Casgliadau Arlein

Iron latch lifter formed from an iron bar of square cross section tapering at both ends. The twisted handle is bent at a right angle and terminates in a loop for the attachment of a separate ring (of circular cross section). The gently curving arm tapers slightly and is bent upwards at its tip. Two similar latch lifters were found at Whitton (Jarret & Wrathmell 1981, p196 fig. 76.51-2), one from a Roman midden context (late 1st to 4th century), the other unstratified. A fragmentary iron bar from Lesser Gath Cave has been identified as part of a comparable latch lifter (Savory 1966, p34-35 fig.2.3) and it is also likely that an iron bar from a Romano-British hut at Dinorben is also part of a similar type (Savory 1971, p45 fig.13.2).