Dr Tess Machling
@tessmachling.bsky.social
Archaeologist, gold & torc researcher, chocolate artefact maker & mum. Often post about cats who aren't mine...
Views all my own 😊
Green party 💚
She/her 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
Work on torcs & gold: https://bigbookoftorcs.com
Buy me a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/tess317409
Views all my own 😊
Green party 💚
She/her 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
Work on torcs & gold: https://bigbookoftorcs.com
Buy me a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/tess317409
Pinned
Hello folks. I've been making plaster of paris artefacts/decorations for friends.
I'm opening it up here now - all items incl. postage (UK only, sadly) & gift packaging. I can send things within a week, usually faster.
Anyway, if there's anything you fancy, message/email me! 😊
#Archaeology 🏺
I'm opening it up here now - all items incl. postage (UK only, sadly) & gift packaging. I can send things within a week, usually faster.
Anyway, if there's anything you fancy, message/email me! 😊
#Archaeology 🏺
Something a lot of people don't realise is that, if something is illegally detected (so detected where finder doesn't have permission from landowner), the landowner still gets the 'reward' money from the find - in fact sometimes 100% of 'reward' money!
Cont'd
#Archaeology 🏺 #Detecting #Treasure
Cont'd
#Archaeology 🏺 #Detecting #Treasure
November 24, 2025 at 6:21 AM
Something a lot of people don't realise is that, if something is illegally detected (so detected where finder doesn't have permission from landowner), the landowner still gets the 'reward' money from the find - in fact sometimes 100% of 'reward' money!
Cont'd
#Archaeology 🏺 #Detecting #Treasure
Cont'd
#Archaeology 🏺 #Detecting #Treasure
Yeah.
They did...
They did...
November 23, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Yeah.
They did...
They did...
7th October 2025
289 Detected Iron Age coins.
"as the years move on, I feel it is time to pass on part of this collection to fellow enthusiasts, collectors & historians."
AKA flogging them to highest bidder to do what they want with...
#Archaeology 🏺 #Detecting
www.noonans.co.uk/archive/spec...
289 Detected Iron Age coins.
"as the years move on, I feel it is time to pass on part of this collection to fellow enthusiasts, collectors & historians."
AKA flogging them to highest bidder to do what they want with...
#Archaeology 🏺 #Detecting
www.noonans.co.uk/archive/spec...
www.noonans.co.uk
November 22, 2025 at 10:23 AM
7th October 2025
289 Detected Iron Age coins.
"as the years move on, I feel it is time to pass on part of this collection to fellow enthusiasts, collectors & historians."
AKA flogging them to highest bidder to do what they want with...
#Archaeology 🏺 #Detecting
www.noonans.co.uk/archive/spec...
289 Detected Iron Age coins.
"as the years move on, I feel it is time to pass on part of this collection to fellow enthusiasts, collectors & historians."
AKA flogging them to highest bidder to do what they want with...
#Archaeology 🏺 #Detecting
www.noonans.co.uk/archive/spec...
Reposted by Dr Tess Machling
Seems we're unwilling to return treasure looted from other countries during the Empire days, but happy to sell off our own cultural heritage to the highest bidder.
*Archaeological find of national significance broken up and dispersed overseas*
There, fixed that headline for you
www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/2562811...
There, fixed that headline for you
www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/2562811...
Roman coin find in Dorset field sells for over £16,000
A hoard of 97 Roman coins found in Dorset by metal detectorist Trenton Oliver sold for £16,625 at Noonans Mayfair auction, exceeding estimates.
www.dorsetecho.co.uk
November 22, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Seems we're unwilling to return treasure looted from other countries during the Empire days, but happy to sell off our own cultural heritage to the highest bidder.
"The coins were auctioned off in 57 lots by Noonans Mayfair on Wednesday, November 12, attracting global bidders from the UK, USA, Europe and New Zealand."
Honestly, it's relentless...
#Archaeology 🏺 #Detecting #Treasure #Coins
Honestly, it's relentless...
#Archaeology 🏺 #Detecting #Treasure #Coins
*Archaeological find of national significance broken up and dispersed overseas*
There, fixed that headline for you
www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/2562811...
There, fixed that headline for you
www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/2562811...
Roman coin find in Dorset field sells for over £16,000
A hoard of 97 Roman coins found in Dorset by metal detectorist Trenton Oliver sold for £16,625 at Noonans Mayfair auction, exceeding estimates.
www.dorsetecho.co.uk
November 22, 2025 at 5:39 AM
"The coins were auctioned off in 57 lots by Noonans Mayfair on Wednesday, November 12, attracting global bidders from the UK, USA, Europe and New Zealand."
Honestly, it's relentless...
#Archaeology 🏺 #Detecting #Treasure #Coins
Honestly, it's relentless...
#Archaeology 🏺 #Detecting #Treasure #Coins
🚨 BREAKING 🚨
The Green Party has now reached over 170,000 members!
Membership growth, polling surges, by-election wins and defections, the Green Party is making hope normal again.
Join today to be part of it ⤵️
The Green Party has now reached over 170,000 members!
Membership growth, polling surges, by-election wins and defections, the Green Party is making hope normal again.
Join today to be part of it ⤵️
November 21, 2025 at 4:54 PM
I think it's a single line, clockwise, spiralling out from the centre (dominant right hand?). But I'm going to have to have a go at drawing it later... 🤣
Whatever, it's confident, flowing.. one of those wonderful, very brief, moments in time that we rarely see...
#Archaeology 🏺
Whatever, it's confident, flowing.. one of those wonderful, very brief, moments in time that we rarely see...
#Archaeology 🏺
The base of a 2,000 year old, Late Iron Age Durotrigian style Black Burnished Ware bowl from Winterborne Kingston #Dorset
A series of squiggles were scored into the fabric prior to firing - decoration, doodle or pot-makers mark?
📷 during cleaning in June 2013
#FindsFriday
A series of squiggles were scored into the fabric prior to firing - decoration, doodle or pot-makers mark?
📷 during cleaning in June 2013
#FindsFriday
November 21, 2025 at 8:02 AM
I think it's a single line, clockwise, spiralling out from the centre (dominant right hand?). But I'm going to have to have a go at drawing it later... 🤣
Whatever, it's confident, flowing.. one of those wonderful, very brief, moments in time that we rarely see...
#Archaeology 🏺
Whatever, it's confident, flowing.. one of those wonderful, very brief, moments in time that we rarely see...
#Archaeology 🏺
Bruce and I both really enjoyed the @lpfgsocmedia.bsky.social conference yesterday.
For anyone who missed it, there's recordings coming. ❤️
#Archaeology 🏺
For anyone who missed it, there's recordings coming. ❤️
#Archaeology 🏺
November 21, 2025 at 7:04 AM
Bruce and I both really enjoyed the @lpfgsocmedia.bsky.social conference yesterday.
For anyone who missed it, there's recordings coming. ❤️
#Archaeology 🏺
For anyone who missed it, there's recordings coming. ❤️
#Archaeology 🏺
I was hoping to have gotten set up for Christmas markets and with a website but it's been a rough year! Mari Lwyd and other keyrings/bag charms inspired by iron age/Romano-British artefacts). £15 each or two for £25 (UK postage only im afraid). Let me know below if you are interested.
November 20, 2025 at 7:28 PM
TODAY!
Really looking forward to this later. It's all free, link in post, and I'm talking about three fabulous, related, torcs at 3pm.
#Archaeology 🏺 #Torcs #Gold
Really looking forward to this later. It's all free, link in post, and I'm talking about three fabulous, related, torcs at 3pm.
#Archaeology 🏺 #Torcs #Gold
Do join us at our free online symposium tomorrow from 10am!
You can join using the following MS Teams link: l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http...
Some do have issues joining so please open the Teams browser or app and go to Calendar, Join meeting with ID and put in
ID: 364 396 620 178 1
PC: bG2gD3ZU
You can join using the following MS Teams link: l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http...
Some do have issues joining so please open the Teams browser or app and go to Calendar, Join meeting with ID and put in
ID: 364 396 620 178 1
PC: bG2gD3ZU
November 20, 2025 at 6:56 AM
TODAY!
Really looking forward to this later. It's all free, link in post, and I'm talking about three fabulous, related, torcs at 3pm.
#Archaeology 🏺 #Torcs #Gold
Really looking forward to this later. It's all free, link in post, and I'm talking about three fabulous, related, torcs at 3pm.
#Archaeology 🏺 #Torcs #Gold
Random #gold stuff -
Still don't think that's really solid gold... there's way more than 100kg of gold there, if it is...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Still don't think that's really solid gold... there's way more than 100kg of gold there, if it is...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Ripley's revealed as buyer of $12m golden toilet
The first edition of Maurizio Cattelan's work was stolen from Blenheim Palace in 2019.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 20, 2025 at 6:53 AM
Random #gold stuff -
Still don't think that's really solid gold... there's way more than 100kg of gold there, if it is...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Still don't think that's really solid gold... there's way more than 100kg of gold there, if it is...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Dr Tess Machling
Tess doing doing such good work on mining PAS data for the stories they fail to tell about the impact of unregulated metal detecting. The figures on exports are staggering and hidden in sight.
The system is broken and overdue significant reform
The system is broken and overdue significant reform
My latest piece of writing - looking at Export Licences, detecting tourism, etc and pulling together some of the earlier figures.
We really are in a mess...
#Archaeology #Detecting 🏺 #Gold #Treasure
bigbookoftorcs.com/2025/11/19/g...
We really are in a mess...
#Archaeology #Detecting 🏺 #Gold #Treasure
bigbookoftorcs.com/2025/11/19/g...
Going… going… gone overseas?
by Tess Machling [A download/print PDF version can be found at the end of the paper] Abstract With the boom in detecting tourism, and with mass detecting rallies being held across the UK, increasin…
bigbookoftorcs.com
November 19, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Tess doing doing such good work on mining PAS data for the stories they fail to tell about the impact of unregulated metal detecting. The figures on exports are staggering and hidden in sight.
The system is broken and overdue significant reform
The system is broken and overdue significant reform
Reposted by Dr Tess Machling
My latest piece of writing - looking at Export Licences, detecting tourism, etc and pulling together some of the earlier figures.
We really are in a mess...
#Archaeology #Detecting 🏺 #Gold #Treasure
bigbookoftorcs.com/2025/11/19/g...
We really are in a mess...
#Archaeology #Detecting 🏺 #Gold #Treasure
bigbookoftorcs.com/2025/11/19/g...
Going… going… gone overseas?
by Tess Machling [A download/print PDF version can be found at the end of the paper] Abstract With the boom in detecting tourism, and with mass detecting rallies being held across the UK, increasin…
bigbookoftorcs.com
November 19, 2025 at 6:41 AM
My latest piece of writing - looking at Export Licences, detecting tourism, etc and pulling together some of the earlier figures.
We really are in a mess...
#Archaeology #Detecting 🏺 #Gold #Treasure
bigbookoftorcs.com/2025/11/19/g...
We really are in a mess...
#Archaeology #Detecting 🏺 #Gold #Treasure
bigbookoftorcs.com/2025/11/19/g...
Reposted by Dr Tess Machling
And as much context destroyed 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
How deep were those artefacts?
How were they arranged?
Any traces of textile nearby?
Any imprint of wooden items?
How deep were those artefacts?
How were they arranged?
Any traces of textile nearby?
Any imprint of wooden items?
"I've never sold a single item & I've found thousands of coins."
'he keeps his finds carefully arranged in a display cabinet at his home.'
...that's just one #detectorist.
Multiply that by perhaps 40,000 people - that's an awful lot of artefacts.
#Archaeology 🏺
www.bbc.com/news/article...
'he keeps his finds carefully arranged in a display cabinet at his home.'
...that's just one #detectorist.
Multiply that by perhaps 40,000 people - that's an awful lot of artefacts.
#Archaeology 🏺
www.bbc.com/news/article...
The Surrey Metal Detecting Club sees membership leap in six years
Founded with 60 members in 2019, the Surrey club now has more than 3,000 members across the county.
www.bbc.com
November 19, 2025 at 2:44 PM
And as much context destroyed 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
How deep were those artefacts?
How were they arranged?
Any traces of textile nearby?
Any imprint of wooden items?
How deep were those artefacts?
How were they arranged?
Any traces of textile nearby?
Any imprint of wooden items?
My latest piece of writing - looking at Export Licences, detecting tourism, etc and pulling together some of the earlier figures.
We really are in a mess...
#Archaeology #Detecting 🏺 #Gold #Treasure
bigbookoftorcs.com/2025/11/19/g...
We really are in a mess...
#Archaeology #Detecting 🏺 #Gold #Treasure
bigbookoftorcs.com/2025/11/19/g...
Going… going… gone overseas?
by Tess Machling [A download/print PDF version can be found at the end of the paper] Abstract With the boom in detecting tourism, and with mass detecting rallies being held across the UK, increasin…
bigbookoftorcs.com
November 19, 2025 at 6:41 AM
My latest piece of writing - looking at Export Licences, detecting tourism, etc and pulling together some of the earlier figures.
We really are in a mess...
#Archaeology #Detecting 🏺 #Gold #Treasure
bigbookoftorcs.com/2025/11/19/g...
We really are in a mess...
#Archaeology #Detecting 🏺 #Gold #Treasure
bigbookoftorcs.com/2025/11/19/g...
+3000 words written.
Blog done.
Grim reading.
Online tomorrow...
... and now I really am done until the 2024 TVC minutes, the next PAS report and/or I get the FOIs back. 😊
Bruce got so fed up with me, he started savaging artefacts! 🤣
Blog done.
Grim reading.
Online tomorrow...
... and now I really am done until the 2024 TVC minutes, the next PAS report and/or I get the FOIs back. 😊
Bruce got so fed up with me, he started savaging artefacts! 🤣
November 18, 2025 at 7:45 PM
+3000 words written.
Blog done.
Grim reading.
Online tomorrow...
... and now I really am done until the 2024 TVC minutes, the next PAS report and/or I get the FOIs back. 😊
Bruce got so fed up with me, he started savaging artefacts! 🤣
Blog done.
Grim reading.
Online tomorrow...
... and now I really am done until the 2024 TVC minutes, the next PAS report and/or I get the FOIs back. 😊
Bruce got so fed up with me, he started savaging artefacts! 🤣
Reposted by Dr Tess Machling
Just reshape and sell history.
Metal detector finds I feel should belong to us all.
Metal detector finds I feel should belong to us all.
Yup... here it is, as found, in the PAS database - it's been straightened out for sale (something archaeological conservators wouldn't do - it was likely intentionally crushed in antiquity. Also, are we 100% sure this is right shape??)
1/4
#Archaeology #Detecting 🏺
finds.org.uk/database/art...
1/4
#Archaeology #Detecting 🏺
finds.org.uk/database/art...
November 18, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Just reshape and sell history.
Metal detector finds I feel should belong to us all.
Metal detector finds I feel should belong to us all.
Yup... here it is, as found, in the PAS database - it's been straightened out for sale (something archaeological conservators wouldn't do - it was likely intentionally crushed in antiquity. Also, are we 100% sure this is right shape??)
1/4
#Archaeology #Detecting 🏺
finds.org.uk/database/art...
1/4
#Archaeology #Detecting 🏺
finds.org.uk/database/art...
November 17, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Yup... here it is, as found, in the PAS database - it's been straightened out for sale (something archaeological conservators wouldn't do - it was likely intentionally crushed in antiquity. Also, are we 100% sure this is right shape??)
1/4
#Archaeology #Detecting 🏺
finds.org.uk/database/art...
1/4
#Archaeology #Detecting 🏺
finds.org.uk/database/art...
OK...I need someone to check my maths here.
This really is that 1/3 of the number of finds found in any one year & c.6% of the number of annual Treasure finds were exported in 2023?
The data is all from the 2023 PAS report.
Seriously, I'm not imagining this, am I?
😮
#Archaeology #Detecting 🏺
This really is that 1/3 of the number of finds found in any one year & c.6% of the number of annual Treasure finds were exported in 2023?
The data is all from the 2023 PAS report.
Seriously, I'm not imagining this, am I?
😮
#Archaeology #Detecting 🏺
November 17, 2025 at 3:15 PM
OK...I need someone to check my maths here.
This really is that 1/3 of the number of finds found in any one year & c.6% of the number of annual Treasure finds were exported in 2023?
The data is all from the 2023 PAS report.
Seriously, I'm not imagining this, am I?
😮
#Archaeology #Detecting 🏺
This really is that 1/3 of the number of finds found in any one year & c.6% of the number of annual Treasure finds were exported in 2023?
The data is all from the 2023 PAS report.
Seriously, I'm not imagining this, am I?
😮
#Archaeology #Detecting 🏺
I know many folks won't agree, but I'm less enamoured of Snettisham Great torc, than Netherurd torc terminal 😱
...but I did grow to love it a bit more when I carried out this piece of research: it's wayyyyy more complicated than it first appears!
#Archaeology
bigbookoftorcs.com/2022/05/29/p...
...but I did grow to love it a bit more when I carried out this piece of research: it's wayyyyy more complicated than it first appears!
#Archaeology
bigbookoftorcs.com/2022/05/29/p...
Pattern and purpose: a new story about the creation of the Snettisham Great torc.
by Tess Machling [A download/print PDF version can be found at the end of the paper] This paper can be cited as: DOI 10.5281/zenodo.10511411 The Snettisham Great torc is one of the most recogn…
bigbookoftorcs.com
November 17, 2025 at 1:07 PM
I know many folks won't agree, but I'm less enamoured of Snettisham Great torc, than Netherurd torc terminal 😱
...but I did grow to love it a bit more when I carried out this piece of research: it's wayyyyy more complicated than it first appears!
#Archaeology
bigbookoftorcs.com/2022/05/29/p...
...but I did grow to love it a bit more when I carried out this piece of research: it's wayyyyy more complicated than it first appears!
#Archaeology
bigbookoftorcs.com/2022/05/29/p...
Reposted by Dr Tess Machling
One of the main defences of detecting I hear is that they discover things we wouldn't know about otherwise.
Stuff sitting on a shelf in somebody's house is lost to us. Stripping it of context strips or of meaning = It'd probably be better off left in the ground.
Stuff sitting on a shelf in somebody's house is lost to us. Stripping it of context strips or of meaning = It'd probably be better off left in the ground.
"I've never sold a single item & I've found thousands of coins."
'he keeps his finds carefully arranged in a display cabinet at his home.'
...that's just one #detectorist.
Multiply that by perhaps 40,000 people - that's an awful lot of artefacts.
#Archaeology 🏺
www.bbc.com/news/article...
'he keeps his finds carefully arranged in a display cabinet at his home.'
...that's just one #detectorist.
Multiply that by perhaps 40,000 people - that's an awful lot of artefacts.
#Archaeology 🏺
www.bbc.com/news/article...
The Surrey Metal Detecting Club sees membership leap in six years
Founded with 60 members in 2019, the Surrey club now has more than 3,000 members across the county.
www.bbc.com
November 17, 2025 at 9:23 AM
One of the main defences of detecting I hear is that they discover things we wouldn't know about otherwise.
Stuff sitting on a shelf in somebody's house is lost to us. Stripping it of context strips or of meaning = It'd probably be better off left in the ground.
Stuff sitting on a shelf in somebody's house is lost to us. Stripping it of context strips or of meaning = It'd probably be better off left in the ground.
"Detectors now can pretty much tell you what it is before you dig it. You can tell what shape it is, you've got IDs so you know what type of metal it is"
From BBC article in my last post.
#Archaeology 🏺
1/4
From BBC article in my last post.
#Archaeology 🏺
1/4
November 17, 2025 at 9:22 AM
"Detectors now can pretty much tell you what it is before you dig it. You can tell what shape it is, you've got IDs so you know what type of metal it is"
From BBC article in my last post.
#Archaeology 🏺
1/4
From BBC article in my last post.
#Archaeology 🏺
1/4
Reposted by Dr Tess Machling
Find it..... stick it on my shelf mate.
"I've never sold a single item & I've found thousands of coins."
'he keeps his finds carefully arranged in a display cabinet at his home.'
...that's just one #detectorist.
Multiply that by perhaps 40,000 people - that's an awful lot of artefacts.
#Archaeology 🏺
www.bbc.com/news/article...
'he keeps his finds carefully arranged in a display cabinet at his home.'
...that's just one #detectorist.
Multiply that by perhaps 40,000 people - that's an awful lot of artefacts.
#Archaeology 🏺
www.bbc.com/news/article...
The Surrey Metal Detecting Club sees membership leap in six years
Founded with 60 members in 2019, the Surrey club now has more than 3,000 members across the county.
www.bbc.com
November 17, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Find it..... stick it on my shelf mate.
Reposted by Dr Tess Machling
"We're history finders"
It would seem not only finders ..... keepers as well !
Let's not forget history is everyone's and donating to Museums is an option
It would seem not only finders ..... keepers as well !
Let's not forget history is everyone's and donating to Museums is an option
"I've never sold a single item & I've found thousands of coins."
'he keeps his finds carefully arranged in a display cabinet at his home.'
...that's just one #detectorist.
Multiply that by perhaps 40,000 people - that's an awful lot of artefacts.
#Archaeology 🏺
www.bbc.com/news/article...
'he keeps his finds carefully arranged in a display cabinet at his home.'
...that's just one #detectorist.
Multiply that by perhaps 40,000 people - that's an awful lot of artefacts.
#Archaeology 🏺
www.bbc.com/news/article...
The Surrey Metal Detecting Club sees membership leap in six years
Founded with 60 members in 2019, the Surrey club now has more than 3,000 members across the county.
www.bbc.com
November 17, 2025 at 8:09 AM
"We're history finders"
It would seem not only finders ..... keepers as well !
Let's not forget history is everyone's and donating to Museums is an option
It would seem not only finders ..... keepers as well !
Let's not forget history is everyone's and donating to Museums is an option
"I've never sold a single item & I've found thousands of coins."
'he keeps his finds carefully arranged in a display cabinet at his home.'
...that's just one #detectorist.
Multiply that by perhaps 40,000 people - that's an awful lot of artefacts.
#Archaeology 🏺
www.bbc.com/news/article...
'he keeps his finds carefully arranged in a display cabinet at his home.'
...that's just one #detectorist.
Multiply that by perhaps 40,000 people - that's an awful lot of artefacts.
#Archaeology 🏺
www.bbc.com/news/article...
The Surrey Metal Detecting Club sees membership leap in six years
Founded with 60 members in 2019, the Surrey club now has more than 3,000 members across the county.
www.bbc.com
November 17, 2025 at 8:00 AM
"I've never sold a single item & I've found thousands of coins."
'he keeps his finds carefully arranged in a display cabinet at his home.'
...that's just one #detectorist.
Multiply that by perhaps 40,000 people - that's an awful lot of artefacts.
#Archaeology 🏺
www.bbc.com/news/article...
'he keeps his finds carefully arranged in a display cabinet at his home.'
...that's just one #detectorist.
Multiply that by perhaps 40,000 people - that's an awful lot of artefacts.
#Archaeology 🏺
www.bbc.com/news/article...