Record ID: NMGW-99E8C7 - BRONZE AGE bead

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Bead

Unique ID: NMGW-99E8C7

Object type certainty: Certain

A resized image of Middle Bronze Age gold bead and wire

A biconical bead made of sheet gold with a central perforation for suspension. The bead is damaged and misshapen, with a snag and a tear evident (maximum diameter 13.5mm, maximum height/width 8.0mm, thickness of sheet <0.1mm, weight 0.84g). The gold wire is sub-rectangular in cross-section, with curving meanders, suggesting it was once coiled. One terminal has a globular shaped head; the other has a flattened and folded back hook terminal (maximum current length 40.7mm, diameter of wire 0.7-1.0mm, weight 1.13g).

Notes:

These two artefacts were found at the same location as the Burton hoard (TAR 2004, no.485). These artefacts therefore represent additions to the original hoard. The biconical bead is of identical form and similar dimensions to three other examples within the hoard. In Britain and France, good parallels may be found in Middle Bronze Age contexts (1400-1100BC). The gold wire was found attached to the biconical bead, the flattened hook terminal being held inside the interior of the bead. This object is hard to parallel, however its terminals resemble hook and clasp terminals on cuff armlets and ribbon torcs of gold, which date to between 1600-1300BC. The wire may once have been a finger ring joined with 'bulb and clasp' terminals. Semi-quantitative metallurgical analysis of both the bead and the wire indicated a very high gold composition, with a small percentage of silver and 1-1.5% copper.

Class: Biconical

Subsequent actions

Current location of find: National Museum Wales
Subsequent action after recording: Acquired by museum after being declared Treasure

Treasure details

Treasure case tracking number: 2007W13

Chronology

Broad period: BRONZE AGE
Period from: BRONZE AGE [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Date from: Circa 1400 BC
Date to: 1100 BC

Dimensions and weight

Width: 8 mm
Weight: 0.84 g
Diameter: 13.5 mm
Quantity: 1

Materials and construction

Primary material: Gold [scope notes | view all attributed records]

Spatial data

Region: Wales
County: Wrexham
District: Wrexham
Parish: Rossett

Restricted 4 Figure grid reference: SJ3558
The map has been degraded and provides an approximate location with a degree of random obfuscation.
Grid reference source:
Grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.

Method of discovery: Metal detector [scope notes]
General landuse: Cultivated land [scope notes]

Discovery dates

Date(s) of discovery: Wednesday 1st August 2007

Personal details

Found by: This information is restricted for your login.
Recorded by: Adam Gwilt - [ view all attributed records]
Identified by: Mr Mark Lodwick - [view all attributed records]

Other reference numbers

Other reference: Treasure reference (Wales) 2007.13 (2004.2)
Treasure case number: 2007W13

References cited

No references cited so far.

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