Typical celtic form of neckring. Although items from as early as 1800 BC have been found in Egypt that resemble torcs the name is commonly used for bronze, iron or golden neckrings from the European Iron Age. The neckrings found their offspring in the Bronze Age as simple rings and developed into elaborately decorated ornaments with or without rich terminals. Most Celtic torcs have been found in France but an extremely wide spread of torc like ornaments has been encountered through excavations from Spain to the British Isles and Scandinavia and from Persian lands to Egypt.

The Roman author Pliny writes that torcs were part of the Celtic battle-dress but excavations have revealed mainly women and girls wearing torcs.

Sources consulted

• An Illustrated Dictionary of Jewelry. Newman, Harold. Thames & Hudson Ltd. London, 1981 ISBN 0500274525
• 7000 Years of Jewellery, Various Authors, edited by Hugh Tait, British Museum Press, London, 1986. ISBN 9780714150321