Iron Age gold: Time for a shake-up?

('Iron Age Dialogues' conference, Cardiff, 30th April to 2nd May 2025.) 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.15389794 Introduction Although there is an intention to publish the proceedings of the Cardiff conference, for me, publication in print will …

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 …

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 …

The sheet torus torcs from Britain: an update.

by Tess Machling & Roll Williamson [A download/print PDF version can be found at the end of the paper] This paper can be cited as: DOI 10.5281/zenodo.10511424 Abstract In our 2018 Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society paper (Machling & Williamson 2018) we discussed the manufacturing techniques of the Netherurd terminal, the Newark torc and suggested ideas …

Beyond Snettisham: a reassessment of gold alloy torcs from Iron Age Britain and Ireland.

[A download/print PDF version can be found at the end of the paper] This paper can be cited as:  https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10629085 Those of you who have followed our work for some time will know that we aim to carry out, and share, our research in original ways. From independently peer reviewed papers to chocolate torcs, we …

Pattern and purpose: a new story about the creation of the Snettisham Great torc.

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.10511411 The Snettisham Great torc is one of the most recognisable and well known Iron Age artefacts in Britain. Found in 1950 by Tom Rout, whilst ploughing fields on the Ken Hill estate …

Torc fragment cross-joins AKA how to make a torc jigsaw!

During the process of creating the Torc Treasury database, I kept noticing multiple fragments of the same, very distinctive, gold alloy torc coming up in Snettisham Hoard F. [Well, I think they're all from Hoard F, the problem being that although they all - bar one, but more about that later! - have a 1991 …