Casgliadau Arlein

South Wales type socketed axe. A near complete socketed axe with a broken loop, of blocky rectangular form, with straight and slightly divergent sides and little expansion and recurving visible towards the blade end. The axe has a prominent but narrow mouth moulding, with a high and narrow loop descending from the underside. Three well-defined and parallel ribs descend from the moulding on each face, extending down approximately three-quarters of the blade. The axe is rectangular in section with angular face edges. The casting seams are visible down each side, but have been hammered or filed down with reasonable care, although the flash within the loop is slightly more prominent and less worked down. The mouth is sub-rectangular in shape and internal aperture. Four runner stubs are evident around the mouth, indicating a four-runner casting technology. The axe has a brown patina and most original surfaces survive. The blade edge is highly damaged, revealing lighter green surfaces. There are small areas of eroded lighter green surfaces along the face edges and around the mouth.