Casgliadau Arlein

Cast, as evidenced by thickness of strap, irregularities in shaping of plate edges and runner stub / nipple on top surface of loop. Simple arched cross-loop, with no ribs, rings, grooves or lateral flanges. Loop thins where worn. The attachment plates show distinct curvature in side view, suggesting that they were attached, near vertically, on the side of a globular vessel with simple rim and no brim. The curvature is consistent with a vessel of 300mm+ in diameter. The ring-handle sits free between the strap loop and cauldron fragment. Strap is attached to vessel by irregular shaped flat-headed rivets, the heads placed on the vessel side. Single thickness sheet fragment attached to back of handle strap. Vessel rim wrapped around rim strengthener. Each rivet on the rectangular attachment plate pierces the vessel sheet twice as a result. Rim strengthener is set at right angles to the strap attachment plates. There are two misaligned and unused rivet-holes on the vessel sheet behind the crescentic attachment plate. These indicate a repaired handle and strap on the vessel. Fragments of sheet are pinned by the rivets on the rectangular attachment plate, on the inner side of the vessel. A rivet attaches one fragment to the rim by piercing it. This could be the overlapping of sheets near the seam, however the overlap would be very wide (50mm+) and there is no evidence of an edge on the main vessel fragment. Alternatively, this additional sheet could provide further evidence of a repair.