Roman age rings, one with evidence that a decorative stone had been prized from the setting, were dated from the period between AD100 and AD200 and AD200 and AD300.

The finds were reported to Mr Turnbull within 14 days of their discovery as the Treasure Act demands.

Following his ruling that they constitute "treasure" they will offered to a museum for sale at a price set by an independent board of antiquities experts known as the Treasure Valuation Committee.

Gargrave has evidence of a Roman villa at Kirk Sink which was archaeologically excavated about 40 years ago and dates from the second half of the second century AD. Objects from the excavation are on display at the Craven Museum in Skipton.

The house had a front corridor and a central entrance had mosaic floors, underfloor heating and a detached bathhouse as well as an internal bath suite.

Two new house buildings were added at a later date together with a single-roomed squarish building at one time linked to one of the new houses by a covered walk way.

The main houses seem to have been abandoned in the fourth century and most of their stone walls and roof tiles robbed for use elsewhere.