2009-01-23 10:45:58 Mark Lodwick mlodwick 2011-05-11 12:12:57 Caroline Barton cbarton NMGW-99E8C7 Bead 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). 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, wi... 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. Gold BRONZE AGE BRONZE AGE Middle -1400 -1100 8 13.5 2009-01-23 10:45:58 WREXHAM Wrexham Rossett POINT( ) SJ35NE SJ3335 29.06.2003 Metal detector 1 NMGW Creative Commons Non Commercial Share Alike - The Portable Antiquities Scheme 2009 These records can be reproduced in a non commercial enviroment as long as the original recorder is cited. The Portable Antiquities Scheme info@finds.org.uk No fees are applicable.