Casgliadau Arlein

A fragment of metalworking mould. The impression on this fragment resembles the plain underside of a quadrangular brooch terminal, but not enough survives to be certain. The surface is flat and plain with an edge which has straight side that turns inwards 90 degrees, has another straight edge which turns outwards at 90 degrees. Reminiscent of the inner corner of a cross shape of a quadrangular brooch. Alternatively, the angular line may be a fragment of a projecting rectangular lug. Fabric: grey core and inner surface with a thin reduced orange outer surface. Due to the presence of copper slag on-site, these moulds were probably produced copper alloy objects.

From Group C. Impressions with Curved or Straight Edges and Projecting Lugs

2017.4H/3.5 and 2017.4H/3.6 appears to indicate an object with projecting lugs, recalling those on the door handle plate from Donore, Co. Meath (Kelly; Youngs 1989, cat. No. 64). However, the projections on the St Patrick’s Chapel moulds are small and project from straight edges which show slight curvature towards on end of the surviving fragments. Both are very fragmentary, but the keying indent is partially preserved on 2017.4H/3.6, in the manner of central indents on bivalve moulds from Dooey, Co. Donegal and Dunadd (for brooches; Youngs 1989, nos 180, 181). There is a suggestion that the impression may have continued into a hoop, suggesting that this fragment could represent the inner edges of a penannular brooch terminal. The late ninth – early tenth-century brooch from Ballyspan, Co. Kilkenny, has similar small projections (Youngs 1989, cat. No. 89, 104, lower left), while the Breadalbane brooch as slightly larger projections (Brunning 2020, fig. 10.1).

Canoloesol Cynnar, dernyn mowld ceramig i gweithio copr