3,000-year-old Bronze Age gold torc found in Norfolk

The artefact - which could be more than 3,000 years old - was discovered by detectorist Joe Booty near Erpingham on September 28 this year. 

The twisted gold rod is just 0.09in (2.4mm) thick and had been bent into a loop 0.43in (11mm) in diameter.  

It dates back to between 1400 and 1100BC. 

The fragment of Bronze Age gold torc (Image: Joe Booty)

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"Gold hardly ever comes out and the lovely thing about gold is that it comes out of the ground as good as it went in, whereas most other metals degrade over time," Mr Booty, from Horsford, who uncovered the torc fragment, said.  

"To find out it's around 3,000 years old was the icing on the cake. To know that you're probably the first person to touch it in over 3,000 years is quite special. 

"For me, the really interesting thing is all of the other questions it raises: Why is it in that field?  Who made it? Who lost it? There's more questions than answers."

Joe Booty meets Dr Helen Geake, the Norfolk finds liaison officer (Image: Joe Booty)

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Any find in England, Wales and Northern Ireland that is more than 300 years old, made of gold or silver, or found with gold or silver artefacts, could be treasure under the 1996 Treasure Act. 

The torc fragment was declared treasure by Norfolk Coroner's Court and now Norwich Castle Museum is hoping to acquire it.

"I think I've been very lucky to find something like this," Mr Booty said.

"But to then have it taken away from you is a little bit disheartening. I didn't even hold it for a week, but at the same time it's quite interesting to find out so much more about it."

Other finds from September 28 (Image: Joe Booty)