Three Iron Age golden ‘torcs’ (neckwear) were discovered before Christmas by amateur metal detectorists in the Staffordshire Moorlands above Leek. In “a field on the northern outskirts of the town, near Rudyard” (Leek Post) and specifically “on the Heath family estate in Leek” (StaffsLive).

The Portable Antiquities Scheme is today assessing them as treasure, and curators at the British Museum consider them the… “earliest examples of Iron Age gold-work found so far in the UK”, dating from circa 250 to 400 B.C.

The torcs have been named the ‘Leekfrith Iron Age Torcs’ and will be on display at the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery in Stoke-on-Trent from 1st to 22nd March 2017. Abi Brown (Cons), Deputy Leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “We have worked hard with partners to ensure such magnificent finds remain in Staffordshire and we would be thrilled for The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery to become custodians of another such important international discovery.”

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87o-w0xCj7s?rel=0&w=560&h=315]