Casgliadau Arlein

Slender faceted axe of Type Meldreth / Class D. This is a near complete, slender and faceted axe, with damaged mouth, missing loop and broken blade edge. The sides are divergent and with a concave curve, widening at the blade end. The axe has a flared or trumpet-shaped mouth, with a wide collar and a low-set and narrow loop, emerging below the collar. The collar is unusually wide with a convex, evenly curved and wide mid zone moulding defined to either side by evenly curved depressions running parallel with the central moulding. The collar is onset, with a step down to the top of the blade faces, but with a raised, flat-topped and wide moulding (2.5mm) defining the lower collar margin. The facets are narrow and the edges are sub-angular, the axe having a total of eight facets (three on each face and one on each side). The side casting seams are visible, however were hammered or filed, except beneath the loop, where a projecting flash is still visible. Approximately half of the mouth of the axe is missing and the break appears eroded, rather than new. The external outline and internal aperture of the mouth are oval in shape. Running down the upper face on one side, linear striations are evident, running parallel with the long axis of the axe. These appear to have been created in antiquity, since they are within the patinated surface. On the upper blade bevel, there are linear striations running parallel with the original blade edge, indicating the axe blade was sharpened ready for use. Most original surfaces of the axe survive and the artefact has a grey-green patina. The blade edge has mostly been removed through breakage. On one corner, the break looks new, exposing core metal, while much of the length of the broken blade has light green and powdery surfaces. One area of lower blade and side is also eroded with similar light green and powdery surfaces, while the loop breaks and parts of the mouth and mouth breaks are also light green and powdery. Within the socket, there are two projecting lumps of green carbonate concretion, about one third of the way down the inner socket wall.