Casgliadau Arlein

Inlaid dagger-sheath plate of Type B, with a slightly irregular outline. In particular the lower end curves slightly to one side, and is cracked. There are traces of the rivet-holes to secure three of the four suspension rings. The fixing points for the upper rings are incomplete - one has no surviving holes, the second only three holes - but those for the lower rings are more or less complete with four rivet-holes each. The decoration is divided into four vestigal zones, which are seperated from one another by gaps. The first zone is a trapezoid delineated by a broad band of inlay. Within it is a V-shape formed by two parallel bands of inlay, and within the 'V' there is a smaller inverted 'V'. The whole is flanked by a field of fine herring-bone hatching. The second zone contains a cross formed by two pairs of parallel lines of broad inlay. This is on a background of fine cross-hatching. The third zone contains an inverted 'Y' or 'V' similar to that in the first zone. It is flanked by a background of herring-bone hatching. The fourth zone is decorated with panels of fine diagonal hatching.