Casgliadau Arlein

CuA vessel rim fragment, comprising fragments of two tier sheets joined together. The vessel has a slightly inwards curving simple rim, the top edge being slightly rounded but with little thickening. The vessel appears to have been a simple globular form, whilst the rim diameter suggests a bowl rather than cauldron size. The two sheets are held together with two small headed circular sectioned rivets, with another rivet hole spaced between them and piercing both sheets. The sheets overlap by 4.0mm, except at the sheet edge or rim, where an extended overlap strip of 11.0mm and 11.2mm wide is present on the first sheet. The second sheet is folded over this onto the exterior surface (8.4mm wide) and riveted down with a joining rivet. The X-ray indicates the presence of a second torn rivet-hole next to this rivet, only on the extension strip and invisible beneath the second folded sheet, which is un-perforated at this point. This may suggest that the vessel was repaired or than an error was made during the manufacture of this cauldron. A further small headed rivet is present near to, but not holding the join on the first sheet. On the second folded sheet, there are two torn circular rivet holes, one on the fold over strip, the second vertically below it. (see also SF 102 below). Typological affinities: This simple rim form rules out Atlantic Class A&B cauldrons and the bucket forms of the later Bronze Age. The absence of any evidence for an iron rim or rim band, makes it most likely that this was once part of a handled bowl of Early Iron Age date (750-500BC). However, this is not an entirely diagnostic fragment on its own.