Britain’s ‘oldest Iron Age gold ever discovered’ is found

[Neil]

By Ellie Zolfagharifard Published: 08:41, 28 February 2017

Two treasure seekers have unearthed jewellery which could be the oldest Iron Age gold ever discovered in Britain.

The collection, which has been named the Leekfrith Iron Age Torcs, was found in December on farmland within the parish of Leekfrith, in the Staffordshire Moorlands.

The four torcs - three necklaces and one bracelet - were found separately about 1 metre apart and buried just beneath the surface ahead of Christmas.

Two treasure seekers have found jewellery which could be the oldest Iron Age gold ever discovered in Britain. The decoration on this bracelet is thought to be some of the earliest Celtic art from Britain


THE LEEKFRITH IRON AGE TORCS


It was found on farmland in Leekfrith, in the Staffordshire Moorlands.

Two friends discovered four torcs - three necklaces and one bracelet.

The decoration on the bracelet is some of the earliest Celtic art from Britain

Experts believe they were made in the third or fourth century BC

It dates to around 400-250 BC, and is probably the earliest Iron Age gold work ever discovered

They were probably made in Europe, possibly Germany or France

It is not known why the items were buried, but it could have been for safekeeping, as an offering to the gods, or as an act of remembrance after their owner died.

Two of the pieces - a collar and a bracelet - are made of twisted gold wire.

Two have trumpet shaped finials and the bracelet also feature stunning Celtic decorations.

The decoration on the bracelet is thought to be some of the earliest Celtic art from Britain.

Dr Julia Farley, curator of British & European Iron Age collections for the British Museum, said: 'This unique find is of international importance. It dates to around 400-250 BC,

The four torcs - three necklaces and one bracelet - were found in 2014.  The find has been described as of 'international importance'. It dates to around 400-250 BC. It is not known why the items were buried, but it could have been for safekeeping, as an offering to the gods

'The torcs were probably worn by wealthy and powerful women, perhaps people from the continent who had married into the local community.

'Piecing together how these objects came to be carefully buried in a Staffordshire field will give us an invaluable insight into life in Iron Age Britain.'

The find was spotted by lifelong friends Mark Hambleton and Joe Kania.

Mr Hambleton used to go metal detecting when he was younger with his father, who told him to resurrect his old past-time after hearing he had started fishing.

He said: 'I am so glad we took his advice and pleased of course that he got the chance to see these amazing pieces and prove he was right all along.'

The pair have said they plan to split any proceeds with the farming family which owns the 640 acres of land where the finds were discovered.

The torcs were probably worn by wealthy and powerful women, perhaps people from the continent who had married into the local community


Staffordshire County Council leader Philip Atkins said: 'As a county and as a council we are both proud and unbelievably lucky to be home to some truly exceptional finds, including of course the Staffordshire Hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold.

'This amazing find of gold torcs in the north of the county is quite simply magical and we look forward to sharing the secrets and story they hold in the years to come.'

The finds have been handed over to the Portable Antiquities Scheme, part of Birmingham Museums, which manages the voluntary recording of finds.

An inquest will be held at 11am in North Staffordshire, where Coroner Ian Smith will rule if the pieces are treasure.

The pieces will then be provisionally valued by an expert.

[Greg]

We can but dream of a find like this.🙄

[sandpiper]

Time for a DW Rally in Staffordshire I think !!!!

[scara]

Time for a DW Rally in Staffordshire I think !!!!

You will have to be quick, because I imagine every Cretin with a detector ( my name for dodgy detectorists) will be heading that way sometime soon 

[Andre]

Lucky gits 👏

[dingdong]

AH !!!...So thats where i lost it...Must get that hole I me pocket fixed !!!

[relicron]

What a find,good on them two,every time we go out we never know whats going to come out of the ground,its out there its just having the luck to swing that detector over it,

[jonty]

Just another example of metal detectorists showing archaeologists the way. It's a pity many archies regard us in such low esteem.
I remember when the late Mick Aston of Time Team fame described us in very derogatory terms, with his sidekick Baldrick nodding in agreement.
I don't know what archaeologists would do ŵithout us. If Time Team is anything to go by, they would be digging up fragments of pottery and finding the odd post hole. With a JCB of course.