Detecting and torcs: a researcher's view.

I’ve been meaning to write this piece for years, but a recent increase in the number of significant archaeological finds which have been removed from the ground, by folks with little or no archaeological training or understanding, has prompted me into action.

In this piece I want to explain why, for me as a torc researcher (torcs are neck rings/arm rings from the Iron Age, about 2000-2300 years ago), my work on these incredible objects is severely hampered by the fact that so few torcs have been archaeologically excavated and why – directly because many torcs are detected or antiquarian finds – the subsequent lack of contextual information has led to dead-ends in many aspects of the research into these magnificent objects. It should also be said that, although this blog is about torcs, it could apply to any type of Treasure find.

By writing this I hope to show – from a researcher’s point of view – why bringing in archaeological specialists the minute you find something significant is not only desirable, but essential. In short, as a detectorist, when you become aware you are dealing with something archaeologically significant, do not – whatever you do – dig it up without professional archaeological guidance or you will destroy, not save, the full evidence of that artefact.

More importantly, by not bringing in the professionals you will certainly damage or destroy the archaeological story that can be told about the artefact or group of artefacts you have found: that includes the loss of the ‘how’, ‘when’ and ‘why’ of its deposition.