Casgliadau Arlein

This is a South Wales Type socketed axe, bronze – complete One of a Hoard of nine bronze axes and one possible casting jet.

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.

A complete and slender socketed axe with slight outward flaring near the blade end. It has a high and narrow, everted mouth moulding and a high-placed loop of medium thickness. The mouth is sub-rectangular in shape with four runner-stubs evident, one prominent and three less prominent. There is three-ribbed decoration descending from the mouth moulding on each face and approximately two thirds of the way down the face. On one side the ribs are defined and continuous and on the other discontinuous and poorly defined. The casting seams down each side are prominent but have been rapidly hammered down. Down one side there is a slight misalignment of the two mould halves, one side slightly proud of the other. There is damage to the blade along both side areas. It is possible that this axe was prepared for use, although any blade edge striations are masked by surface concretion and soil. One upper face has patches of black patina between ribs, with an overall grey-green patina and small areas of bronze metal exposed. The reverse face is soil covered.