Iron Age treasure torc of the North

The two pieces have been declared the first Iron Age gold jewellery ever found in the North of England – and they provide a fascinating glimpse into life in the first century BC.

They give the clearest indication yet that there was serious wealth in the area before the Romans arrived, a theory which until the find was only the subject of speculation.

Archaeological experts believe the bracelets could have belonged to an extremely wealthy, possibly royal, member of the Brigantes tribe, who ruled most of North Yorkshire during the Iron Age.

They hope the jewellery could provide key information about the technology and crafts that were available during the Iron Age to create the intricate pieces.

The bracelets could also provide evidence of trading patterns and where the Brigantes tribe settled after they were discovered near the village of Towton in North Yorkshire.

However there is a distinct possibility the two bracelets, or torcs, could be lost to a private collector unless enough money is raised to keep them in the public realm.

Staff at the Yorkshire Museum in York– where the two pieces today go on show until the end of January – are aiming to raise £60,000 so they can buy the jewellery.

But if the five-figure sum is not reached, the bracelets could be auctioned off and then kept in a private collection.

The museum’s assistant curator of archaeology, Natalie McCaul, said: “The bracelets have the potential to tell us so much more about the Iron Age.

“They show the creativity and technology that was around at the time to produce jewellery like this, and the people who owned the pieces would have been extremely wealthy.

“The perception is often that history in York and the surrounding area simply began with the arrival of the Romans. But that is certainly not the case, as these bracelets prove. It is opening up a whole new chapter to explore the area’s history. To think that the bracelets could be lost to a private collection and that we wouldn’t have the opportunity to put them on public display would be heartbreaking.”

The torcs were found within a few feet of each other on two separate occasions by metal detectorists, Andrew Green and Shaun Scott. The first bracelet, which was found in May last year, has been dated to between 100BC and 70BC, while the second torc could be older still. It was discovered by the two metal detectorists in April this year.

The jewellery was found near Towton – which later found infamy during the medieval era for the bloodiest battle ever fought on British soil. The Battle of Towton took place during the Wars of the Roses in 1461 and led to more than 20,000 casualties.

The two Iron Age artefacts are similar in appearance, with the main body of the bracelet made up of two gold wires, twisted together.

Similar bracelets have been found in Britain, mainly in Norfolk which was home to the Iceni tribe in the Iron Age.

The Brigantes were not known to deal in gold jewellery until the discovery of the bracelets – until now, the furthest north that torcs had been found was in Newark in Nottinghamshire.

The Towton bracelets are similar in appearance to those found in the Snettisham hoard in Norfolk, which was most likely to have been royal treasure belonging to the Iceni. This raises the possibility that the bracelets were spoils of war, a gift or used in trade between the two tribes.

The site and the nature of the finds has also intrigued experts, with torcs previously found in hoards rather than just single pieces. There is also no history of them being found in water, which raises the possibility that the two examples were washed away from an original burial site.

£60,000 needed for purchase

THE popularity of torcs – neck rings or bracelets made of metal wire twisted together – extended across Europe from the eighth century BC to the third century AD.

Worn by both men and women, they were a symbol of nobility, power and high status.

The first discovered in the stream near Towton in North Yorkshire has been valued at about £25,000. The second bracelet could be valued at £35,000, although an exact figure has to be confirmed.

Both will be on show at the Yorkshire Museum in York from today until January 31 next year.

The museum has to raise £60,000 to keep the jewellery stays in the region.

Donations can be made at the museum or by visiting www.yorkshiremuseum.org.uk for how to donate online.