Torcs, Prehistoric Society and Chocolate. INTERVIEW: Tess Machling |

[@elizaonthemountain3464]

I'm a recent subscriber who is so thrilled your videos were suggested in my feed. I am going through your list of videos and I had to comment that this woman is an absolute inspiration and gem. ❤

[@ThePrehistoryGuys]

Thanks so much for saying so. I'll pass the message on to Tess. R

[@thebigbookoftorcs1623]

Awww thank you so much! That's really kind! 😊

[@dianespears6057]

It is great to see a person who is both a scholarly researcher and a teacher. Very interesting work about torcs and raised a lot of thoughts about what they were and represented. The observations on workmanship and technique were great insights for the lay person. Keep it up, Tess (and Roland).

[@treering8228]

This is delightful! Thank you two for a lovely interview!

[@aliciapeacock4662]

Gosh you guys pick the most interesting people to interview. You make it all seem so easy to chat on such varying topics that show us the tremendous energy, enthusiasm and excellence in your guests. Well done!

[@ThePrehistoryGuys]

Aw shucks! Thank you Alicia 🙂

[@larrycarroll7371]

Delightful and informative. You made my evening very special. Thank you all.

[@ThePrehistoryGuys]

Lovely to hear. Thank you Larry. 🙂

[@ChristophersMum]

What an interesting person Tess is...quite a varied life including... chocolate!...One thing that amazed me was how the torques felt when you went to put them on...I envisioned something quite solid, not springy...amazing... thank you for your time in bringing her to us.

[@jennijennifer5129]

Wonderfully interesting Tess, Michael and Rupert. Thank you.

[@martinkavanagh196]

Great work Tess & Guys - really enjoyed that.

[@carolegarland8050]

Delightful! should have been twice the length.

[@janbarryh1856]

Wonderful guest, kudos to all! I completely enjoyed you !

[@crazykansan3026]

Dr Tess Machling is wonderful. Torcs are my favorite artifacts.

[@robertgross1655]

Hi. As someone who has worn a silver neck torc for 30 years (6oz ish) they are wonderful. I also wondered that in battle that they would be very good neck protection from cuts. Also have a copy of the great torc. You wouldn’t wear that for long without serious neck and head problems. But a silver one keeps you warm in winter and cool in summer. And as your guest said they break if you take them on and off. So once on, it’s on. Yes the wire ones are springy. The cast ones are not. Hence the silver one stays on. It was cast.

[@victoriawhite3662]

Interesting insight, thanks! I really want one!

[@robertgross1655]

Hey I got a reply. A first. Yes I know who does torc’s if you want one then you will find your own. Each is special.

[@thebigbookoftorcs1623]

Hiya. Not quite the whole story... They don't actually break very often at all. If you have a look at the Grotesque torc blog on our website, you'll see. Also, having worn a torc not far off the weight of the Great torc, they're not actually that heavy and you very quickly get used to them. There's no evidence for them ever having been used in battle - you don't find any damage caused by any kind of weapon or missile. Hope this helps, Tess

[@robertgross1655]

The twisted wire torcs defiantly don’t break. I showed my brother the great torc I have, and he straightened it, thinking that’s how you put them on. Oouch . Cast ones do break. I have a broken silver torc. Bad casting. But that only broke after 20 years of wear. Oh my great torc is 1.2kg think heavier than the original. But mine dosent hollow terminals. I have heard reports that some of the best ones found came from the same workshop?

[@thebigbookoftorcs1623]

In prehistory, they really don't break very often through use - we've looked. Faulty casting may affect it, yes, but we haven't seen that. If you read the Grotesque paper on our website, you'll find the evidence for this.

[@victoriawhite3662]

So interesting! Dying to have one! Thanks guys!

[@ESL.MsClaire]

She’s fab! I loved listening to her, learnt a lot from this great 🙂

[@janetmackinnon3411]

A treat indeed!

[@TheJodie6789]

Loved your talk

[@sherrileerothwell5516]

What a inspiring woman and an inspiring interview. Thank you!

[@jeb-zf4un]

Fascinating

[@elainerichards6406]

This was fascinating! Who would have thought of making chocolate torques! Very well made replicas, would be a shame to eat them!

[@szifty]

Cracking stuff!

[@ThePrehistoryGuys]

Thank you Kieran! 🙂

[@juliepoppy1021]

I so want a tork

[@book3100]

There are bronze ones available online.

[@travisnapoleansmith]

There are bronze and sterling silver torcs available. I have a number of them both bracelets and necklaces. I wear the bracelet versions of them very often. The neck versions are more difficult to deal with. They are very springy. I get mine from the Crafty Celts. It takes them somewhere between 4 to 6 weeks to make as they are made to order. The prices are quite reasonable and very well made.

[@greentorm5467]

I've just found your channel a couple of weeks ago; have you ever covered iron age settlements on the Merseyside coast? I know the Mesolithic area of Lunt Meadows is currently being excavated.

[@deormanrobey892]

👀 👍

[@kevinreillydenmylne]

do we know where the gold was mined?

[@thebigbookoftorcs1623]

Hello! It's likely that, by the Iron Age, the gold was being recycled from other objects with some also collected from alluvial gold sources. It may also be that they were mining, but most Iron Age gold is alloyed with silver and copper so it's less obvious that they were. More work does need to be done on the precise metal compositions before anyone can say for sure though.

[@kevinreillydenmylne]

@@thebigbookoftorcs1623 tx tess, one point i thought would interest you, talking with a friend of mine, a re enactor wearing a plaid and a torc, it started to rain so he pulled the plaid over his head, he then spin the torc around his neck gathering the fabric underneath, turning it into a form of hood, keeping it in place

U really need to change your opening music....SERIOUSLY