Can you help raise £8,000 to keep Bronze Age Gold Torc found in Fordham at Ely Museum?
The gold torc found near Ely and that will now go in display at Ely Museum in the autumn following a successful appeal - Credit: Archant
Ely Museum has been given a £150,000 grant towards the purchase of the East Cambridgeshire Gold Torc, which was unearthed by a novice metal detector in Fordham.
The grant, from The National Heritage Memorial Fund, means the museum has almost reached its £220,000 target. However it now needs the help of local people to raise the final £8,000.
Elie Hughes, Ely Museum curator, said: “Without your help the museum will not be able to buy the torc and display this locally found masterpiece for local people to see.
“The Torc is regarded as the best to be found in England in more than a century. It is much larger than usual examples and is made of 730g of almost pure gold.
“The find was made by a metal detectorist in a ploughed field in East Cambridgeshire and was reported to the local finds liaison officer.”
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Neil Wilkin, curator of Bronze Age Europe at the British Museum, described the workmanship as “astonishing.
“There has been much speculation about its use as it is so large. It may have been worn by pregnant women as a form or protection, or used to ornament a sacrificial animal.”
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To donate visit https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/6790#/DonationDetails or contact the museum on 01353 666655.
Next week the museum will be hosting a talk on the Torc, titled ‘The Great Gold Torc’.
The evening lecture with Dr. Neil Wilkin will be held at Ely Museum on Thursday July 27 from 7pm. Entry is free (no booking required).
