File:Bronze Age torc fragment (FindID 774149).jpg

English: Treasure case 2016 T203: Acquired by Somerset Museum Service

Description:

A fragment of Middle Bronze Age flange- or bar-twisted gold torc. The torc would have been manufactured from a cast bar into which four longitudinal cuts were made. These were then worked to create an X-shaped cross-section and finally the bar was twisted to create a spiral effect. Only a small portion of the original object survives. The fragment terminates in clean breaks at either end and is likely to have been cut. It has been bent into a U-shape with one terminal projecting upwards and the other bent inwards at a ninety-degree angle.

Dimensions:

The object measures 19.07mm in length (bent), 16.72mm in width, is 3.75mm thick and weighs 5.69g.

Discussion:

Gold flange twisted torcs have been dated typologically to the Taunton (c.1400-1250 BC), or more probably the Penard (c. 1300-1150 BC), metalwork phases of the Middle Bronze Age (Roberts 2007), when twisting and flange twisting bars and ribbons of gold were common techniques in Britain (Murgia et al. forthcomingTaylor 1980). Torcs of this style are most common in southern England and East Anglia, but do occur elsewhere in Wales and central Britain (Roberts 2007). Deliberately cut fragments like this occur relatively often in hoards (e.g. the Salcombe hoard from Devon and the Fittleworth hoard from West Sussex) and occasionally as stray finds (e.g. treasure case 2011 T501).

Similar examples on the database include: IOW-C0C054, BH-149F18, HAMP-C8DC02 and SF-FD97BA.

Conclusion:

The torc fragment appears to consist of over 10% precious metal by weight and be over 300 years old at the time of finding and as such qualifies as potential Treasure under the stipulations of the Treasure Act 1996.

Julie Shoemark
Finds Liaison Officer, Somerset (Maternity Cover)

Minor edits:
Neil Wilkin
Curator, European Bronze Age collection, The British Museum