Casgliadau Arlein

The sheet noticeably thickens towards the rim edge, which has a narrow but flat top. X-ray shows interesting metal structure, of parallel diagonal lines at a 45-60 degree angle to the rim edge. The form of this rim excludes the possibility of it being from an Atlantic A&B cauldron or bucket of the later Bronze Age in Britain or Ireland. The most likely possibility, is that this comes from a large globular bowl or cauldron of Early Iron Age date. The absence of any rolling over of sheet at the rim or traces of contact with iron, tend to diminish the possibility that it was once part of a cauldron of Late Iron Age or Romano-British date, though this fragment is not entirely diagnostic on its own.