Casgliadau Arlein

Ribbed Socketed Axe - side fragment (Find No.8/7)

Part of a hoard of 39 bronze fragments representing a minimum of 38 artefacts discovered in a field following agricultural drainage work. All of the artefacts were reported as being discovered within an area of 2.4m (8 feet) of each other, of each other and at approximate depths of 20-30cm (8-12 inches).

The patination of the objects is consistent with them having been buried in a peaty peaty deposit, which has been known to result in a brown or black patina (Fontijn 2002,40). The hoard findspot was near small watercourse. A search of the Historic Environment Record (www.archwilio.org.uk) revealed no Bronze Age features of sites in the adjacent fields.

Detailed Description; This is a side fragment of a copper-alloy ribbed socketed axe. In side-view, the faces of the axe converge towards the lower break edge, indicating that this fragment derives from the lower body. The casting seams is prominent but has been blunted, suggesting rapid hammering and preparation for use. The upper and lower break edges are soil covered and eroded, suggesting that the axe was broken in antiquity.

The axe fragment has a brown patina. Light green powdery surfaces are exposed along the side edges.