Casgliadau Arlein

1 CuA bent possible vessel rim fragment with a small headed rivet, circular in shape and with a slightly convex top. The vessel wall thickens towards the rim edge, which is flattened. An 8-9mm wide rim edge strip, in the proximity of the rivet, appears to have been compressed by a handle strap or repair strip once attached by the rivet, but now missing. This shows as a distinct step less than 0.1mm high on both surfaces and traced for a length of approximately 9.0-10.0mm. A slight change in surface colouration probably represents an edge at right angles to the rim and the step, blocking off a rectangular shaped area once covered by the handle strap or repair strip. The original diameter of the vessel is impossible to estimate, due to sheet bending. If this is indeed a rim, then its form rules out being from an Atlantic Class A&B cauldron or bucket of the later Bronze Age. Since the curvature of this fragment is unknown, it is not possible to distinguish between cup, bowl or cauldron form. The small headed rivet tends to support an Iron Age date, though this fragment is not diagnostic on its own.