Casgliadau Arlein

Small socketed axe with narrow outsplayed mouth moulding, from whcih a high placed loop exetends. Three slightly convergent longitudinal ribs extend from mouth moulding down blade faces. Both external and internal socket mouth shapes are sub-rectangular but slightly irregular in shape. Four prominent runner bases project from mouth top, the one on loop side offset from midpoint along side. At top of mouth on non-loop side is an untrimmed projecting ridge at top of casting seam. Blunted casting seams visible down each side of axe. Axe has slightly divergent sides, with small amount of widening at blade end to form cutting edge. Slight recurving of sides. Cutting edge is well preserved and still sharp, although old nick on one side of blade. Blade has moderately screscentic shape. Striations on blade edge indicate sharpening. One side of axe has black patina (tenorite), the other has green patina with areas of black patination showing through. The black patina is present on socket interior surfaces.