Casgliadau Arlein

Heavy, penannular bracelet? bent out of shape and with only one terminal extant. It is of roughly circular cross section with the terminal somewhat flattened and widened. The body is decorated with closely spaced incised lines. The terminal has incised line and groove ornament. It was found with pottery of third to fourth century date. The piece has been included here despite its very small size which, even allowing for some post usage distortion, seems too slight to allow it to be worn on any arm or wrist. IT is possible that the piece may be a damaged penannular brooch, but it is very heavy and atypical and lacking diagnostic treatment of the extant terminal. Similarly its weight and also its size argue agains use as an ear ring. A piece from South Shields, of closely similar dimensions and decorative details, is also identified as a bracelet but in the case of the Usk piece, such use seems scarcely practical.