Scots Metal Detector Discovers Iron Age Torcs Gold worth £1M
The latest metal detector haul may be its most spectacular: a Scots amateur has stumbled upon a stash of Iron Age gold worth an estimated £1million. The four 'Torc' headbands, similar to those famously worn by Iceni Queen Boudicca 2,000 years ago, are said to be in 'perfect condition'. Though the exact field they were found in is unkown, it is thought to be near the historical city of Stirling.
One of the bands sold for a whopping £350,000 at auction last year - and thanks to Scots 'treasure trove' laws the unidentified man can expect a payout equal to the haul's market value. One expert, who has been excavating the find, tells the Daily Record: "No one here wants to put a price on it. One of the guys said that there were a lot of silly figures flying around." The haul's exact value will not be known until after an official review in several months' time. "There has been a significant find," confirms a spokesperson from the National Museums of Scotland.
"No one wants to put a price on it. There are a lot of silly figures flying around."
The bands, dating between the 1st and 3rd century BC, are of astonishing craftsmanship. One is made from twisted Celtic sheet gold, whereas another is encrusted with gold wire, and inlaid with gold beads. The only comparable torcs were found in the south of France, raising a myriad historical questions. "The workmanship is breathtaking. Some of the gold wire used is the thickness of your finger," says the insider. "The find is astonishing and raises lots of questions, such as how did a necklace designed in the south of France end up in Scotland a century before the Romans arrived?"
The haul will inevitably draw comparisons with the recent Staffordshire Hoard, a cache of Murcian Saxon treasure found by amateur enthusiast Terry Herbert in July this year. Mr Herbert is thought to be in line for a £1million reward for his endeavours.
The 'Stirling Hoard' is one in a long line of recent coups for treasure hunters across Britain. Notable highlights include the magnificent Vale of York Hoard, from 2007, and this year's discovery of 10,000 Roman coins in Shewsbury, surprisingly coined (sorry) the Shrewsbury Hoard.
This news will come as a setback, however, for those experts who criticise metal detecting fans as being nothing more than treasure hunters, or 'night-hawks', questioning their value to world heritage.
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This is great news, where will we be able to see the hoard?
Hi David, no news on that yet. It's at the moment in London for value assessment, and where and well you'll be able to see it probably depends on who ends up purchasing it. If we can look at the example set by the Staffordshire Hoard, the first display would definitely be 'local', close to where it was dug up, after which it goes to the BM. (The Staffordshire Hoard is now being displayed close to the Sutton Hoo artefacts.) Also in the British Museum at the moment is the Vale of York Hoard, which was purchased by the BM together with the Yorks Museum Trust.
So if I would have to make a guess: valuation, home location (or museum nearby home location), then to the British Museum and then back to home. Maybe with a short stop at Edinburough?
There's actually going to be a media event on the discoveries this morning at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. I'll be posting details and some pics later today - watch this space!
Update: The pictures and details on the hoard Malcolm promised in the comment above.
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