OK, latest Harry P piece is done: now to send it out for usual shredding before I raise my head above the parapet & let it free on the world. This one's a proper doozy: it's 100% classic Harry... and, yes, it's about 'that' torc!!! ...I'm going to be in SO much trouble (again)! 😂 #Archaeology ⚱️

Oh god...I'm giggling while writing again. This time about Harry's buddy - who was in charge of the Erotica 'private case' at the BM - but who also had a penchant for bin-diving (not a euphemism...) 😂

I would just like to say that Harry Price has caused me to step out of my research comfort zone more than anything else has, at any time in my nearly 40 year career... AND I DON'T LIKE IT!! 🤣🤣🤣 Today:

For #YorkshireDay - a tale of an Iron Age ring... or is it?? w/ @trixranderson.bsky.social #Archaeology #Torcs #Gold #Vikings 🏺 bigbookoftorcs.com/2024/04/16/n...

Nicked and ‘nicked’: The Knaresborough gold ring and a possible Viking-redeposited Iron Age hoard from eastern England.

by Tess Machling, Roll Williamson & Mark Randerson [A download/print PDF version of the paper & Appendix 1 can be found at the end of the paper] This paper can be cited as: DOI 10.5281/zeno…

bigbookoftorcs.com

Saturday brain wandering! Early med foil dies. Could they have been given to the 'client', so there couldn't be a copy of that exact helmet made? or perhaps so it could be repaired in future? Doesn't seem that finds of dies necessarily = makers in locale, as so often is written... #Archaeology 🏺

The GLORIOUS story of #Hypercaustgate as told by two of my favourite people - @curatorrob.bsky.social & @experimentalkearns.bsky.social @durotrigesdig.bsky.social ! #Archaeology 🏺 youtube.com/watch?v=SpRJ...

6 Roman Hypocausts in 1 Day ︳The Story Behind #HyperHypocaustGate

YouTube video by Butser Ancient Farm

youtube.com

I definitely have an emotional support Price... 🤣 #Archaeology 🏺

Remco van Straten (he/him)@remcovans.bsky.social · last wk.

It seems that every time there's some awful news in Torque land, you retreat to Harry land. He's your emotional support Price ;-)

French police have apparently arrested someone, but the torc hasn't yet been recovered...😔 #Archaeology #Torc #Vix 🏺 www.bienpublic.com/faits-divers...

Côte-d’Or. Vol au musée de Châtillon-sur-Seine : un premier suspect interpellé

Dans un communiqué publié en fin de journée ce mardi 28 juillet, le parquet de la juridiction interrégionale spécialisée de Nancy, en charge de ...

bienpublic.com

Panic over - someone found me a copy! 😊

Dr Tess Machling@tessmachling.bsky.social · last wk.

I don't suppose I know anyone who can get hold of a copy of this for me??? Gauld, A. (1987). "Recollections of E.J. Dingwall." Journal of the Society for Psychical Research 54 (no.808 ): 230-237. Yup...it's Harry time... 🤣

I don't suppose I know anyone who can get hold of a copy of this for me??? Gauld, A. (1987). "Recollections of E.J. Dingwall." Journal of the Society for Psychical Research 54 (no.808 ): 230-237. Yup...it's Harry time... 🤣

I watched the Tom Hiddleston Pompeii thing - not sure what to say to be honest. It is *really* cheesy... ...and yet, Tom H is so genuinely wholesome & geeky & clearly desperately wants to be a historian, that you just can't dislike it, or him. It passed a couple of escapist hours well enough. 🤣

It's really not a good idea to sue a national broadcaster if you really don't want them to treat discovery as a gleeful chance to get their paws - legally - on every bit of financial & correspondence information you would never wish them to get hold of... Oops!!! 🤣 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Judge rules Trump must hand over financial records sought by BBC in defamation case

The judge grants a motion to compel the release of files held by the Donald J Trump Revocable Trust.

bbc.co.uk

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 😳 #Archaeology 🏺

Dr Hannah Pethen@hannahpethen.bsky.social · last wk.

This raises all sorts of possibilities though as academics turn to new sources of research funding: 'Only Tombs' 'Only Torcs' (for @tessmachling.bsky.social) 'Only verbs' (for linguists) 'Only viruses' (ooh matron)

Is it time to lock up cash 'valuable' artefacts? I always used to think we shouldn't, but after Vix, St Fagans and Ely, I'm changing my mind. It's so awful that we should even be considering such action. But maybe we have to? Dark days... 😔 #Archaeology 🏺 #Gold #Torcs #Vix

Dominique Garcia@archeodgarcia.bsky.social · 2w ago

#Vix -la meilleure préservation:étude et le partage de la connaissance. -musées: se contenter de copies, -ses caractéristiques en font un objet unique, -Je ne suis pas convaincu que le torque ait été volé pour sa seule valeur en or Mon itw en intégralité www.lefigaro.fr/culture/patr...

I also got to *hold the Bronze Age Ellastone Dress Fastener!!! (*I'm fibbing... this is a gorgeous replica by the very talented James Dilley @ancientcraftuk.bsky.social ) #Archaeology #BronzeAge 🏺

I had SUCH a lovely time giving my Torc Odyssey talk in Stoke - a small'ish audience, but an hour of genuinely brilliant questions after and a really engaged audience. Really enjoyed myself! ❤️ ... oh and there's a Spitfire.

Today!!! #Archaeology #FestivalofArchaeology 🏺

Dr Tess Machling@tessmachling.bsky.social · 2w ago

*TOMORROW* Sat 25th July, 2pm, at Potteries Museum, Stoke I'll be giving a *brand new* talk torcing about the Staffordshire Torc Odyssey & the wonderful gold that has been found in the county. Talk is *FREE* to attend, just turn up. #Archaeology ⚱️ #Torcs www.stokemuseums.org.uk/pmag/whats-o...

Replicas. For anyone genuinely interested in gold, how artefacts are made... or who just wants to wonder at immense skill of goldworkers of ancient times, this is why replicas aren't enough. Left, an electrotype copy of Snettisham Great torc & right, the real thing... #Archaeology #Vix #Gold 🏺

More info... it appears the torc was taken while the museum was open! 😭

Nina Willburger @drnwillburger.bsky.social · 2w ago

2,500-year-old gold torque stolen in daylight museum raid! Thieves raided a museum in Châtillon-sur-Seine in broad daylight Friday, making off with a 2,500-year-old gold torque of the 'Lady of Vix'. 👉 www.lefigaro.fr/culture/patr...

We HAVE to stop talking about 'treasure' & the cash value of our heritage - yes, these things have a gold value, but let's do everything to make them mean more than just that. Let's make them *treasured* NOT 'treasure'! bigbookoftorcs.com/2025/10/07/s... #Archaeology #Gold #Treasure #Detecting 🏺

Solid-gold rant incoming…

by Tess Machling [A download/print PDF version can be found at the end of the paper] Before I go any further, I want to state that the theft and destruction of heritage across the world is not unco…

bigbookoftorcs.com

Rachel Pope@prehistorian.bsky.social · 2w ago

These men need found. This is the most socially important gold object in the Iron Age of western Europe.

With today's theft of Vix torc, here's what has been taken... The torc was found as part of a burial & placed around neck of the interred. Despite its size, it weighs only 480g (less that half the weight of the Snettisham Great torc). It is STUNNING. #Archaeology #Gold #Torcs 🏺 1/2

Oh no!! I cannot describe how awful this is - the Vix torc is one of THE BEST pieces of Iron Age goldwork. I just can't believe it! Oh my. #Archaeology #Torcs #Gold www.ici.fr/bourgogne-fr...

INFO ICI BOURGOGNE - Le Musée du pays Châtillonnais victime d'un vol en plein jour, le torque de la Dame de Vix dérobé - ICI

Les gendarmes de Châtillon-sur-Seine ont longtemps survolé le secteur du musée ce vendredi, et pour cause : le torque de la Dame de Vix, ce collier en or d'une valeur archéologique inestimable, a été ...

ici.fr

We couldn't end the day without first saying a big thank you to everyone who got involved in #AskAnArchaeologist. Whether you asked, answered, or watched from afar. 💙

I wanted to say a HUGE congratulations to my lovely friend @mattpope.bsky.social who has been promoted to Professor of Palaeolithic Archaeology @uclarchaeology.bsky.social . Matt works so hard for #archaeology, be that locally or nationally and this promotion is greatly deserved. Well done Matt!

I've got #AskAnArchaeologist question for my fellow archs. What the best & worst thing about #archaeology in 2026? For me, best is way we can connect with others, thanks to social media, etc. Worst is current state of our sector - from pay & conditions to respect for what we do. Over to you...

Ask an Archaeologist Day is here! 🏺 Today, archaeologists from across the UK are here to answer your questions about the past, the profession and everything in between. Follow along throughout the day and send us your questions. #AskAnArchaeologist #FestivalOfArchaeology

My favourite day of the year, it's #askanarchaeologist day! Feel free to ask me anything on #pseudoarchaeology, being a #curator for an archaeological society or #IronAge swords and I'll do my best to answer!

Dr Tess Machling@tessmachling.bsky.social · 2w ago

Ok folks... it's that time again. It's... *drum roll* #AskAnArchaeologist day. 🎉🎉 That day when you get to ask whatever you want about #archaeology and we will endeavour to find you an answer!! #FestivalofArchaeology

Ok folks... it's that time again. It's... *drum roll* #AskAnArchaeologist day. 🎉🎉 That day when you get to ask whatever you want about #archaeology and we will endeavour to find you an answer!! #FestivalofArchaeology

*TOMORROW* Sat 25th July, 2pm, at Potteries Museum, Stoke I'll be giving a *brand new* talk torcing about the Staffordshire Torc Odyssey & the wonderful gold that has been found in the county. Talk is *FREE* to attend, just turn up. #Archaeology ⚱️ #Torcs www.stokemuseums.org.uk/pmag/whats-o...

Archaeological skills can take you to some unexpected places. Sometimes, straight into a river to count water vole poo. Our first Past in Our Hands blog comes from @tessmachling.bsky.social, who specialises in Iron Age gold torcs but also volunteers as a water vole surveyor. 👉 shorturl.at/OuS5A