Leekfrith torcs
The Leekfrith torcs (bracelet centre-left)
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| Material | Gold |
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| Created | c. 400—250 BC |
| Discovered | December 2016 Leekfrith, Staffordshire, England |
| Discovered by | Metal detectorists |
| Present location | Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Hanley |
 Location of Leekfrith
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| Official website | |
The Leekfrith torcs are four Iron Age gold torcs found by two hobby metal detectorists in December 2016 in a field in Leekfrith, north Staffordshire, England. The find consists of three neck torcs and a smaller bracelet, which were located in proximity to each other. They are believed to be the oldest Iron Age gold jewellery found in Britain. Subsequent archaeological examination of the area did not uncover further objects.
One of the torcs is a smaller bracelet decorated with ornament in the style of Celtic art, and the other three are neck rings. The bracelet and one of the neck rings are made with twisted gold wire, and the other neck rings have finials shaped like trumpets. One of the latter has been broken into two pieces. The gold content of the four torcs has been measured using x-ray fluorescence to be between 74-78% (roughly equivalent to 17-18 carat), with 18-22% silver, some copper, and traces of iron, mercury and tin – a mix consistent with other Iron Age gold finds in Europe. The weight of the pieces varies from 31 grams (1 oz) to 230 grams (8 oz), and over 350 grams (10 oz) in total.
According to Julia Farley, curator of British and European Iron Age collections of the British Museum, the torcs were "most likely" made in the area of what is now Germany or France, most likely in the period 400–250 BCE (La Tène period). Farley commented:
This unique find is of international importance. It dates to around 400–250 BCE and is probably the earliest Iron Age gold work ever discovered in Britain. The torcs were probably worn by wealthy and powerful women, perhaps people from the Continent who had married into the local community. Piecing together how these objects came to be carefully buried in a Staffordshire field will give us an invaluable insight into life in Iron Age Britain.
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