Casgliadau Arlein

Major portion of a small three ribbed socketed axe, with half of mouth missing and a broken loop. Thin outsplayed mouth moulding with high placed loop extending from its underside. The exterior and interior mouth shapes are rectangular, whilst the base of the socket is even. Only one possible projecting runner stub is visible in the surviving section of mouth, but this is irregular in shape, so not conclusive on its own. Three longitudinal ribs extend down the faces of the axe. On one face the ribs are parallel but discontinuous at lower end, whilst on the other the ribs are slightly convergent. The sides of the axe are slightly divergent and concave, expanding modestly at the blade end. The face edges are curved and the axe is hexagonal in cross-section. Casting flashes are prominent but appear to have been blunted by hammer. This axe was miscast: the socket mould piece was set at an angle to the mould halves, giving uneven wall thicknesses. Near the break on one upper face, the wall is only 0.6mm thick. Secondly, there are minor casting defects on the mouth and on one lower side and face. These did not prevent the preparation of the axe for use: hammer facets are visible on the blade bevel margins and striations parallel to the blade edge indicate that the blade was sharpened. The blade edge has entirely corroded away, however shows modest curvature in plan view. The axe has a shiny dark green to black patina.