Casgliadau Arlein

One of a Hoard of nine bronze axes and one possible casting jet.

This is a South Wales Type socketed axe, bronze – complete

A complete socketed axe with a high and narrow everted mouth moulding with a narrow and high-placed loop. The mouth is sub-rectangular in shape with four runner-stubs evident, two prominent and two less-prominent. There is three-ribbed decoration descending from the mouth moulding on each face and approximately down half the length of each face. The casting seams down each side are visible but have been hammered down, however the flash within the loop has not been trimmed. The blade-edge is slightly curved and expands slightly and there are striations visible on one face both parallel with the blade edge and at right angles. These suggest the axe was prepared for intended use. One face and half of each side has a grey-green patina also with areas of black patina. The reverse face and its two sides have a contrasting and ‘sided’ light brown patina with areas of grey-green patina.

The 9 axes were recovered from the same pit at depths between 15-45cm. They were placed haphazardly with rocks buried between them.

The 9 axes of this hoard group are remarkably homogenous. 1-8 are all socketed axes identifiable as South Wales Type, 1 is a Collard Variant.They all date to the Ewart Park phase of the Late Bronze Age (1000-800 BC). Of the group, only this axe and No.1 show clear evidence of being worked and prepared for use. Nos 5 and 9 show significant casting flaws and are in their 'as cast in the mould' state, never having been prepared for use. Similarly, nos 7 and 8 were never prepared for use. For axes 3, 4 and 6 the evidence is less clear either way.

The fragment of casting jet was discovered approximately 30 metres away. Leaded bronze casting jets are often found with Late Bronze Age hoards making it likely that this object was originally buried with the axes and disturbed later due to ploughing.