Elektrine
Log in Register
Paige Chat Timeline Gallery Friends Email Drive DNS Private DNS Domains VPN Kairo Nerve
Remote

Dr Tess Machling

@tess_machling@mastodonapp.uk
mastodon 4.6.8
  • Open on mastodonapp.uk

#Archaeologist, #Archaeology, #researcher, #chocolate #artefact maker, #mum ~ I look at #torcs & #prehistoric #gold from a #craft perspective. My website - https://bigbookoftorcs.com

Pro-trans, anti-tory... in fact, anti all hate stuff!

I love #cats tooooo.....

If you'd like to buy me a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/tess317409

5069 Followers
1767 Following
39 Posts
Joined November 05, 2022
The Big Book of Torcs:
https://bigbookoftorcs.com/
Open post
Dr Tess Machling @tess_machling@mastodonapp.uk
· 2mo ago
There's nothing that says women can't work gold. So many people roll their eyes when I talk about 'craftspeople', not 'craftsmen'. But this is why... There's female goldsmiths with their own marks in medieval London, so why not earlier??? I can't tell you how much it makes me chuckle with glee to see this finally being recognised in prehistory!! P.s. still not 100% convinced on the shaman bit though - let's have a closer look at some of those supposed decorations... cough... *burnishing* https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/jul/14/ancient-dna-analysis-reveals-upton-lovell-shaman-was-woman-wiltshire ... and if you want to know about the tools *she* was buried with, it's all here: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquity/article/materials-in-movement-gold-and-stone-in-process-in-the-upton-lovell-g2a-burial/3BBA3D012898FA68D9F35EA27478BE03
theguardian.com
10
0
8
0
Open post
Dr Tess Machling @tess_machling@mastodonapp.uk
· 4mo ago

As part of the Festival of #Archaeology, on 25th July at the Potteries Museum in Stoke, I'm going to be talking about The Staffordshire Torc Odyssey & some of the wonderful Iron Age gold that has been found in the county.

Talk is free to attend, just turn up on the day.

https://www.stokemuseums.org.uk/pmag/whats-on/events/the-torc-odyssey-iron-age-gold-in-staffordshire/

mastodonapp.uk
12
0
17
0
Open post
Dr Tess Machling @tess_machling@mastodonapp.uk
· 5mo ago

I've been torc taming at Tamworth Castle. Full write up to come soon of the last of the Staffordshire Torc Odyssey torcs: Glascote.

In the meantime, catch up with everything here:

https://bigbookoftorcs.com/the-s-t-o/

#Archaeology #Torcs

The S.T.O.
The Big Book of Torcs

The S.T.O.

The Staffordshire Torc Odyssey. The idea of this project, looking at five torcs from a very small area in Staffordshire, was to make it fully transparent and interactive so folks can see what artef…

19
0
11
0
Open post
Dr Tess Machling @tess_machling@mastodonapp.uk
· 6mo ago
Boosted by @PhilipCJames@mas.to
Worth a try https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/756133
Petition: Expel all US military personnel and close all US military bases in the UK
Petitions - UK Parliament and UK Government

Petition: Expel all US military personnel and close all US military bases in the UK

We call on the UK Government to cancel all UK-US agreements that permit US personnel and bases to operate in the UK, in order to prevent the UK from being used as a base for any unilateral military action.

17
1
17
0
Open post
Dr Tess Machling @tess_machling@mastodonapp.uk
· 8mo ago

I rather liked this... not the usual type of story we get about things from fields - it's gentle and thoughtful.

Top marks for getting it in Farmer's Weekly too...

It ain't all 'treasure'...

#Archaeology #Treasure #Detecting 🏺

https://www.fwi.co.uk/farm-life/ancient-objects-uncovered-beneath-britains-farming-fields

mastodonapp.uk
28
2
28
0
Open post
Dr Tess Machling @tess_machling@mastodonapp.uk
· 6mo ago

Wooohooo!!!

260 of you, in fivers, tenners and more have raised £10,000!! Well done everyone! 👏

I'm sure there will be stretch funding, but this is brilliant news, it really is.

#Archaeology 🏺

mastodonapp.uk
18
0
8
1
Open post
Dr Tess Machling @tess_machling@mastodonapp.uk
· 5mo ago

Some great news - thank you to everyone who contributed their hard earned cash!

(Just a reminder that had the finder/ landowner donated the dress fastener, it would have cost £0 instead of £150,000...)

#Archaeology #Detecting #Treasure 🏺

mastodonapp.uk
11
0
7
0
Open post
Dr Tess Machling @tess_machling@mastodonapp.uk
· 5mo ago

The Torygraph contacted me last week, but I told them their paper didn't align with my world view...

They wrote it anyway and I have to say, it's pretty good. Much that I hate the Telegraph, it's also in exactly the right newspaper...

#Detecting #Treasure #Archaeology 🏺

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/04/25/museums-paying-millions-to-detectorists-for-treasure/

mastodonapp.uk
10
1
10
0
Open post
Dr Tess Machling @tess_machling@mastodonapp.uk
· 5mo ago

The latest blog in the Staffordshire Torc Odyssey: Glascote up close!

#Archaeology #Torcs #StaffsTorcOdyssey 🏺

https://bigbookoftorcs.com/2026/04/15/the-staffordshire-torc-odyssey-15-glascote-up-close/

mastodonapp.uk
11
0
8
0
Open post
Dr Tess Machling @tess_machling@mastodonapp.uk
· 5mo ago
Boosted by @PhilipCJames@mas.to
Will be sold to highest bidder - collection broken up, histories lost & disappearing into private collections, some overseas... Issue of legacy collections - where owners or heirs don't want things, will only get more common... #Archaeology #Treasure #Detecting 🏺 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c70drpjqvdgo
Bedfordshire detectorist to sell hundreds of treasure pieces found
BBC News

Bedfordshire detectorist to sell hundreds of treasure pieces found

Nettie Edmondson is auctioning off her collection of hundreds of items she has found over 20 years.

11
3
21
0
Open post
Dr Tess Machling @tess_machling@mastodonapp.uk
· 7mo ago
Quick reminder to us GenXers or older - "If you were born before 1970 and haven't had #measles, mumps or rubella (german measles) or vaccines...you can ask your GP for MMR vaccine." We didn't all catch this stuff when we were littlies, so we're not all protected! https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/mmr-vaccine/
MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine
nhs.uk

MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine

Find out about the MMR vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella, including who should have it, when it's given and possible side effects.

13
5
21
0
Open post
Dr Tess Machling @tess_machling@mastodonapp.uk
· 2mo ago
I wrote a thing for the #FestivalofArchaeology... ...and as this year's theme is #Archaeology and #Nature, welllll you just knew there were going to be water voles, didn't you?? 😊😉 🏺 https://www.archaeologyuk.org/resource/transferable-archaeological-skills--counting-water-vole-poo-by-the-river.html?_gl=1*1a3pfdo*_up*MQ..*_ga*NjY0NDYyMzIxLjE3ODM5NDk1NDE.*_ga_122YBZ1RKY*czE3ODM5NDk1NDEkbzEkZzAkdDE3ODM5NDk1NDEkajYwJGwwJGgw
archaeologyuk.org
2
0
3
0
Open post
Dr Tess Machling @tess_machling@mastodonapp.uk
· 6mo ago

...annnnnnnnnd again.

"it was hoped the artefact...could be acquired by Lincoln Museum"

Note the word 'hoped'. But if Museum can't raise the funds to buy it, it could be sold at auction, sent overseas or melted down.

100% legally

#Archaeology #Detecting #Treasure

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czj1w12ddp2o?app-referrer=search

mastodonapp.uk
8
0
10
0
Open post
Dr Tess Machling @tess_machling@mastodonapp.uk
· 8mo ago
450,000 artefacts from the HS2 excavations *alone*. So the next time detectorists tell you they find everything archaeologically important - they don't. 😝 #Archaeology 🏺 #Detecting #Treasure https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c93v21q5xdvo?app-referrer=search
bbc.co.uk
11
2
1
0
Open post
Dr Tess Machling @tess_machling@mastodonapp.uk
· 7mo ago
A rather odd sibling for the Newark torc and the Netherurd terminal: Torc H7 from Snettisham. #Archaeology #Torcs #Gold https://bigbookoftorcs.com/2026/03/09/snettisham-torc-h7-up-close/
bigbookoftorcs.com
8
0
5
0
Open post
Dr Tess Machling @tess_machling@mastodonapp.uk
· 7mo ago
I disagree with Mike in his conclusions, and the archaeological 'worth' of many detected finds, but it was good to have a chat this week, and to see the raw £ finally getting some coverage! #Archaeology #Detecting #Treasure 🏺 https://spectator.com/article/why-a-set-of-gold-coins-have-divided-british-archeologists/
spectator.com
9
0
4
0
Open post
Dr Tess Machling @tess_machling@mastodonapp.uk
· 6mo ago

It may do absolutely no flipping good at all but you can email Keir Starmer and ask him to remove permission for the US to use UK bases here:

https://contact.no10.gov.uk/

#Iran #Trump #War

contact.no10.gov.uk
6
1
11
0
Open post
Dr Tess Machling @tess_machling@mastodonapp.uk
· 7mo ago

This is a really important find - unique in fact. It has slight similarities to a torc from Moulsford (now in Reading Museum).

I've been looking at photos of this torc for a bit and I am pretty certain this wasn't ever a single strand torc - I think it was made as a triple strand with a piece now missing in one of the strands (hence the hammered ends on the broken neck ring).

One of those things that needs researching - but if it can't be bought by Leicestershire Museum Service it'll be given back to the finder and landowner, likely to be sold, possibly exported. Legally they could even melt it down...

I hate doing this, but we really REALLY need to rescue this one.

"If enough is not raised, the future of the torc is uncertain...and could even end up in the hands of a private collector in the UK or abroad. If this were to happen the object could effectively disappear from sight."

Donation link here: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-save-leicestershires-bronze-age-torc

crowdfunder.co.uk
9
0
16
1
Open post
Dr Tess Machling @tess_machling@mastodonapp.uk
· 7mo ago
£300,000 to buy 2 stunning pieces of prehistoric goldwork from 4 people. So far, c.200 lovely people have given their hard earned cash to rescue these important finds - here's to them! #Archaeology #Detecting 🏺 https://www.stokemuseums.org.uk/pmag/the-ellastone-fastener/ https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-save-leicestershires-bronze-age-torc#
stokemuseums.org.uk
8
0
4
0
Open post
Dr Tess Machling @tess_machling@mastodonapp.uk
· 7mo ago

"If the total of £150,000 is not raised, the British Museum has an option to buy the torc, or the finder and owner of the site are able to put it up for sale to the highest bidder."

Grim.

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-save-leicestershires-bronze-age-torc#

#Archaeology #Treasure #Detecting 🏺

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c747n8kd4y7o?app-referrer=deep-link

crowdfunder.co.uk
8
0
7
0
Open post
Dr Tess Machling @tess_machling@mastodonapp.uk
· 8mo ago
This is *such* an important find & will form significant collection w/ Leekfrith Iron Age torcs & Staffs AS hoard gold as examples of gold through time. But we really REALLY shouldn't be held ransom by finders & landowners for such pieces... #Archaeology 🏺 #Torcs https://www.stoke.gov.uk/news/article/2004/%C2%A3150%2C000_appeal_launched_to_keep_major_bronze_age_gold_treasure_in_staffordshire?fbclid=Iwb21leAPpL1NjbGNrA-kvCmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHvONTqOvwZQ61ORpZauvFe-i63hVOgqVtiIUobcnpC9uwV8s3hNG-oXG4Imn_aem_w7Lxc1WjJTriqU-9AbLPPg
stoke.gov.uk
8
0
3
0
Open post
Dr Tess Machling @tess_machling@mastodonapp.uk
· 7mo ago

This is what happens when 'treasure' can't be bought by a museum - the hoard has been broken up into individual auction lots & will disappear into many different hands, some almost certainly overseas.

When do we start saying enough is enough??

https://www.noonans.co.uk/auctions/calendar/898/catalogue/?specialcollectionpart_id=1721

#Archaeology #Treasure #Detecting 🏺

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czr033kk7zxo?app-referrer=search

noonans.co.uk
7
0
10
0
Open post
Dr Tess Machling @tess_machling@mastodonapp.uk
· 7mo ago

It was such a pleasure to talk to Geraldine from the Museums Journal about the various issues associated with 'treasure', detecting and dwindling museum resources...

#Archaeology #Detecting #Treasure 🏺 #Museums

https://www.museumsassociation.org/museums-journal/news/2026/02/british-museum-raises-3-5m-to-acquire-tudor-heart-pendant/

mastodonapp.uk
6
0
4
0
Open post
Dr Tess Machling @tess_machling@mastodonapp.uk
· 8mo ago

'more than 45,000 members of the public had contributed to the cause'

... and all to pay the detectorist and landowner for a lucky find!!!

#Archaeology #Treasure #Detecting 🏺

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yk3vrgv51o

mastodonapp.uk
6
0
1
0
Open post
Dr Tess Machling @tess_machling@mastodonapp.uk
· 7mo ago
I wonder which of these 25 ingots @findsorguk.bsky.social (all were returned to finder...) ended up being melted down? There's very few truly undiagnostic finds - most are awaiting a person or technique to decode their secrets... #Treasure #Detecting #Archaeology 🏺 https://finds.org.uk/database/images/index/sort/updated/objecttype/INGOT/imageRights/Isle+of+Wight+Council Text from: https://spectator.com/article/why-a-set-of-gold-coins-have-divided-british-archeologists/
finds.org.uk
4
0
1
0
Open post
Dr Tess Machling @tess_machling@mastodonapp.uk
· 5mo ago

My lovely friend Chloe Duckworth has started a fabulous business refurbishing and selling #vintage and #antique wonders...

If you're on Facebook, do give her a follow!

... and please share. Thank you 😊

https://www.facebook.com/share/1EwdYw4FPW/

mastodonapp.uk
2
1
3
0
Open post
Dr Tess Machling @tess_machling@mastodonapp.uk
· 7mo ago
So close!! Can we get it across the line and into the safety of Leicester Museums Service, where it can be researched, studied... and looked after in perpetuity! #Archaeology 🏺 https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-save-leicestershires-bronze-age-torc#
crowdfunder.co.uk
3
3
14
1
Open post
Dr Tess Machling @tess_machling@mastodonapp.uk
· 8mo ago

One Show tonight, 13 mins. All about treasure hunting.

...& what did the arch present have to say?

"Some objects you have to report by law, mostly gold & silver objects, but other objects [in] UK law you don't have to record"

I give up... 😔

#Archaeology

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002pvhm

mastodonapp.uk
3
0
1
0
Open post
Dr Tess Machling @tess_machling@mastodonapp.uk
· 5mo ago
Replying to
@grb090423@mastodon.social thank you! 😊
1
0
0
0
Open post
Dr Tess Machling @tess_machling@mastodonapp.uk
· 8mo ago

The PAS report for 2024 is out. 79,616 finds were reported (up 7% from 2023's 74,506) 1540 Treasure finds (up 12% from 2023's 1358) So... numbers are still rising at alarming rates.

https://finds.org.uk/documents/annualreports/2024.pdf

Only 4238 finders are reporting to PAS (up from 2023's 3877... but considering the huge boom in the numbers of those detecting, this is still only 1-10% of the number of detectorists in UK). AKA we're still in a mess and it's only getting worse...

Interestingly, there is *NO INFO* in the 2024 PAS report (unlike the 2023 report) regarding numbers of finds being exported!! Why is that?? Hmmmm...

TLDR All numbers are still increasing and the picture I've been highlighting over the last few months isn't getting any better...

https://bigbookoftorcs.com/who-owns-torcs/

#Archaeology #Detecting #Treasure

finds.org.uk
2
0
2
0
Open post
Dr Tess Machling @tess_machling@mastodonapp.uk
· 6mo ago
Replying to on mastodonapp.uk
@wood5y@mastodonapp.uk hope you get a trip back there soon! 😊
1
1
0
0
Open post
Dr Tess Machling @tess_machling@mastodonapp.uk
· 6mo ago

Another fabulous gold artefact that needs our help!

This gorgeous Bronze Age 'dress fastener' needs our help so that it can be bought by Potteries Museum in Stoke.

If we can't, it will be handed back to finder/landowner & likely sold at auction... 😭

Donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/charity/pmagfriends

https://www.stokemuseums.org.uk/pmag/the-ellastone-fastener/

Thank you! ❤️

#Archaeology 🏺

justgiving.com
1
1
3
0
Open post
Dr Tess Machling @tess_machling@mastodonapp.uk
· 6mo ago
Replying to
@apronfullofstones thank you! It's just got the £10,000! 😊
1
0
1
0
Open post
Dr Tess Machling @tess_machling@mastodonapp.uk
· 7mo ago
Replying to on mastodon.social
@grb090423@mastodon.social @pvonhellermannn@mastodon.green @markhburton@mstdn.social @junesim63@mstdn.social @samsterby@mastodon.green @ScienceCommunicator@mastodon.social @DoubleTreble@cupoftea.social @greenhousethinktank@greennet.social @MelSedds@toot.wales @Simon318ppm@mastodon.sdf.org @corin_ja@mastodon.social I don't know, sorry. I don't tend to use Mastodon as much now and gained most followers in the early days when everyone was leaving twitter.
1
0
0
0
Open post
Dr Tess Machling @tess_machling@mastodonapp.uk
· 6mo ago
Replying to
@wood5y I've spent time there looking at the Leekfrith and Alrewas torcs... it's a lovely place with great staff.
0
1
0
0
Open post
Dr Tess Machling @tess_machling@mastodonapp.uk
· 7mo ago
“I’m just trying to save history for the local community and future generations. And I’ve always been very happy to donate my finds to the local museum for others to experience and enjoy.” Yay for Mr Nicolas! #Treasure #Detecting #Archaeology 🏺 https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/metal-detectorists-find-2000-year-33485357
walesonline.co.uk
0
0
0
0
Open post
Dr Tess Machling @tess_machling@mastodonapp.uk
· 8mo ago
Replying to on archaeo.social
@ArchaeoIain@archaeo.social yup... and also no talk of context, landscapes etc etc
0
0
0
0
Open post
Dr Tess Machling @tess_machling@mastodonapp.uk
· 7mo ago
Replying to on c.im
@TimWardCam@c.im well done you... and yes, it's an awful illness.
0
0
0
0
Open post
Dr Tess Machling @tess_machling@mastodonapp.uk
· 6mo ago
Replying to
@wood5y oh thank you! It's such a lovely museum, it really is.
0
1
0
0
Back
313k7r1n3
Elektrine

Tor hidden service

elekhj7afj4qnrr4yd3bkzslsyo5jgfxw3orgjkhlcxifueodybyiiad.onion

I2P eepsite

j6b6cyk6gjmepjih7jjadxgxvvf3lzzujljuu2v4biemzpg3naya.b32.i2p

Platform

  • Email
  • Chat
  • Timeline
  • VPN
  • DNS

Company

  • About
  • Contact
  • FAQ
  • Lite (no JS)

Legal

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Transparency Report
  • Report Abuse
  • Warrant Canary
  • VPN Policy

Support

  • support@elektrine.com
  • Report Security Issue
Mail client setup IMAP mail.elektrine.com:993 POP3 mail.elektrine.com:995 SMTP mail.elektrine.com:465
© 2026 Elektrine. All rights reserved. Server: 09:40:28 UTC