The Snettisham Treasure, also known as the Snettisham Hoard, comprises a remarkable collection of Iron Age artifacts discovered in the Snettisham area of Norfolk, England, between 1948 and 1973. This treasure is primarily made up of metal, jet, and more than 150 fragments of gold, silver, and copper alloy Torcs, with over 70 pieces forming complete Torcs. These items date back to around 70 BC.
One of the most famous items from this hoard is the Great Torc of Snettisham, which is currently housed in the British Museum. Although the exact origin of these objects is uncertain, their exceptional quality suggests that they were part of a royal treasure belonging to the Iceni tribe.
A recent electron microscopic study conducted by the British Museum revealed various details about the Torcs, including patterns of cutter wear, metal chemistry, and cut marks. Many of the Torcs had been deliberately cut and fragmented, leading to the hypothesis that this destruction may have been a form of votive offering.
These significant finds are held in the Norwich Castle Museum and the British Museum. The Snettisham Treasure was ranked as the fourth most important British archaeological discovery in the 2003 BBC Television documentary "Our Top Ten Treasures," presented by Adam Hart-Davies. There are similar items, such as the Torc Sedgeford found in 1965, the Torc Newark discovered in 2005, and six ends from the Ipswich Hoard found between 1968 and 1919.