On Tracks of Iron and Salt: Roman Worcestershire
January 29th to June 18th 2011

Worcester City Museum presents some of the most spectacular Roman archaeology that has been discovered across Worcestershire.  Drawing on the archaeology collections of both the City and County museums, the exhibition will explore Worcestershire's experiences of conquest, life, work, religion and death during the fascinating Roman period. Archaeology tells a story of contrasts in our towns and countryside, from Worcestershire's iron, salt and pottery industries to the Roman opulence of Bays Meadow Villa in Droitwich.

The exhibition includes a very special object which is returning to Worcestershire on loan from the British Museum.  Curator Deborah Fox explains:

"In 1840, a strange looking object was found in a gravel pit at Perdiswell in Worcester. The object was thought to be prehistoric and was linked at the time with a barrow that was located close by.

"The object in question is a torc or neck collar. Torcs are usually associated with high-status individuals, and this was a very rare find.  This torc is not made of twisted gold wires as many are but is a beaded torc. It consists of twenty two copper alloy beads and twenty four spacers that are threaded onto an iron bar. Only the beaded segment remains but the other half of the torc would have been made of a solid bar. The tradition could be a native iron age one but it is thought as likely that this object belongs to the early Roman period.

"It is of a type of torc that has its roots in the north of England and Worcester lies in the southern reaches of its usual area of distribution. What the torc is doing in Worcestershire is just one of the tantalising questions that the object raises.
"Worcester City Museums Service is grateful to the Department of Prehistory and Europe at The British Museum for the opportunity to display this fascinating object."

In addition to these fascinating objects, there will be hands-on activities for families in the museum's Activity Space throughout the exhibition and special workshops during school holidays.

For further information contact:

Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum
Admission free, open Tuesday-Saturday 10.30am-4.30pm
Foregate Street, Worcester, WR1 1QR, 01905 25371

www.worcestercitymuseums.org.uk
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