Fragments of the 2009 Stirling treasure trove find by David Booth on his first metal detecting outing. SCO 5980
The artefacts – four neck ornaments of “European significance,” dating from between the 1st and 3rd centuries BC – were discovered by a local man, David Booth, on private land back in September (the precise location has been kept secret, so as to prevent a mini gold-rush at the spot). One of them is slightly damaged; the others are in near-perfect condition. Two of the pieces are ribbon torcs, which was a local style of jewellery made from twisting rigid pieces of gold. Another is half of an ornate torc of southern French origin – to date the only artefact of its kind found in Britain. The fourth is a unique braided gold wire torc, which shows a strong Mediterranean influence. The treasure of the Stirling Iron Age Gold. Image They would have most likely belonged to an important and powerful local leader, and been worn as a way of showing off his wealth, importance and ability to trade precious goods with the continent. What is going to happen to the treasure? When not out metal detecting, Mr Booth reportedly works as the chief game warden at Blair Drummond Safari Park. He may have fed his last lion if the million pound valuation of the hoard – based on the £350,000 figure a similar torc found in Newark, Nottinghamshire in 2005 sold for – is accurate. In accordance with the “treasure trove” statutes of common Scots law, while the pieces technically now belong to the Crown – via The Queen’s and Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer (QLTR) – Mr Booth stands to net a sizeable ex-gratia reward payment, since the QLTR generously recognises “the contribution of members of the public who make chance finds.” Dr David Caldwell, representing the Treasure Trove Unit – the body based at the National Museum of Scotland which is currently holding the items on behalf of the QLTR – commented: “The torcs are currently in the care of the Treasure Trove Unit, which is responsible for the care of antiquities found in Scotland on behalf of the Crown.
Size: 5575px × 3763px
Location: The Scottish National Museum Chambers Street Edinburgh EH1 1JF
Photo credit: © David Gowans / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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