By Emily Glass

[Originally posted on http://edinburghnapiernews.com/2011/03/21/iron-age-gold-hoard-to-finally-be-on-display-at-the-national-museum-of-scotland/ on 21st March 2011]

National Museums Scotland have finally secured a set of four Iron Age gold neck ornaments after raising funds for two years.

The treasure was found by David Booth  in 2009 in his first outing with his metal detector whilst at work. Chief Game Warden at Blair Drummond Safari Park, near Stirling, Booth unearthed the trove which was lying a mere six inches below the surface of a field.

The neck ornaments, or torcs, date between the 1st and 3rd Century BC and will be on display in the National Collections at The National Museum of Scotland on Chambers Street.

Mr Booth will receive a reward payment of £462,000 which was set-up by the Queen’s and Lord Treasure’s Remembrancer after he reported his remarkable find to the Treasure Trove Unit.

The treasure has been cited by Culture Minister Fiona Hyslop as being the most important Iron Age find in Scotland’s history. She described the importance of the hoard’s display in The National Museum of Scotland: “I congratulate the National Museum of Scotland on its successful fundraising campaign to ensure that it remains here and will be on free display for the general public.”