La Tène Gold torcs (Vth– Ist c. BC): Evolution of morphology, representation and ways of wearing

International audienceThis paper focused on La Tène gold torcs in continental Europe and presented some first results of the French-German CELTIC GOLD beginning project.Torcs are emblematic objects of La Tène period, often linked with warrior representations, with religious and symbolic spheres, and also associated with economic ones, because of closed links with gold coinage from 3rd century BC, particularly visible in hoards.Quite common on Late Iron Age iconography, torcs are represented worn around the neck (in functional position), suspended from the arm or holding in the hand of some characters (as on Gundestrup cauldron), and also on gold coins named “rainbow cups”, without anthropomorphic figure but in association with other coins. Historical sources mentioned them also.The aim of this presentation is to put in light all the diversity of torc manifestations and to characterized their evolution. Following a chronological thread, these evolutions will be discussed through the morphology and the ways of wearing of these objects first, taking account of their discovery context.In fact, a close look to the morpho-typology of these annular ornaments, through the analysis of their ergonomics, clasp and closing system, size and weight, allows comparisons with iconographic and funeral data, in an attempt to discuss their evolution and the ways they were worn