Casgliadau Arlein

One of a Hoard of twenty one bronze tools, weapons and ingot fragments dating to the Ewart Park phase of the Late Bronze Age (1000-800 BC)

This is a Ribbed socketed axe of probable Coxton Type / Southern English ribbed B3 Type, bronze – complete

A complete ribbed socketed axe of bronze, with a deep onset collar, a slightly flared and trumpet-shaped profile and a slightly emphasized rim. The axe has near-straight and parallel sides which lead curve outwards near the blade end to form a moderately expanded blade, with a deep and well curved cutting edge. The body is sub-rectangular in cross-section with slightly rounded face edges, whilst the mouth is sub-square shaped in plan-view. The mouth top is slightly bevelled and well finished, but there are hints of a slightly projecting and continuous casting flash around the inner rim. A loop of moderate width descends from the lower collar zone. On each face, descending down two-thirds of the axe, are three parallel ribs. Possibly burnt.

The hoard contains 13 axe heads, 1 palstave, 3 spearheads, 1 sword and 2 fragments from copper and leaded bronze ingots of Late Bronze Age (1150-800BC) dates. 1 additional post-medieval copper alloy object was found nearby but was probably mixed in by chance. The hoard was discovered on the south-eastward facing slope of a shallow valley with a view of the Bristol Channel. There was no obvious watercourse flowing nearby.