Private finds and image rights… and wrongs.

by Tess Machling [A download/print PDF version can be found at the end of the paper] This paper can be cited as: DOI 10.5281/zenodo.15264348 Following on from my earlier blogs on detecting and torcs and access and ownership of finds, I wanted to look in greater detail at these topics and discuss the impact that …

‘My precious!’ Some thoughts on access and ownership of artefacts.

By Tess Machling [A download/print PDF version can be found at the end of the paper] Featured image: Gallo-Roman Museum, Tongeren As any of you who follow me on social media will know, over the years I have become increasingly concerned about who owns, or who believes they own, our heritage (and by ‘our’ I …

Fused, melted and dripped on: Snettisham Hoard F.

by Tess Machling [A download/print PDF version can be found at the end of the paper] This paper can be cited as DOI 10.5281/zenodo.15181315 (For details of all the finds referred to, please see the recently published Snettisham Hoards volumes, which can be downloaded for free from HERE.) Abstract Hoard F, from the Snettisham 'gold …

A tale of two Snettisham patches

by Tess Machling [A download/print PDF version can be found at the end of the paper]. This paper can be cited as DOI 10.5281/zenodo.15181346. While I was perusing the Snettisham volumes, I happened to notice an image of a tubular torc from Hoard A at Snettisham, torc A.1. This torc was found by Ray Williamson …

Chewed torcs from Snettisham?

by Tess Machling [A download/print PDF version can be found at the end of the paper]. This paper can be cited as DOI  10.5281/zenodo.15181375 A friend (thank you David!) today reminded me of something I've been intending to write about for quite a long time, but never quite got round to. As it's Christmas and …

The Snettisham torcs and the British Museum

by Tess Machling [A download/print PDF version can be found at the end of the paper] Introduction The recently published Snettisham hoard volumes are long awaited, and contain much that is of use and interest to anyone studying Iron Age Britain. However, as a gold researcher, working with a team of goldsmiths, silversmiths, jewellers and …

The mysterious case of the West Tilbury torc from Essex.

by Tess Machling [A download/print PDF version can be found at the end of the paper] This paper can be cited as: DOI 10.5281/zenodo.14193776 Introduction A few months ago, I received an email from Andrew Fitzpatrick, a fellow Iron Age specialist, regarding something he had seen in Christopher Tripp's book, Thurrock’s Deeper Past: a confluence of …

The Staffordshire Torc Odyssey: 15 Not forgotten

Hello folks! Long time no speak! I just wanted to write a very brief blog to say I haven't forgotten about the Staffordshire Torc Odyssey! I am awaiting access to the final torc, Glascote. Not at all the fault of anyone or the museum: they are undergoing a staged re-opening and so access is tricky …

Fake or fortunate? The insecure provenance of the ‘Pulborough Area’ torc.

by Tess Machling & Giovanna Fregni [A download/print PDF version can be found at the end of the paper] This paper can be cited as: DOI 10.5281/zenodo.13911434 Abstract In September 2024 a paper, ‘The Pulborough gold torc: a 4th to 3rd century BCE artefact of European significance’ was published by a British Museum team in …

Detecting and torcs: a researcher’s view.

by Tess Machling [A download/print PDF version can be found at the end of the paper] This paper can be cited as: DOI 10.5281/zenodo.14548720 I've been meaning to write this piece for years, but a recent increase in the number of significant archaeological finds which have been removed from the ground, by folks with little …