Casgliadau Arlein

Plain socketed axe. Small fragment of a plain slender socketed axe, comprising one quarter of the mouth, the loop and part of one upper face and axe side. The external mouth shape is curved but sub-rectangular, whilst the internal mouth shape is angular and rectangular. The mouth is narrow, being approximately 25-27mm wide (external mouth at right angles to the loop), to judge by the distance from the casting seam to the mouth edge. The side of the axe appears to splay outwards with a concave curve, suggesting a slender but flared axe. A prominent casting seam extending from the mouth top and down the side indicates that this axe was not finished. The axe has a wide and straight-sided blocky collar, whose lower edge is defined by a step (i.e. onset). The loop extends from beneath this collar. The fragment shows ample evidence of breakage through bending and twisting: there is a tear on the mouth and a partial tear on the lower interior face, whilst the face section is clearly bent and twisted. The fragment has a grey-green patina.