Man who discovered Iron Age torcs with metal detector set for £460,000 windfall

Amateur metal-detecting enthusiast, David Booth, who discovered a collection of Iron Age gold in a field near Stirling has could be in line for a £460,000 payment.

The keeper at Blair Drummond Safari park, pictured, had owned his metal detector for only five days when he discovered four 2,000-year-old gold neckbands last September.

Mr Booth, who was on his first trip outdoors with the equipment, took the bands back to his home near Stirling and contacted the authorities.

Dating from between the 1st and 3rd century BC, the bands - known as torcs - represent the most important hoard of Iron Age gold in Scotland to date. They were buried just six inches beneath the surface.

Today, the Queen's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer announced that she was "minded" to allocate "Scotland's most outstanding treasure trove find" to National Museums Scotland, provided they meet the ex-gratia award of 462,000 which would be payable to Mr Booth.

Queen's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer (QLTR) Catherine Dyer said: "This is a very significant find, the most important hoard of Iron Age gold ever found in Scotland. That these stunning artefacts have been unearthed in such excellent condition after being buried for 2,000 years is simply amazing.

"I am pleased to announce that if National Museums Scotland in Edinburgh meets the ex-gratia award, which would then be payable to the finder, then I am minded to accept the recommendation of the Scottish Archaeological Finds Allocation Panel (SAFAP) that these wonderful

items be allocated to National Museums Scotland."

The collection consists of two ribbon torcs - a local style of jewellery made from a twisted ribbon of gold - half an ornate torc of southern French origin, and a unique braided gold wire torc which shows strong influences of Mediterranean craftsmanship.

Money will need to be raised before he receives any payment.

Gordon Rintoul, director of National Museums Scotland, said: "These magnificent Iron Age gold torcs are of national and international importance and we are delighted that National Museums Scotland will now have the opportunity to acquire them for preservation and display.

"In the context of the current difficult economic climate, we will be exploring a range of sources of funding to secure what is a substantial sum to ensure these items remain available for future generations within the national collections."