Two gold bracelets found near Tadcaster have been declared the first Iron Age gold jewellery ever found in the north of England. The torcs were found within metres of each other on separate occasions nearly a year apart, by metal detectorists Andrew Green and Shaun Scott. Both are made entirely of gold. The first has been dated to 100-70 BCE, while the second could be older still. They are similar in appearance, with the main body made up of two wires, twisted together. The Yorkshire Museum is appealing to the public to raise 60,000 pounds to make sure they both stay in Yorkshire.
     Similar bracelets have been found in Britain - mainly in Norfolk, which was home to the Iceni tribe. Until now the furthest north torcs had been found was in Nottinghamshire. The torcs are very similar in appearance to those in the Snettisham Hoard in Norfolk, raising the possibility that the bracelets were spoils of war, a gift, or used in trade.
     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, suggesting they may have washed away from an original burial site. Both will be on show at the Yorkshire Museum until 31 January. The Museum needs 24,000 pounds by that date to make sure the first stays in Yorkshire.

Edited from Yorkshire Museum, Culture24, The Press (11 January 2012)