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, no.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 axes Nos.1 and 2 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.

This is a large fragment of a socketed axe with half of the mouth missing due to a serious casting flaw. The axe is slender in form with near straight sides. The axe has a high-placed loop of medium thickness. It has an everted narrow and out-splayed mouth-moulding and a sub-rectangular shaped mouth with one mid face projecting runner stub (8.1 x 3.6mm, height 1-2mm). On each face, descending down half of the axe, are three well-defined ribs. Sharp and projecting casting flashes and a straight blade-edge indicate the axe was never prepared for use and is in straight out of the mould state. There are impact concavities on both mid faces, towards the base of the surface ribs, indicating deliberate impact damage to the axe. One face and both sides have a pale brown concreted soil surface, while the opposing face has a grey-green patina.