NMGW-0A1053: ARROWHEAD
Early Bronze Age flint barbed and tanged arrowhead The arrowhead is near-complete, missing only one barb and has a surviving length of 21.10mm, a maximum surviving width of 17.96mm, a maximum thickness of 4.11mm and weighs 1.1g. The flint has patinated white. A small area n one face appears to be polished and suggests the arrowhead may have been reworked from a Neolithic polished flint axehead.
Stable URI: https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/138520

NMGW-41AEA2: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Late Bronze Age bronze socketed axe of uncertain type and of Ewart Park metalworking phase, corresponding to Needham's (1996) Period 7, dated to 950 - 750BC. The axe is incomplete, missing the blade, the mouth and loop, giving the axe a surviving length of 80.87mm and weight of 229.0g. The surviving mouth is uneven and irregular because of insufficient bronze to fill the mould during casting. The mouth has an oval profile with external dimensions of 46.95mm x 38.28mm (37.85 x 30.55mm internal). One face is higher at the mouth and appears to be turning out slightly, before it would have formed a slight mouth moulding. There is no evidence for whether the casting process employed a two-runner or four-runner technology. The collar is deep (26mm) and is concave on the more complete face. The remains of the loop begin beneath the mouth and are confined within the collar. The casting seams are prominent on both sides but have been finished. The sides are straight, but are beginning to flare outwards at the break. Beneath the collar, the axe has a sub-rectangular body profile. Both faces are decorated with three short (35mm) parallel ribs, which begin at the base of the collar. The axe has a width of 46.94mm and a thickness of 16.72mm at the break The surface of the axe is in good condition with a mid to dark green patina, additional black deposits on the surface may be the remains of an applied tenorite deposit. The axe is of an unusual form, with the loop confined within the collar. An axe recovered from Sesswick, Wrexham (Savory 1980, pp 108, No. 194, fig. 25) also has a deep and concave collar and is decorated with three short parallel ribs, although the loop begins at the base of the collar and the axe mouth is of sub-rectangular profile.
Stable URI: https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/139987

NMGW-E2D6C3: BLADE
Two co-joining blade fragments from a sword of Bronze Age date. None of the diagnostic features are present on the blade fragments, but the sword is likely to be a Ewart Park type sword of the Ewart Park metalworking tradition, c. 950 - 750BC. The sword blade is leaf-shaped and is widest at the centre of the fragment. The combined fragments (c. 300mm) probably represent a little over three quarters of the original blade length and approximately half the original length of the sword. The blade has a low lozenge shaped section, with a rounded mid-section and slightly concave outer section. The blade edges have been lost, but the start of the bevel is discernible in areas. The blade appears to have been bent prior to breaking, as evidenced by visible metal stress on the inside of the bend either side of the fracture. The sword bent by an angle of approximately 25 degrees before breaking. The bending has also resulted in both fragments being curved along their length. The sword was probably bent and broken prior to its deposition. One of the ends (probably the tip end) has deep parallel striations running along the blade on the mid section, which are also likely to have occurred in antiquity. The blade has a dark green patina, with small areas of surface loss. The fragments' length is 170mm hilt end and 132.5mm tip end. Its surviving width closest to the hilt is 26mm and its surviving width closest to tip is 23mm. The fragments' maximum width is 33.5mm. The thickness at the hilt end is 8.5mm and the thickness at the tip end (i.e. the minimum thickness) is 6.8mm. The overall maximum thickness is 8.8mm and the thickness at the break is 8.1mm. The blade fragments weigh 205 grams and 148.2 grams, hilt end and tip end respectively.
Stable URI: https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/85353

NMGW-EF3604: FLANGED AXEHEAD
Incomplete copper alloy low-flanged axe of Early Bronze Age date. The axe belongs to Type Arreton (following Schmidt and Burgess 1981) or Class 5 (following Needham 1983; forthcoming). It can be dated to the Arreton metalworking phase (1725-1500 cal. BC), falling within the later half of Period 4 (Needham 1996; Needham et al. 1997). The axe is incomplete, missing the butt and one of the blade tips. The axe has a surviving length of 73.5mm and would have had an approximate length of 110mm when complete. The sides are straight and near parallel, with a width at the septum of 28.2mm. The flanges and sides are gently rounded and convex, with a maximum height of 15.6mm. The sides have hammered decoration of diagonal markings. The sides curve out sharply just above the blade to produce a widely expanded crescentic cutting edge. The blade face is slightly convex, while the face is slightly dished. There is a straight median bevel and the axe has a thickness at the bevel of 12.2mm. Both faces have a number of small hammer marks of c. 2mm diameter. Sharpening striations running along the cutting edge are evident on both faces. The axe has a deep brown green patina which has flaked off in areas. The axe fragment weighs 165.9g.

NMGW-C23722: KNIFE
Plano-convex flint knife, probably of Early Bronze Age II-III date, corresponding to Needham's (1996) Period 3 c. 2,000 - 1,700BC. The knife is 51.7mm long and may have suffered some damage to the proximal end. The knife is widest about the mid point with a width of 20.6mm and a maximum thickness of 6.9mm. Both faces have been finely pressure flaked, although, as is typical there is more extensive pressure flaking on the dorsal surface. The knife was made on mid grey flint, which has patinated a pale grey to white. The knife weighs 8.2g. Plano-convex flint knives are often found associated with Early Bronze Age burials and have a close association with British Food Vessels and Food Vessel Urns (Savory 1980, p36), but have also been found associated with Collared Urns (ibid.).

NMGW-4E18E5: ARROWHEAD
Early Bronze Age flint barbed and tanged arrowhead measuring 16mm long, 18.4mm wide, 3.5mm thick and weighing 0.7g.

NMGW-768076: ARROWHEAD
Early Bronze Age barbed and tanged grey flint unpatinated arrowhead measuring 26.2mm long, 18.7mm wide, 4.6mm thick and 1.5g in weight.

NMGW-76B712: ARROWHEAD
Early Bronze Age barbed and tanged grey flint unpatinated arrowhead measuring 27.3mm long, 26.5mm wide, 4.9mm thick and 2g in weight.

NMGW-7888A4: ARROWHEAD
A Bronze Age flint unfinished roughout for a barbed and tanged arrowhead made on an unpatinated grey flint. The arrowhead blank measures 24.1mm long, 17.8mm wide, 4.7mm thick and weighs 1.8g.

NMGW-747D60: ARROWHEAD
Early Bronze Age flint barbed and tanged arrowhead (2,500 – 1,500 BC). The arrowhead is complete except for a little damage to the barbs. It is 20.5mm long, 4.1mm thick and has a maximum surviving width across the barbs of 19.3mm. The arrowhead was made on a cortical flake and areas of patination survive on both faces, suggesting that the arrowhead may have been reworked from an earlier tool or debitage. The patinated areas are a pale blue, while the rest of the surface is unpatinated and dark grey. The arrowhead weighs 1.3g.

NMGW-1975E5: BRACELET
Cast bronze penanular bracelet possibly from the Ewart Park phase of the Late Bronze Age, c. 950-750BC. The bracelet is of circular section with a diameter of between 4.9 and 6.1mm. The terminals are expanded and are of circular section with diameters of between 9.0 and 9.8mm. The expanded terminals are central with respect to the hoop. The bracelet is oval with a maximum internal diameter of 60.5mm. The original surface of the bracelet has been lost and the current surface is pitted. The bracelet weighs 39.7g. The bracelet is difficult to date since there are few diagnostic features on the object. Metallurgical analysis using a Scanning Electron Microscope suggested that the bronze composition was consistent with a Late Bronze Age date.

NMGW-58AE16: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Copper alloy socketed axe dating to the Ewart Park phase of the Late Bronze Age, c. 950-750BC. The axe is complete and is comparatively small with a length of 72.7mm and a weight of 181.2g, possibly suggesting a lead rich bronze. The mouth has external dimensions of 44.0 x 37.6mm and has the four casting runner stubs visible. The socket has an oval profile at the mouth with internal dimensions of 30 x 26.5mm and is 58.4mm deep. The axe has a single mouth moulding, which tapers to the face. The loop springs from the base of the moulding. The casting flashes are prominent on both sides and appear to have been finished by hammering. The axe body has a more rounded form than is usual for the type with a sub-rectangular section of 37mm width below the loop. Both faces are decorated with three, widely spaced converging weak ribs. The blade is recurved, producing a rounded blade edge with a length of 45.5mm. The axe has a green to brown patina and has recently been coated in a varnish.

NMGW-5AE896: CHISEL
Copper alloy tanged and collared chisel, probably dating to the Ewart Park phase of the Late Bronze Age (c.950-750 BC). The chisel is complete and is 98.3mm long. The tang is of square section and tapers to a curved edge. The base of the tang is defined by a rounded collar moulding, 6.2mm thick and 8.0mm wide. The blade sides diverge in a near straight (slightly concave) to a gently curved cutting edge of 24.3mm width. Some of the original surface survives on the chisel with a mid-green patina. The chisel weighs 18.1g.

NMGW-798C55: KNIFE
A Bronze Age flint knife fragment measuring 50.7mm in length, 29.5mm in width, 5.8mm thick and weighing 6.9g.

NMGW-2FC036: ARROWHEAD
A Bronze Age flint barbed and tanged arrowhead fragment measuring 18.9mm long, 13.7mm wide, 2.9mm thick and weighing 0.6g.

NMGW-301525: ARROWHEAD
A Bronze Age flint barbed and tanged arrowhead measuring 21.1mm long, 17.2mm wide, 3.8mm thick and weighing 1.2g.

NMGW-463FD5: ARROWHEAD
An Early Bronze Age flint barbed and tanged arrowhead measuring 24.4mm long, 20.7mm wide, 4.8mm thick and weighing 1.8g.

NMGW-62BF56: PIN
Copper alloy pin of ring-headed type, dating from the end of the Bronze Age to Middle Iron Age, c. 750 – 100BC. The pin is complete, but has distorted slightly near the tip and has an overall length of 99.2mm. The pin is of circular section with a diameter of between 3 and 4mm. The head forms a circular ring with an external diameter of 14.2mm (8mm internal). The ring is slightly open with a gap of c.0.5mm between the end of the ring and the neck. The neck forms the characteristic U-bend, before the near right-angle to the pin shaft (86mm in length). The diameter of the shaft is constant until c. 35mm from the tip, where the pin thins to the point. The only decoration evident on the pin is a single incised line on the front and sides of the head, 2mm from the end of the loop. The pin weighs 7.3g and is in good condition with much of the surface preserved and a mid-brown patina. This find represents the twelfth recorded find of ring-headed and swan’s-neck pins in South East Wales (comprising the old counties of Glamorgan & Gwent) (Gwilt in press), including the five recent examples excavated at Llanmaes, Vale of Glamorgan. Ring-headed pins of this form without a solid ring commonly carry simple decoration with notches on the front of the ring (Dunning 1934, pp274). The simple decoration on this form of pin can be paralleled with an example from Meare in Somerset (ibid. fig 3) and from Margan foreshore in Wales (Wear, unpublished) where an example has further notches along the neck and head. Few ring-headed pins have been recovered from a securely dated context, but the simple form and decoration on this example may suggest a date within the first half of the date range suggested above.

NMGW-632296: PALSTAVE
Late Bronze Age copper alloy palstave, probably of Type Guilsfield. The palstave is complete and has an overall length of 147.6mm and is comparatively heavy at 477.1g, implying a heavily-leaded bronze. The butt is straight (23mm wide) and is angled slightly towards the unlooped side. The septum is thick, as is typical for the type, with a thickness at the butt of 6mm and 14mm at the base of the stop. The septum is slightly concave across its width. The flanges are concave and end well before the butt (18mm). The sides before the stop are straight. The stop is rounded, suggesting the type to be 'Guilsfield' and projects prominently above the blade surface. The top of the stop overhangs the septum with a height of 18-19mm. At the stop, the palstave blade has a width of 28.4mm (42.4mm including the loop) and has a thickness of 31.1mm. The sides of the blade are concave and diverge to a narrow and gently curving blade of 45.6mm width. Both sides exhibit the casting seams, which have been finished, probably initially through hammering and then filing, the seam on the unlooped side appears less well finished than the corresponding seam. The sides are comparatively straight across their thickness. The loop has an external width of 26.3mm (13.1mm internal), a maximum thickness of 9.1mm and projects 14mm above the side of the palstave. The exterior of the loop carries small faceting, possibly as a result of multi-directional filing. The blade has a comparatively deep convex curve near the stop, which becomes weaker as it approaches the edge, the blade is otherwise undecorated. Both blades display neat and systematic hammer-marks. The blade edge has been lost but prominent sharpening striations are evident running along the blade on both faces. The palstave has good surface preservation with a mid to dark green patina. Small areas of surface damage and possible bronze disease are visible on the edges and a small recent scrape is visible on one flange, possibly as a result of excavation.

NMGW-759FC0: PALSTAVE
Late Bronze Age copper alloy palstave, probably of Type Guilsfield. The palstave is complete and has an overall length of 141.0mm and is comparatively heavy at 483.7g, implying a heavily-leaded bronze. The butt has a width of 24.7mm and is irregular, appearing to have suffered from casting problems with the bronze at the surface appearing to be porous, there is also some hollowing on both sides of the septum adjacent to the butt. This damage may be a result of insufficient bronze when casting. The butt was likely to have been straight and angled slightly towards the unlooped side. The septum is thick, as is typical for the type, with a thickness at the butt of 5mm and 15mm at the base of the stop. The flanges are concave and end well before the butt (17mm), with the flanges on the looped side appearing shorter than on the other. The sides before the stop are straight. The stop is rounded, suggesting the type to be 'Guilsfield' and projects prominently above the blade surface. The top of the stop overhangs the septum with a height of 18-19mm. At the stop the palstave blade has a width of 28.3mm (43.0mm including the loop) and has a thickness of 33.4mm. The sides of the blade are concave and diverge to a slightly expanded blade, producing a curved blade edge of 50.0mm width. Both sides exhibit the casting seams, which have been finished, probably initially through hammering and then filing. The sides are comparatively straight across their thickness. The loop has an external width of 27.9mm (13.9mm internal), a maximum thickness of 9.4mm and projects 15mm above the side of the palstave. The exterior of the loop carries small faceting, possibly as a result of multi-directional filing. The blade has a comparatively deep convex curve near the stop, which becomes weaker as it approaches the edge, the blade is otherwise undecorated. Both blades display some hammer-marks. The blade edge survives near the unlooped side and prominent sharpening striations are evident running along the blade on both faces. Deep striations are also present running up the blade. The palstave has good surface preservation with a black patina at the rear and dark brown patina on the blade.

NMGW-75C4F7: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Late Bronze Age copper alloy socketed axe of faceted form and of Type Gillespie (follow Schmidt and Burgess 1981, 191f.). The axe is complete, although the blade edge has been lost and the axe has an overall length of 87.6mm and weighs 129.2g. The mouth is oval with an external width of 35.7mm and an external thickness of 33.2mm (internal - 27.8mm x 24.7mm). The socket has a depth of 74mm and becomes sub-rectangular in section c. 25mm from the mouth. The rim has been carefully finished and no evidence of the casting runner stubs survives. The pronounced flaring, trumpet-shaped mouth is 13mm deep. The separation of the mouth and face is defined by a rounded collar moulding, which is deeper on the mouth side to accentuate the flaring trumpet mouth. The loop begins at the collar moulding and has an external length of 21.3mm (11.6mm internal) and rises to a height of 10mm, with a width of 7.8mm. The casting seams are visible down both sides and have been neatly finished, particularly on the area between the blade and loop. The sides are straight before the blade, where the sides expand and are recurved, producing an expanded cutting edge. Beneath the collar moulding the axe has the hexagonally-faceted form. The faces are slightly convex and rounded. The blade is distinct and begins 15mm from the current edge. Sharpening striations are evident running along both sides of the blade. The axe has generally good surface survival with some damage to the blade. The axe has a patchy black patina and elsewhere has a pale to mid green patina.

NMGW-75FE70: GOUGE
Late Bronze Age copper alloy socketed gouge. The socketed gouge is near-complete and has broken in antiquity at the mouth. The gouge may be judged slender with a maximum external diameter at the mouth of 20.2mm (15.6mm internal). The gouge has an overall length of 86.0mm and weighs 46.0g. The mouth is simple and has no mouldings around it. The gouge has a subtle collar 12mm deep. The sides of the gouge are gently concave and converge towards the blade edge. The casting seams are high and have undergone minimal finishing. The gouge groove begins 31mm from the mouth. The blade edge has been lost and it is now unclear weather the blade originally expand at the sides. The blade has a width of 14mm. Sharpening striations are evident running off the blade edge (at 90 degrees) on the face and are angled (at approximately 45 degrees) on the rear of the blade. The gouge generally has good surface survival and has a black or pale green patina. Areas of active bronze corrosion are present at the mouth and on the blade. Savory (1980, pp 55) suggests that earliest socketed gouges such as those that occur in the Guilsfield hoard have multiple mouth mouldings, whereas later gouges tend to have a broad flat collar.

NMGW-7621D3: BLADE
Bronze Age copper alloy blade fragment from an uncertain artefact. The implement is incomplete and has broken in antiquity before the blade and has a surviving length of 54.6mm. The piece has been cast in a simple one-piece mould and has undergone no further finishing. At the break the piece has a width of 16.4mm. The sides are curved and diverge sharply to define an expanded blade with a crescentic edge. The implement is flat with a thickness at the break of 4.2mm and 3.2mm at the blade, and weighs 40.1g. Both faces are irregular as would be expected, given that the piece is from the mould. The upper face has a general silver colour, probably because of tin surface enrichment but also has patches of a pale to mid green patina. The underside has a general pale green patina. The implement is an unusual constituent within an assemblage, not least because it has undergone no finishing and may be seen as coming straight from the mould. A parallel for the piece is from the Acton Park (Wrexham) hoard, where an unusual implement interpreted as a possible chisel was found associated with primary shield pattern palstaves (Savory 1980, No.262 (7), Fig.30). The Acton Park chisel is of similar blade dimensions, is also 'as cast', is flat and has a wide expanded blade. The Acton Park piece however is complete and has flanged sides, since this item has broken before the position of the flanges any identification is speculative. Alternatively, and perhaps more plausibly, this might represent a broken blade of a later tanged chisel, broken below any tang or collar. Tanged chisels are known from a variety of Late Bronze Age contexts such as the hoards from Penwyllt, Powys, and Brogyntyn, Shropshire (Savory 1980, No.284(9); No.288(3)).

NMGW-774626: PALSTAVE
Medial fragment from a Bronze Age copper alloy palstave. The fragment has broken in antiquity and has a surviving length of 74.6mm and weighs 139.8g. The fragment encompasses the upper end of the blade, the stop and the majority of the septum. The septum has a surviving length of 45mm and is broken at an angle. It is possible that the position at the end of the septum is the butt of the palstave, although this can not be demonstrated. The septum is comparatively flat and has a thickness of 6-7mm. Both of the sides are straight for the length of the fragment. The flanges are eroded, but are unlikely to have arched any higher than the maximum thickness at the stop, which is 23.2mm. No loop or remnants are evident on the sides and the casting flashes are no longer visible. The stops are straight and right-angled to the flanges. One of the stops has a large aperture (12mm wide and 13mm deep) as a result of casting problems. The stop is raised above the level of the blade and slopes down to the blade. No decoration is evident on the blade, although one face suggests some hollowing below the stop. The blade side is rounded across its depth. None of the original surface survives on the palstave, which is heavily pitted and has a pale to mid-green patina.

NMGW-F48146: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Blade fragment from a Late Bronze age copper alloy socketed axe, probably of Ewart Park metalworking, corresponding to Needham's (1996) Period 6, c. 950-750BC. The axe has a surviving height of 43.8mm and has a width at the break of 40.6mm. The body has rounded sides, producing an oval body profile. The sides are straight and divergent towards an expanded blade. The casting seams are no longer evident on the sides. The blade tips have been lost and the blade has a surviving length of 47.5mm. The blade edge has been lost, but the blade has an uneven curvature suggesting greater use-wear on one area of the blade (with the shorter side). Axes tend to have greater blade wear on the looped side. No ribs are discernible on the surviving faces. The socket has a maximum surviving depth of 24.6mm. The axe has a maximum thickness at the break of 21.3mm and weighs 86.0g.

NMGW-F33FF2: ARROWHEAD
An Early Bronze Age flint barbed and tanged arrowhead measuring 25.1mm long, 23.5mm wide, 5.8mm thick and weighing 2.1g.

NMGW-08F7B1: ARROWHEAD
An Early Bronze Age barbed and tanged flint arrowhead measuring 21.6mm long, 17.4mm wide, 4.3mm thick and weighing 1.0g.

NMGW-9C9FF7: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Incomplete Late Bronze Age copper socketed axe, dating from between 1150-700BC. The axe is represented by the blade fragment and has a maximum surviving length of 58.0mm and weighs 111.2g. The axe has broken near the bottom of the socket, with a surviving socket depth of between 9.3 and 23.8mm. At the break the axe has a width of 39.7mm and a thickness of 17.4mm. The blade has a surviving width of 41.4mm, although blade tips may have been lost. The sides are straight and a little rounded across their width (possibly exaggerated by surface erosion). The position of the casting seams are discernible on the sides and would have been prominent on the original surface. The faces of the axe are slightly rounded and no evidence of ribs survives. The blade is also rounded. The axe has poor surface preservation and currently has a pale green colour.

NMGW-B23071: CHISEL
Late Bronze Age copper alloy tanged and collared chisel, c. 1150 - 700 BC. The chisel is complete except for the missing blade edge and has an overall length of 85.5mm and weighs 23.1g. The tang (48mm length) is of square section, which diverges towards the prominent shoulder moulding or 'collar'. At the collar the chisel has a width of 12.3mm, thickness of 8.8mm. The collar moulding has a length of 6mm, converges towards the blade and appears to be slightly concave along its length. The sides of the blade are concave producing an expanded blade edge with a surviving width of 28.2mm. The chisel has a mid-brown patina with some surface survival. Some surface striations are evident on one face and running at an angle across the blade, it is unclear whether the striations are the result of sharpening.

NMGW-6F3FF3: KNIFE
Late Bronze Age socketed knife of Thorndon type in good condition. The blade is leaf-shaped, resembling in miniature swords of the period. The blade edge is bevelled on both sides with a slightly concave profile. The socket is oval in section and on the exterior expands at both ends, while the interior is parallel sided. The blade and socket, characteristically for the type, meet at a straight line. There is a circular attachment rivet midway along the socket, the rivet is still in place on one face. Near the rim beneath the handle is a smaller hole, possibly a secondary attempt to secure the handle. On the other face an area of bronze has torn away, the top of the tear corresponds with the secondary hole on the other face and it is a possibility that this tear occurred during the repair. The knife has a brown patination with some of the red-brown soil still adhering to it. There are no visible sharpening striations along the blade.

NMGW-6D9AD7: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Incomplete ribbed socketed axe of Ewart Park metalworking tradition, dated to 1020-800BC. The axe has lost the mouth, one of the sides and an area of one face. The remainder of the damaged face has been crushed inwards, although it is now difficult to determine if this damage occurred in antiquity. The more complete face demonstrates the remains of two of the three parallel ribs. The mouth and collar of the axe are missing. The loop is also absent, but the remnants of the lower attachment point are evident on the more complete side. The axe would have had an hexagonal body profile, probably with a slightly expanded blade. The casting seam is visible along one side, and appears to have been finished by hammering. The remains of the socket suggest a rounded rectangular profile. The original surface of the axe has been lost, apart from possible small patches of brown-red patination on the incomplete face and in the socket. The surface damage and fragmentary state of the axe make it difficult to assertion the axe type. The ribs and hexagonal body profile suggest a South Wales (or Stogursey) type, of a relatively small example. However, the absence of the mouth and collar moulding make it impossible to be certain.

NMGW-71CCA7: PALSTAVE
Palstave dating to the Later Middle Bronze Age, probably dating between 1500 - 1000BC (Needham et al 1997). This palstave type is familiarly known as the 'Transitional Palstave', (Smith 1959; Schmidt & Burgess 1981) and is best paralleled in welsh material with the Cammaes hoard and corresponding metalworking tradition. Nortover (forthcoming) has suggested that Cemmaes metalworking is contemporary with the Taunton phase (c.1600-1200BC; Needham et al 1997) in England; although Taunton palstaves are generally of the 'Low-flanged' type, with transitional palstaves generally being of the Penard metalworking stage (c.1400-1000; ibid.) and possibly continuing into the Wilburton metalworking stage (c.1300-1000; ibid.). The palstave has a short butt, which has been damaged in antiquity on one side. This break has occurred through an air bubble in the bronze. The loop is missing, and was placed relatively far back, beginning immediately after the stop. Casting flaws are further evidenced with a hole at the stop on one side. The axe has diverging sides resulting in an expanded crescentic blade edge. The blade has a bevelled edge which begins as the sides significantly diverge. The moulds may have been slightly miss-aligned, resulting in a change of direction in the profile in the sides of the axe. The casting seem on the looped side has not been placed central to the sides. The loss of much of the surface of the axe has made it difficult to decipher the trident design on the faces, the split angular triangular motif against the stop can be made out, but the central rib, can no longer be seen.

NMGW-3BADE2: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Blade fragment of a Late Bronze Age socketed axe probably of Ewart Park metalwork (c. 1000 - 800BC), but of indiscernible type. The fragment was broken in antiquity at the bottom of the socket. There are no ribs present on either face, although little of the face is represented on the fragment. The blade edge is slightly recurved. The casting flashes are visible down both sides and have been neatly finished, probably by hammering. Axe sharpening striations are visible beneath the patination running along the blade on both faces. The fragment is in relatively good condition, with an area of the blade edge surviving and a brown to dark brown patina covering the fragment.

NMGW-E50C83: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Small three ribbed axe of squat form and virtually complete. Thin and prominent outsplayed mouth moulding, with loop extending from underside of moulding. Three slightly divergent longitudinal ribs extend down faces of axe. External and internal mouth shape ovoid. Evidence for four runners on mouth top: three projecting and one scar. Base of socket is evenly shaped. Axe has ovoid shaped body with curved side edges. Sides of axe are slightly divergent but straight, with slight splaying and recurving of blade edges. Casting flashes down each side have been roughly trimmed. One face is slightly dented with cracks in the wall visible down one side of one rib and secondly across the face but merging with the first. Half of the blade edge is missing through damage. Striations parallel to the blade edge on the blade bevel, together with a curved blade edge profile indicate that it was sharpened before deposition. Traces of possible black patination are visible adjacent to the loop and below the mouth moulding. Patina largely green with green carbonate encrustations.

NMGW-E54727: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Complete and slender three-ribbed late Bronze Age socketed axe with outsplayed mouth moulding. The loop extends from beneath the moulding. Three near parallel but slightly bending longitudinal ribs extend from the underside of the mouth moulding down the blade faces. Both external and internal socket mouth shapes are sub-rectangular. Excess metal protrudes around the whole internal edge of the mouth, illustrating the absence of a four runner casting technology. The sides of this axe are slightly divergent and concave, however there is minimal widening at the blade end and no recurving of the blade edge. The axe is sub-rectangular in section with slight curvature of the edges. Prominent casting flashes indicate the lack of axe preparation. One blade surface is defined by a linear groove, beyind which is a bluntand unprepared cutting edge. This appears to have been created by the mismatching of mould pieces during casting, since the opposite blade surface bevels evenly to the cutting edge. The blade edge is flat rather than curved, also suggesting its lack of preparation for use. Further evidence mould mismatching is provided by an assymetric casting flash down the loop of the axe. No black patination visible. Green patina with green carbonate encrustations.

NMGW-E56DA1: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Large, complete and flaring Late Bronze Age axe with three ribs. The axe has a poorly shaped and heavy double mouth moulding and a loop extends from its underside. Three slightly divergent longitudinal ribs extend from mouth moulding on each face, although they are only porrly defined on one face. External mouth shape is irregular subrectangular to ovoid, whilst the internal shape is square. Evidence of four runners on mouth top: two projecting and two negative scars (the latter impossible to measure accurately). The sides of the axe are markedly concave and divergent, giving the axe a flared character with rewidening and recurving of the sides towards the blade surface. The axe has a rectangular section with a blocky shape and angled sides. Prominent casting flashes only coarsely trimmed. Minor casting flaw beneath the mouth moulding as witnessed by a small hole in the wall of the axe (1.5mm diameter). Single dent towards the blade end on one surface, created in antiquity by a blunt impact. Straiations parallel to blade edge indiacte sharpening as does marked convexity of blade edge. Nicks in blade edge may be effect of corrosion rather than evidence of use wear. Green and grey patination with some green carbonate encrustation. No black patination visible.

NMGW-E59C27: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Slender, complete and flaring socketed axe with three ribs and a loop extending from the underside of a thin outsplayed mouth moulding. Three pronounced longitudinal ribs extend from the mouth moulding on each face. On one face they bulge slightly along the mid-length, whilst on the other they bend slightly in parallel at the blade end. External and internal mouth shape is sub-rectangular. Evidence of only two runner scars on the mouth suggests absence of a four runner casting technology. In side view, the mouth of one mould piece is higher than the other, giving an angled and irregular mouth surface. One mould piece is markedly wider and more bulbous at the mouth end than the other, when viewed from the side. The casting flashes protrude and have only been coarsely trimmed. The axe is rectangular in section with slightly curved side edges. The sides are divergent and concave in shape, flaring outwards at the blade end, but with no recurving of blade edge visible. The blade edge is blunt and virtually flat, indicating a lack of preparation for use. Black encrustation on blade end surfaces. Rest of axe has green patination overlying a greyish surface with small area of blue colouration on an upper surface between the ribs.

NMGW-E61A93: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Complete three ribbed socketed axe with a high placed loop extending from the underside of a thin outsplayed mouth moulding. Three convergent longitudinal ribs extend from mouth moulding on each face. Exterior mouth shape is oval, whilst the interior is rectangular. Four runner bases project 1.5-2.5mm above the mouth top. The body of the axe is slightly hexagonal in shape with angular side edges. Base of socket is evenly shaped. Sides of axe are slightly divergent but straight, with no recurving at the blade edges. The casting flashes remain prominent, but may have been coarsely trimmed, although excess within the loop-hole has not been trimmed. The blade edge is nearly flat in side profile, with no striations on the blade bevel visible. Slight nicks in the blade edge are probably the result of corrosion. Black encrustation visible on the blade end surfaces. Rest of the axe has green patination overlying a greyish surface with occasional carbonate encrustations.

NMGW-E64084: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Complete faceted axe of squat baggy shape with eight facets. Mouth is flared and trumpet shaped, with sub-rectangular internal and external shape. There are no haft ribs inside the socket and the base of the socket is evenly shaped. Axe has a wide onset collar 13.5mm in width. A low set loop extends from the lower edge of the collar, whilst the facets begin below the collar. The axe has divergent and concave sides expanding at the blade end, but with no recurving of blade edge sides. The casting seams are extremely ephemeral, illustrating the care and skill taken to cast this axe. The mouth surface appears to have been filed flat. The cutting edge has a moderate convex curve, with striations parallel to it on the blade bevel indicating preparation of the blade for use. Green carbonate encrustation over a green-grey patination.

NMGW-E704A6: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Complete plain and slender axe with wide trumpet shaped and flaring collar. Insubstantial loop extends from the middle of the onset collar. The mouth has an oval internal and external shape and the axe is oval in cross section. Excess metal protrudes around the internal circumference of the mouth top. The socket narrows to a point. The sides of the axe are concave and diverge to form a splaying blade edge, whilst the casting flashes have only been coarsely trimmed. Excess metal within the loop has not been removed. The blade edge has been extensively damaged through corrosion, although striations parallel to it on the blade bevel indicate that the blade was at least partially prepared for use. A slight imperfection in the original mould is visible as a slight linear ridge running down the face of the collar and below onto the upper face. Green patination with green carbonate encrustation.

NMGW-E75E26: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Late Bronze socketed axe fragment of Ewart Park metalworking tradition and possibly of South Wales Type. The axe fragment is heavily corroded, with none of the original external surface surviving. The axe has broken in antiquity, and only the bottom blade part is represented. One face has broken at the base of the socket, while the other face is present for approximately a little over half of its original length. The axe is comparatively small and slender, with the sides gently diverging to the blade. No evidence for a splayed blade survives. The more complete face exhibits the remnants of ribs, and appears to have had four (rather than three) parallel or slightly converging ribs. The casting seam may be discerned on both sides, and considering the degree of surface loss, must have been fairly prominent. The blade edge does not survive. The interior of the socket has much better surface preservation and has patches of black colouring, possibly remnants of tenorite.

NMGW-E97802: DIRK
Incomplete dirk missing both the butt and point, and of Middle Bronze Age date . The dirk has a plain ogival shaped blade with a rounded central rib producing a flattened lozenge cross-section. The butt no longer survives, however the blade size and shape suggest it to be a Group II dirk (Burgess & Gerloff 1981). The butt has corroded to a trapezoidal form, although this should not imply any similarity to the butt when complete. None of the corroded notches around the butt can be positively identified as rivet holes, however it is tempting to see the arc near the top of the dirk as the possible remnants of a rivet hole. The condition of the dirk is generally poor with large areas of the surface missing, and has an orange-brown patination.

NMGW-EA3B58: BARBED AND TANGED ARROWHEAD
Early Bronze Age flint barbed and tanged arrowhead. The sides are somewhat rounded and the barbs and tang are squared, suggesting the arrowhead to be a Sutton b type (Green 1980). The arrowhead has lost its tip in antiquity, possibly as a result of impact through use. The flint is brown, probably of beech pebble flint and is unpatinated.

NMGW-8EDBB1: ARROWHEAD
Near complete small Early Bronze Age flint barbed and tanged arrowhead, probably dating from between 2300 to 1500BC. The arrowhead has patinated a pale blue-white colour. The tip is missing, and was broken in antiquity, as evidenced by patination over the break. The missing tip may be the result of impact through use of the arrowhead. The tang has a squared end and extends beyond the barbs. The barbs are pointed and one has suffered some recent damage.

NMGW-DFEDB7: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Blade end fragment from a Late Bronze Age socketed axe. The axe-head is represented by the blade and base of the socket only, none of the original surface survives. The axe blade would have been comparatively slender and has a gently curving blade edge. The sides are rounded and no remnants of casting flashes survive. Neither face shows evidence of ribs, although they may not be expected to be seen at the level of the fragment.

NMGW-6152E8: FLAT AXEHEAD
Decorated developed flat axe, probably of Class 4E (following Needham forthcoming), corresponding with Schmidt and Burgess' (1981) type Scrabo Hill and with Type Ballyvalley (Harbison 1969) in Ireland. Axes of these types date towards the end of the Early Bronze Age: Needham's (1996) Period 3 c.1950 - 1700 BC/Needham et al.'s (1997) Willerby phase. This axe has the general shape of Type Glenalla, being long and narrow, but has the straight and slightly diverging sides characteristic of Type Scrabo Hill. The axe probably had a comparatively straight and thin butt and straight sides which diverge gradually up to a point near the blade corresponding to the beginning of decoration on the face, after which the sides turn out sharply to the expanded crescentic blade edge. The sides are worked up forming low, poorly defined flanges and are decorated with a hammered elliptical design. The faces are flat with a weak, slightly curved median bevel, the position of which approximately corresponds with the edge of the decoration. The blade has one well defined blade facet, and the blade edge has been lost. The decoration is concentrated on the blade and is composed of oblique chiselled regular strokes of 'rain' pattern confined at the top and bottom by two tight rows of opposing diagonals forming a herring-bone motif within a punched dot border, and on the sides by a single column of tight diagonals outside a punched dot column. The diagonal markings edged by punched dots extend up both sides with a single column in the centre, which ends well before the butt. The axe is in good condition with much of the surface surviving on one face, but fairly extensive pitting on the other face.

NMGW-61A406: PALSTAVE
Early midribbed (Group II) palstave, probably of Type Liswerry and probably dating to the beginning of the Middle Bronze Age and belonging to Acton Park metalworking tradition c. 1450-1350 BC. The palstave has a narrow form and is parallel sided at the rear, extending as far as the beginning of the blade. The blade sides gradually diverge to a point corresponding to a blade facet on the face, after which it expands into wide blade producing a deep crescentic blade edge. Remnants of the casting seams are visible on both sides. The butt is concave and the flanges at the rear of the axe are straight as far as immediately before the straight stop. The blade thickness is shallower than the flanges, producing a gradient from the blade to the stop. The stop on one face extends beyond the height of the flanges. The sides of the face on the blade have low flange extensions, which continue as far as the blade facet, as does the single rib on each face.

NMGW-FDBB88: FLAT AXEHEAD
Small developed flat axe or cast-flanged axe, probably of Class 4E (following Needham forthcoming), corresponding with Schmidt and Burgess' (1981) type Bandon and with Type Derryniggin (Harbison 1969) in Ireland. Axes of these types date towards the end of the Early Bronze Age: Needham's (1996) Period 3 c.1950 - 1700 BC/Needham et al.'s (1997) Willerby phase. The axe appears to have lost the majority of its original surface, and problems in identifying surface detail are further enhanced by a thick coating of glossy varnish applied by the finder. The butt is thin and rounded and both sides are slightly concave and curve outwards to the blade tips to define an expanded blade with a crescentic cutting edge. The flange facets are comparatively low, and define thin-pointed oval.sides. A stop is now only barely discernible on one face, and is positioned approximately mid way along the axe. Blade facets are evident on both faces. No decoration is discernible on any of the faces or sides.

NMGW-126833: CASTING WASTE
Bronze casting jet from the production of a South Wales (Stogursey) Type socketed axe of Late Bronze Age date, c. 950-750BC. The casting jet is corroded, but displays the remnants of the characteristic four runners used to produce the South Wales Type axe during the Ewart Park phase of the Late Bronze Age. The upper face of the jet is flat, while the lower face is irregular and concave, with the remnants of the four projections. The jet is of irregular oval shape and does not have a central aperture, it is of a light - mid brown colour with very little of the original surface surviving.

NMGW-271087: KNIFE
Heavily burnt

NMGW-388961: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Complete, but damaged Late Bronze Age plain socketed axe-head. The axe is comparatively long and slender in form. The mouth is somewhat circular, but the socket profile is sub-square and the axe has a sub-rectangular body section. The collar is simple and flared with no mouldings. The mouth-edge surface no longer survives, but the axe was likely to have been cast using a two-runner casting technique. The loop (now broken) is slight and of oval-section, springing from the underside of the collar, and gently arcs back to the side. The sides are straight or slightly concave before they recurve to the blade end. The casting seams are clear on both sides and have been neatly finished, probably by abrasion. The blade end has been damaged, but would have been expanded and curved. Both faces have clear hammered-marks on the lower third of the axe. Sharpening striations running along the blade edge are visible on both faces. One face has many striations running along the length of the axe, but it is unclear if these are deliberate or from antiquity. The axe is in comparatively good condition with a dark green patina, but with areas of damage at the mouth and blade. The top of the axe has a patchy black coating or deposit, possibly tenorite.

NMGW-718725: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Late Bronze Age socketed axe of Ewart Park metalworking tradition (c. 1000-800 BC). The axe is of South Wales (Stogursey) Type and is typical of Ewart Park axe heads found in south east Wales. The axe is comparatively short and squat. The socket is sub-rectangular, within an irregular mouth, clearly showing remnants of all four casting runners. The loop is of lozenge section and begins immediately beneath the simple angled collar moulding. The sides curve gently to a slightly expanded blade, producing a curved blade edge. The casting seams shows signs of finishing, probably by hammering, although they seem unfinished near the top of the axe on the unlooped side. Both faces are decorated with three parallel ribs, which appear high and crisp. The sides of the face have a suggestion of enhancing, possibly to resemble ribs. The blade on the better preserved face shows evidence of hammering and sharpening striations near the blade edge. The blade edge has been lost through damage.

NMGW-B66C51: ARROWHEAD
Very finely flaked to a clear point, some damage to the tang and one of the barbs. Made on grey unpatinated flint.

NMGW-22B071: PALSTAVE
Bronze palstave axe dating to the early Middle Bronze Age, and probably of Taunton or Cemmaes metalworking tradition, Needham et al. (1996) Period 5; c. 1500-1150 BC. The palstave is of an early type and is unlooped, and is also without either a shield pattern or a mid-rib on the blade. The palstave would appear to belong to Group III palstaves of Low-Flanged (Broad-Blade) form, the lack of cast blade decoration on this example makes it difficult to categorise to a specific type, but would appear to be dated to c. 1350-1200BC. The palstave is relatively slight, compared to the more massive Acton Park type. The sides are parallel as far as the stop, and then gradually diverge to a slightly expanded blade. The blade edge is gently curved with a long (14mm) blade facet. The blade sides have been pronounced on the upper blade, forming low ribs. The bar stop is straight and meets the flange at a right angle; on the blade side, the stop is near vertical before arcing to the blade face and forming a ‘bar ledge stop’. The flanges are low, as defined by the type, and diverge laterally to a diagonal step before the stop. The butt is eroded, but seems to have had a V-shaped nick. The sides are slightly rounded and convex. The casting seams are discernible but largely eroded. One side appears wider on one half of the mould side than the other. Much of the surface of the palstave has been lost, but survives to a greater extent on one face and appears to have a black patchy coating or patina.

NMGW-A0EC15: STRAP FITTING
Small cast ring with loop, probably an inner piece from a composite strap fitting of Late Bronze Age date, and probably of Ewart Park (c. 950 - 750 BC) or Llyn Fawr (c. 750 - 500BC) metalworking tradition. The ring is D-shaped with an integral rectangular delicate loop on the straight side. The faces are flat and the external sides are rounded. The interior is faceted, with possible wear facets along the straight side.

NMGW-A60BD5: VESSEL
Curved cast bronze fragment, possibly a strap handle from a later prehistoric cauldron or metal vessel. The strap fragment has a little of the attachment plate surviving before two wide and rounded ribs. The strap is curved and would have secured the circular ring handle. Similar fittings can be found on the Llyn Fawr cauldrons and other sheet metal vessels from the Later Prehistoric period.

NMGW-713837: ARROWHEAD
Barbed and tanged flint arrowhead made on unpatinated grey flint. The arrowhead is missing the tip and possibly a barb, although no break is evident above the missing barb.

NMGW-87E225: HALBERD
This is a symmetrical slender halberd blade of cast copper or bronze. Down the centre of the blade is a straight midrib. This is wide and angular in cross-section, at the top end tapering with a straight line into the haft-plate. The blade edges have been entirely removed, thus also removing any traces of bevelling originally along the edge. Whilst much of this damage is due to erosion of fragile edges, it is possible that some edges were notched through use wear or mutilation prior to burial. The erosion seems particularly deep and severe, with concave eroded depressions side by side, creating a 'nibbled' effect in places along the blade edge, almost as if notches were later prone to differentially high erosion. The blade end is blunt. The haft-plate is also heavily eroded, though is angular rather than rounded in shape. The halberd reveals evidence of four rivet holes, positioned as two lateral pairs on the haft-plate (rather than being arranged in an arc along it). The lower two are complete, whilst the upper two are visible only as partial grooves along the line of the eroded hilt-plate edges. The whole blade has been bent, as viewed in side section, probably in antiquity, there being no evidence of modern impact. The blade remains sturdy, yet is pitted across its surfaces. The overall patination is green, yet the eroded pits have a light green patina.

NMGW-2AA743: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Three ribbed South Wales Type socketed axe of cast bronze. One upper face and most of the mouth top has broken away, whilst the loop is broken. This medium sized axe is slender in form, with slightly divergent sides, widening near the blade end to form an expanded blade with slight recurving at the edges. The casting seams down each side of the axe remain prominent, though seem to have been blunted and rounded, possibly through hammering. The axe has a rectangular cross section, though the face edges are slightly curved. Three well-defined longitudinal ribs extend from the underside of a prominent outsplayed mouth moulding, converging slightly towards the blade end. The blade edge has entirely corroded away, although hammer marks and striations on the blade bevel, parallel to the blade edge, indicate that the axe blade was prepared and sharpened for use. The axe has minor casting blemishes upon the inner socket surfaces and on one outer face, though not serious enough to affect it functioning as an axe, whilst the socket base is flat and deep. The mouth, break edges and blade edge are severely corroded, light green and powdery. When reported for identification there were a number of additional corroded small fragments, which had detached themselves from the axe. Most of the axe surfaces are original and have a good dark-brown to black patina.

NMGW-4596D8: FLAT AXEHEAD
This is a large developed flat axe of bronze dating to the Early Bronze Age. The butt is modestly rounded, though with angular corners. The sides are straight, but slightly divergent for just under three quarters of the length of the axe, curving out suddenly just above the blade to a widely expanded and deeply crescentic cutting edge. All of the original blade edges have been removed by erosion, thereby preventing accurate calculation of the original width and recurve of the blade edge. Approximately 57mm from the butt end is a straight stop-ridge across the axe. The margins of the septum are defined by shallow flanges, which appear to have been hammered up, rather than being cast. The axe sides are faceted: each has an angled mid-ridge, each facet being covered with hammer marks. These tend to be aligned at a consistent diagonal angle across both facets, with no apparent pattern. Nevertheless, they provide some decorative quality to the axe sides. On one upper septum face, there are feint linear dashes or scratches running longitudinally, possibly decorative rain-drop decoration, now barely visible. On each upper blade margin there is a distinct, shallow, hammered crescentic groove, defining the edge of the blade bevel. Striations are visible on each blade bevel, indicating that the blade was prepared and sharpened. Original surfaces survive over most of the axe and these have dark brown patination. However, original surfaces have been lost on the butt, down one lower side, in patches over one blade bevel and around the blade edge. Here, the bronze has a light green patina.

NMGW-CF16C3: PALSTAVE
Middle Bronze Age copper alloy looped palstave probably dating to c. 1400-1275 BC. The palstave is complete and has an overall length of 124.85mm. The butt is straight, with a width of 19.76mm and is comparatively thick with a thickness of 5.6mm. The sides are straight and parallel as far as the blade and have a width of 22.7mm. Casting seams are evident on both sides and have been finished. The loop is intact and is a little irregular with a length of 22.32mm (4.72mm internal), a height of 8.30mm and a thickness of 7.49mm. The flanges begin from the septum, before the butt and reach their maximum height (25.94mm) a little before the stop. The septum is concave and has a maximum length of 49mm. The stops are undercut and are straight with rounded corners. The stops have an internal width of 16.3mm (22mm width at the stop) and are 11.7mm high. The stops are raised (5-6mm) above the level of the blade. The blade sides are gradually divergent to the position of the blade facet, where they out-turn to produce a moderately expanded blade with a surviving width of 54.57mm (damage to blade tips). The blade facets begin 11mm from the curving blade edge. The blade is decorated with a high and prominent mid-rib, flanked on each side by a weaker and shorter curving rib. The palstave weighs 273.7g. The surface of the palstave is generally poorly preserved and has been lost on one face. Where the surface survives, the bronze has a black patina, elsewhere the bronze is pale green.

NMGW-E48854: BRACELET
A terminal fragment of a Late Bronze Age gold bracelet. It has a surviving length of 38.95mm, probably representing approximately one third of the original length. The 'buffer' terminal is flat and circular with a diameter of 9.66mm to 10.30mm and has a length of 5mm. The bracelet fragment has a minimum width beneath the flaring terminal of 5.79mm. The terminal displays numerous facets, presumably resulting from forging the circular-sectioned terminal. The sides of the bracelet are straight and diverge to the break where the bracelet is comparatively wide for the type at 12.56mm. The bracelet sides are 'worked-up' to form low flanges or lips on both faces with a thickness of 1.51mm (at the break) to 3mm (near the terminal) and are slightly faceted across their thickness. These flanges remain sharp and prominent on the exterior face, but appear lower on the interior of the bracelet, possibly as a result of wear. The 'ribbon' faces have been hammered flat and are plain, with a thickness of 1.1mm at the break and thickening towards the terminal. The break appears to be deliberate and may have been cut and torn to separate; cracks resulting from metal stress are evident near the break. Two incised and roughly parallel lines on the terminal may be contemporary with the use or production of the bracelet. The bracelet fragment has a weight of 10.90g. Non-destructive semi-quantitative SEM-EDX analysis was carried out by Mary Davis. Five areas on the bracelet were tested; the results varied considerably, depending on the level of wear, damage or scraping beneath the tested area. The gold composition varied between 78% - 97%, silver 2% - 14% and copper 1% - 8%. The scraped and damaged areas show a general composition consistent with similar material from Wales (Taylor (1980); Aldhouse-Green & Northover (1996)) and from Late Bronze Age bracelets from England analysed by Hook & Needham (1989). The depletion of silver and copper on the smooth and worn areas demonstrates a similar effect to other recently analysed prehistoric jewellery thought to have been in contact with the skin, which differs drastically to the analysis of protected and recessed areas on the same artefact.

NMGW-283DE4: GOUGE
Late Bronze Age copper alloy socketed gouge. The socketed gouge dates to the Late Bronze Age, c. 1100-750BC and dates to the Wilburton-Ewart Park metalworking phases (Needham et al. 1997), corresponding to Needham's (1996) Period's 6-7. The gouge is comparatively short, with an overall length of 55.6mm. The socket is oval with an external width (across the blade) of 21.3mm and an external height of 19.7mm (internal: 17.7 x 16.6mm). The mouth of the gouge is plain, and 2.4mm beneath the mouth is a square collar moulding, with a width of 2mm. The sides of the gouge are slightly concave and expand at the blade tips, giving a width at the blade of 18.6mm. The casting flashes are visible on both sides and have minimal finishing. On one side, the flashes have been hammered for most of the length but are high and sharp near the collar. On the other side the flashes may have not been finished and are deep and wide. The blade edge largely survives and is convex. Sharpening striations are evident on the blade and run both along the blade and perpendicular to it. The surface of the gouge survives well with a dark brown patina. The under-face has an unusual linear effect, possibly the result of a mineralised organic. The gouge weighs 40.1g. The finder responsibly did not clean out the socket of the gouge. Excavation of the socket revealed remnants of the wooden handle preserved. The wood has been retained at NMGW.

NMGW-53F626: PALSTAVE
Middle Bronze Age Transitional palstave of Type Shelf, (midribbed variant), dating to the end of the Middle Bronze Age. The palstave is of the Penard metalworking tradition, falling into the later part of Needham's (1996) Period 5 (c. 1500 - 1150BC). Characteristically for the type, the palstave is slender with a narrow blade, low-flanges and was looped (now broken). The butt is slightly angled and is irregular, possibly through damage. The septum is concave and the stop is straight with right angles to the flanges. The sides are straight and parallel above the stop and the flanges are rounded, forming an elipse with the blade faces. Uncharacteristically for the type, the flanges reach their apex before the stop; this variation in the flange line may be seen as an influence of later (Irish) or earlier (primary / low-flanged) palstaves. The blade sides are subtly curved and gradually diverge to an unexpanded edge, resulting in weak blade corners. The blade edge is only slightly rounded. The blade faces are convex near the stop and are decorated with a weak midrib or ridge. There is no discernible blade facet. The casting seams are visible on the sides, and have been neatly finished.

NMGW-543D28: PALSTAVE
Single-looped, narrow-bladed and slender palstave of cast bronze. Part of the butt-end of the palstave is missing, whilst the loop has broken off in antiquity. This narrow palstave form exhibits waisting below the stop, the upper sides above the stop being very slightly convex. The sides below the stop are slightly concave and curve outwards into a moderately expanding, but narrow cutting edge. The cutting edge is now blunted, but moderately crescentic in plan. A prominent midrib or mid-ridge descends from the stop on each face, whilst the face edges are rounded. This gives the palstave a lozenge shaped cross-section immediately beneath the stop. The flanges of the palstave are heavily eroded near to the stop, therefore obscuring the characteristic side view of this axe form, which appears as an elongated lozenge. In side view, the stop curves outward gradually, rather than as an angular overhang. Most of the original surfaces of the palstave are lost, with local original surface patches above the stop on each side and on one upper face. The palstave is thus heavily eroded, with extensive pitting visible along the lower blade end. The palstave has a dark green to brown patination.

NMGW-6A0686: FLAT AXEHEAD
Early Bronze Age bronze Developed flat axe of uncertain sub-type and of Needham's (1996) Period 3 dated to c. 2050 - 1700BC. The axe is complete and is of diminutive size (with an overall length of 79.9mm and a weight of 56.8g). The butt (with a width of 13mm) is straight but angled. Both sides are convex, reaching its maximum width (of 17.1mm) immediately behind the proto stop ridge, before expanding sharply to produce an expanded blade edge. The side facets have been hammered and are also convex across their depths, with a maximum depth at the stop (of 10.9mm and a maximum height of 1.5mm). The angled side facets are decorated linear diagonals, in opposing directions on the opposite facets. There is no evidence for decoration at the central band of the sides. The flanges appear to end immediately before the butt. The septum is straight and gradually thickens to the stop (where the axe has a thickness of 8.9mm and a consistent septum width of 8mm). In front of the stop, the blade is decorated with four incised lines, before an intricate incised motif on the blade, comprising two columns (on each blade) of inverted V's, not quite meeting at the centre. The flanges on the blade give the appearance of converging at their terminals, defining a rounded end. Beneath is the blade facet, which is not decorated and gradually narrows to the blade edge. The blade (with a width 25.6mm) is slightly recurved. The surface has a dark-brown patina with some pitting and surface loss.

NMGW-5C3455: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Late Bronze Age socketed axe of faceted type, Type Meldreth, variant Aylsham, as defined by Schmidt & Burgess (1981, p 204-8) and of late Wilburton to Ewart Park metalworking phases, corresponding to Needham's (1996) Periods 6 to 7, c. 1150 -750BC The axe is fragmentary and damaged, missing the blade and part of the mouth and is partially filled with sediment (with a surviving length of 78.4mm and a weight of 101.6g). The socket mouth is circular and incomplete, with a little over half remaining (with a diameter of 33.0mm). Below the socket, the mouth is concave (for 11mm) before a moulding, producing the characteristic 'trumpet-shaped collar'. The loop springs from below the moulding (with a length of 21mm) and has been distorted with a blow to its midpoint, producing an undulating form. The looped side is more complete and is concave across its length, expanding towards the missing blade (with a maximum surviving width 28.0mm and a width below the loop of 25.5mm). The casting seam is evident running along the preserved side and has been finished. The body of the axe has a number of facets, seemingly twelve, which characterise the axe type. The blade of the axe appears to have been removed and significant battering above the break has closed the socket at the break (giving a thickness at the break of 11.8mm). The mouth has also received a blow, causing a part of the body to be folded into the socket. The split continues to the break at the base and has also received a significant blow above the blade. The surface is corroded and worn with a light-brown corrosion overlying a black patina.

NMGW-709985: BLADE
Middle Bronze Age bronze blade, possibly a dirk of Group II blade with a damaged butt. The dirk is incomplete with some peripheral damage to the butt and some distortion (with a length of 131.4mm and a weight of 19.7g). The shoulders are eroded but are probably close to their original width (with a surviving width of 39.2mm). The original form of the hilt is now uncertain and there are no definitive arcs from rivet holes present along the edges although it is possible to suggest an arc at the apex, towards the more complete shoulder side. The butt is thinned (with a thickness at the apex of 0.8mm) and may have been reworked. Below the shoulders, the sides are gently concave (for 24mm) before becoming near-straight and convergent (for approximately 82mm) before converging more sharply above the tip. The blade outline is comparatively triangular and perhaps suggests a Group II blade. The blade section is now difficult to determine with no midrib or mid-ridge discernible although there is the tentative suggestion of ephemeral surface marks or facets. The blade achieves a maximum thickness (of 2.3mm) below the butt and gradually thins to the tip (at 1.4mm thick). The blade edges have been lost and are now rounded on one edge and stripped on the other. The original surface has been lost and the metal is heavily-corroded with a grey-brown to black patina and with areas of pale-green corrosion. There is no surviving evidence for a hilt mark on the surface.

NMGW-7399CD: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Late Bronze Age bronze socketed axe probably of Type Portree or a variant, possibly Variant Kalemouth, as defined by Schmidt & Burgess (1981, p. 184-90) possibly dating to the transition of the Wilburton-Wallington and Ewart Park metalworking phases corresponding to Needham's (1996) Periods 6 to 7, c. 1150 -750BC. The axe is of 'Baggy' form and is incomplete, missing the mouth and loop (with a surviving length of 55.5mm and a weight of 74.8g with the wood in the socket and 73.3g without). The top of the axe has broken or is eroded, probably just below the mouth. The mouth is oval to sub-rectangular (31.4mm wide and 25.1mm deep). The socket is rectangular (21.7mm x 13.6mm and 36.8mm deep) and when reported, contained the distorted wooden remains, probably of the handle. After the removal of the wood, no internal ribs were identified at the base of the socket. The poor preservation of the wood has made it difficult to obtain a species identification. There is a horizontal collar moulding, now heavily worn, positioned at the top of the loop. The loop has mostly been lost, with only the basal stubs now surviving (with a length of 17.0mm). The casting seams are evident on both sides and appear to have been finished. The sides are near-straight, only very gently concave and parallel for approximately half their lengths before diverging to produce a moderately expanded blade edge (with a width of 37.1mm). The axe has an oval to sub-rectangular body section (31.0mm x 16mm below the loop) without any facets. The faces are convex across their widths and comparatively flat across their lengths, converging more sharply above the blade but without a discernible blade facet. The original surface has been lost and is striped and heavily-pitted with a pale-green corrosion.

NMGW-844D42: PALSTAVE
Early to Middle Bronze Age bronze Group I, Primary Shield Pattern palstave of Acton Park Metalworking Industry and of Needham's (1996) Periods 4-5, c. 1600 - 1400BC. The palstave is near-complete, missing one blade tip (with a length of 163mm, it was not possible to obtain a weight). The butt is near-straight. (22.3mm wide and 5mm thick). The sides are straight and near-parallel as far as the stop and is comparatively slender (at 25.0mm wide and 25.4mm wide at the stop). The sides are not nicked below the stop but are concave and divergent to produce a moderately expanded blade edge but has lost one of the blade tips (with a surviving width of 59.7mm) and has also lost the original blade edge. There was no loop and the casting seams are evident on both sides and have ben finished, probably by hammering. The flanges begin below the butt (approximately 13mm) and are now truncated but are straight, gradually rising towards the stop (where the axe has a maximum thickness of 22.1mm) but do not continue onto the blade. The septum has a slight concavity across its width and has a consistent thickness. The stop has a gentle curve and is slightly undercut (with a height above the septum of 8.2mm and 6mm above the blade). Below the stop on the blade is a shallow shield-shaped depression (21mm long), characteristic of the palstave type. The blade is convex across both its width and length. There is the suggestion of two weak blade facets and discernible hammer marks are present on the lower part of the blade. Sharpening striations are evident running off the blade edge. The surface has a dark-brown patina with more recent surface damage and loss with a bright green corrosion. The surface has been treated by the finder, possibly altering the patina colour.

NMGW-872F95: BLADE
Bronze Age bronze blade. The blade is incomplete and fragmentary, in two pieces (the upper fragment has a length and weight of 75.2mm and 25.2g respectively, the lower part is similarly 39.6mm and 8.5g, with a combined dimensions of 110.9mm and 33.7g). The butt or hilt is missing with no evidence for rivet holes or a tang but the top of the blade does not appear to be widening (with a width of 17.2mm). The blade has a prominent rounded midrib of consistent width and thickness (of 4.0mm width and 4.0mm thick). The original blade edges have been lost but the surviving edge is comparatively straight (with a maximum surviving width of 24.8mm) for most of its surviving length. The blade appears to taper near one end (from approximately 39mm) and is likely to have been approaching the missing tip. There is the suggestion of a slight step from the midrib to the blade and the blade profile appears to be slightly convex. There is clear suggestion of a bend prior to breaking at the fracture. The surface is heavily corroded with dark-green patina and with suggestions of sharpening striations.

NMGW-04216C: HOARD
​Late Bronze Age hoard of five objects. 1. Penannular ring (PRN 32821) Maximum external diameter (side to side) 19.5mm; maximum diameter of bar (top to bottom) 6.3-6.5mm; weight 18.75g. This is a complete and small penannular ring decorated with a silvery gold inlayed strip. The ring is of solid gold bar construction and was made of a straight, round sectioned bar, which was bent round into a penannular shape. Around the gold core, a silvery strip was inlaid in continuous spiral fashion to provide a striped colour effect, with seven stripes around each face. The silvery gold stripes are relatively wide, 1.3mm wide on the interior side and 3.0-3.5mm wide on the exterior surface. They are visible as darker areas of surface pitting, caused by the differential corrosion of the silver within this alloy. One side of the ring has been differentially worn during its life and the inset stripes of silvery gold have completely worn away, exposing continuous areas of gold. Some striations on the outer surfaces of the penannular ring were probably caused after burial and during more recent disturbance in the soil. 2. Plano-convex ingot / cake fragment Maximum surviving length 63.3mm; maximum surviving width 60.9mm; maximum thickness 31.2mm; surviving weight 412.8g. Sizeable fragment of ingot with worn upper and lower surfaces and rounded worn breaks. The lower surface is convex in shape and the upper surface is relatively flat. No edge sections are apparent, but distinct thinning evident in two areas in side-section, suggesting areas approaching edges of ingot. Some interior vesicles evident along breaks. Brown patination with areas of green mottling visible. 3. Small ingot / cake fragment Maximum surviving length 39.6mm; maximum surviving width 28.7mm; maximum surviving thickness 14.8mm; surviving weight 53.0g. Small and irregularly shaped copper alloy fragment, with no clear evidence of original ingot shape. One surface is convex, the other irregular. All surfaces and breaks are worn. Patches of brown patination within overall grey green patination. 4. Ingot / cake fragment Maximum surviving length 30.2mm; maximum surviving width 29.2mm; maximum surviving thickness 14.9mm; surviving weight 37.9g. Small and irregularly shaped copper alloy fragment, with no clear evidence of original ingot shape. One surface is reasonably flat, the other irregular. All surfaces and breaks are worn. Vesicles visible in side breaks. Patches of grey green patination within overall brown patination. 5. Spatulate ended tool (PAS 2013/028/001) Length 79.5mm; width of spatulate end 5.3mm; weight 25.3g. This is a square-sectioned copper alloy tool with a flat top. It tapers and thins at the opposite end, in both planes, expanding again slightly to form a spatulate shaped working end. This has a rounded, but asymmetric end profile. The tool bends in side view, from near the midpoint along its length and towards the spatulate shaped working end. Surfaces are etched with a brown patination and there are localised surface grey-green coloured corrosion patches. The penannular ring belongs to a class of artefact which has been termed 'hair-rings' and 'ring-money' (Taylor 1980; Green 1988; Eogan 1994; 1997; Varndell 2001; Hobbs 2003; Meeks et al 2008; O'Connor et al 2008). Their function remains uncertain, although it is likely that they were personal adornments, possibly worn on the ears or nose, rather than being hair-ornaments or items of exchange. Relatively few examples have been dated through associated finds, archaeological investigation or radiocarbon dating, however burials in Belgium, northeast France and The Netherlands and secondly, Scottish and Irish hoard associations, have suggested a date belonging to the Ewart Park phase of the Late Bronze Age, between 1000-800BC (e.g. Eogan 1997). However, in recent years, the evidence for their earlier development and longer period of manufacture and circulation has been growing (e.g. Raftery 2004, 87-8; Needham 2007, 26-33, Figs. 17.3-4). Therefore, on comparative stylistic grounds, the penannular ring may be dated to the Middle or Late Bronze Age (1300-800BC). It is possible to be confident that the large ingot fragment (No. 2 above) is part of a plano-convex ingot or cake of Late Bronze Age date. Its convex underside, thinning to margins indicating an oval shape in plan view and of a size consistent with others viewed, together with the presence of interior vesicles, provide some morphological support for this identification. Moreover, metallurgical analysis has demonstrated the ingot to be of copper with a small lead component and trace antimony and arsenic presences, again consistent with other recently tested Late Bronze Age ingot discoveries from west Wales. Its worn surfaces and breaks suggest that the ingot was disturbed from its original burial context by recent farming activity, having eroded at a shallow depth (10-13cm) within a cultivated and aerated soil for some time. The same disturbed and dispersed location is likely to be true for the penannular ring, also found at shallow depth (7-8cm). However, being of gold, this artefact was not prone to erosion and corrosion in the same way. The two probable small ingot fragments (Nos. 3 & 4) are not large enough to retain diagnostic morphological features, permitting certain identification as plano-convex ingots in their own right. However, the presence of interior vesicles and very similar worn state is consistent with the larger ingot fragment, and their geographical location within the same field and less than 200m apart do tend to support their identification as probable small plano-convex ingot fragments of Late Bronze Age date. Their metallurgical composition - copper with small lead components and trace antimony and arsenic presences - is also the same as that of the large ingot fragment (No. 2), providing further supporting evidence for this interpretation. Their dispersal from each other and the penannular ring and their worn state also suggest relatively recent disturbance from the original burial context, and erosion at shallow depths (10-13cm) within a cultivated and aerated soil. Cake ingots are known in hoards of the Wilburton phase of the Late Bronze Age (1150-950 BC), with examples from Wales found within the Guilsfield, Powys hoard (Savory 1965; 1980, 117-8, Cat. 268 & Fig. 38). However, plano-convex ingots of copper and bronze are much more common components of Ewart Park hoards of the Late Bronze Age (1000-800 BC). Over 40 Ewart Park hoards, mostly from East Anglia, Essex and Kent, reported as treasure between 2003 and 2008 have contained plano-convex ingots (also termed cake ingots and bun-shaped ingots) (DCMS 2004; 2007; British Museum 2008; 2009; 2010). In south-east Wales, the Cowbridge, Glascoed, Llancarfan 1 and St Nicholas hoards have contained plano-convex bronze ingot fragments as a minority element represented within them (Gwilt 2004b; 2008). In the light of the dating evidence for plano-convex ingots, the combined evidence suggests that the penannular ring and ingots were probably buried together as a hoard during the Ewart Park phase of the Late Bronze Age (1000-800 BC). In other words, both penannular rings and plano-convex ingots were being made and in circulation at this same time. The spatulate ended tool (No. 5 above; PAS (GAT) 2013/028/001) with a square-sectioned shaft, discovered and reported subsequently to the penannular ring and ingots and from the north east corner of the same field, has proven impossible, at the current time, to relate and parallel with similar artefacts of demonstrable Late Bronze Age date. Metallurgical analysis has indicated it is made of copper, with a significant presence of bismuth. While copper is potentially consistent with a Late Bronze Age date, the presence of bismuth at the levels seen is felt to be anomalous for this period, making a post-medieval date more likely. On the current balance of evidence, this artefact cannot be confidently interpreted as once a directly associated and a contemporary component of this Late Bronze Age hoard. ~~The spatulate ended tool (No. 5) cannot, on the balance of the evidence available, be associated with the hoard: no close Late Bronze Age parallels can be found, while its metal composition does not match the ingots (Nos. 2-4) or the common signature of Late Bronze Age artefact signatures. Therefore, it is my opinion that this object cannot be considered as treasure.

NMGW-14B441: HOARD
Late Bronze Age hoard of two ribbed socketed axes. 1. Ribbed socketed axe - Croxton Type / Class B Southern English ribbed axe Dimensions: maximum length 102.9mm; blade width 51.3mm; combined weight (including socketed axe fragment 2) 420.8g. This is a complete and slender socketed axe with a flared trumpet shaped mouth and a wide collar band. The axe is sub-rectangular in cross-section with slightly concave sides expanding to a widened and curved cutting edge. The mouth of the axe is deep, front to back, and of sub-rectangular shape with curved corners. The mouth tops surface is flat with no clear indication of runner stubs or scars. Two ribs and two edge ribs, all near parallel, descend from the base of the collar band, extending approximately half way down the axe faces. A wide loop descends from the lower side of the collar band, while the casting seams have been carefully removed, probably by filing and hammering down each side of the axe. On the blade bevel, surface striations parallel to the cutting edge are evident, indicating the blade was sharpened for use. The axe has a brown patina. Localised patches of blue coloured surface corrosion are evident on one face, raising the possibility that the axe burnt immediately before being placed in the ground. 2. Ribbed socketed axe fragment - South Wales Type socketed axe (wedged into socket of axe 1) Dimensions: maximum surviving length in the range of 53-57mm (not precisely ascertainable); surviving external width at mouth 31.3mm; combined weight (including socketed axe 1) 420.8g. This is a mouth, upper face and side fragment of a broad socketed axe with a rectangular cross-section, which has been deliberately forced into the socket of axe 1 (above). The axe has a prominent out-splayed mouth moulding with a flat top. Two projecting runner stubs are evident on the mouth top surface, one located down the mid face section and the other down the mid side section (i.e. at 90 degrees to each other). Two, widely splayed ribs are evident on this partial face fragment, descending from the underside of the mouth and down the face of the axe. A prominent casting seam is evident down the non-loop side of this axe, indicating minimal finishing after casting. The axe fragment has a grey-green coloured patina.

NMGW-1564D4: HOARD
Late Bronze Age hoard of ten objects. 1. Carp's Tongue sword blade fragment Surviving length 41.0mm; surviving width 27.7mm; maximum thickness 9.5mm; surviving weight 35.2g. Small blade fragment with a rounded midrib, approximately 11.8mm wide, with edge defined by single grooves to either side and on both faces. The outer sections of the blade are highly corroded, with no original blade edge surviving. The blade fragment is bent towards one end, as viewed side on, indicating it was forcibly broken in antiquity. The fragment has a green patination, with areas of ligher green corrosion along breaks. Cracking is visible on both sides, parallel with the midrib and near the corroded edges. 2. Carp's Tongue sword blade fragment Surviving length 27.7mm; surviving width 28.6mm; maximum thickness 7.2mm; surviving weight 19.6g. Small blade fragment with a rounded midrib, approximately 11.0mm wide, with edge defined by single grooves on either side of both faces. On one side of the blade, short sections of original blade edge are present, the outer blade section being slightly convex. On each outer blade section, a second, less pronounced groove also parallel with the blade edge is evident, approximately 4.2mm from the midrib edge grooves and 5.0mm from the blade edge (the total outer blade section being approximately 9.2mm wide). The surviving blade edge looks to have been deliberately damaged by a blade in antiquity, as evidenced by nicks and localised distortion of the blade edge. On one face, just below a break, there are impact dints on the midrib, causing localised flattening of the blade and an undulating surface. These are small and non-linear, suggesting the use of a pointed metal implement. This is further evidence of deliberate breakage of the blade in antiquity. The fragment has a green patination, with areas of lighter green corrosion along the least well preserved blade edge, in localised patches at blade breaks and in the blade edge nicks on the better preserved blade edge. Corrosion cracking is visible on the surface of the less well preserved outer blade side. 3. Purse- or bag-shaped chape fragment Surviving width 47.1mm; surviving height 27.8mm; surviving weight 21.3g. Base and body fragment of a chape with a curved convex base, defined by a convex ridge or bead on each face, and hollow interior. The walls of this chape thicken towards the base. On one side, a change in angle of the wall is visible, indicating a narrowing inwards towards the original mouth of the chape, now missing, thereby giving its characteristic 'purse' or 'bag' shape. At the break on the best preserved face, the partial circuit of a perforation, 2-2.5mm in diameter, is evident. This is offset from the centre line of the chape and was a point of attachment of the chape to the rest of the scabbard. No further perforations may be identified in the walls of this fragmentary chape. On one face, near the narrowing side wall, a surface dent can be seen. This was appears to have been made in antiquity and is possibly evidence of use wear or deliberate damage prior to burial. The artefact has a green patination with localised areas of light green corrosion on one face and along the line of breaks. 4. Multiple-edged perforated blade Length 77.1mm; surviving width 42.7mm; maximum thickness at centre 8.0mm; surviving weight 88.0g. A near complete, elongate hexagon shaped blade. The blade has a thickened elongate ridge along its longitudinal axis, tapering off on all sides, to form blade bevels and sharpened edges on all six sides. The blade has a rectangular shaped perforation at the centre and parallel with the long axis. The top of the aperture on each face is significantly larger than the actual perforation through the object. The apertures on each face, although overlapping, are also offset in relation to each other (on the long axis) and different in size. On each face, looking into the aperture, both an area of perforation and an area obscured by bronze from the centre to the lower face is evident. At one narrow end, a fragment of the blade bevel and edge has been broken off. The blade has a green patina. Original blade edges survive on one long side and one of the shorter end faces, the others being damaged and corroded with swelling light green corrosion product. 5. Plano-convex ingot / cake fragment Maximum surviving length 42.5mm; maximum surviving width 33.9mm; maximum thickness 20.8mm; surviving weight 122.1g. Irregular upper surface and irregular convex shaped base. No edge sections apparent, although ingot fragment tapers on one side, where approaching an edge. Breaks are worn and were made in antiquity. Green to blue-green patina. 6. Plano-convex ingot / cake fragment Maximum surviving length 73.5mm; maximum surviving width 57.1mm; maximum thickness 30.7mm; surviving weight 367.6g. Irregular upper surface and irregular convex base. Breaks on two faces and tapering in two planes indicates this is a corner fragment of a plano-convex ingot. Large interior vesicles evident along breaks. Breaks are worn and were made in antiquity. Green to grey-green patina. 7. Plano-convex ingot / cake fragment Maximum surviving length 63.7mm; maximum surviving width 48.7mm; maximum thickness 34.6mm; surviving weight 462.4g. Irregular upper surface and slightly convex shaped base. Breaks on all four sides indicate a middle fragment of an ingot although tapering in two planes indicate the fragment was approaching two sides of the ingot. Large interior vesicles evident along breaks. Breaks are worn and were made in antiquity. Green to grey-green patina. 8. Plano-convex ingot / cake fragment Maximum surviving length 56.0mm; maximum surviving width 49.8mm; maximum thickness 27.0mm; surviving weight 299.0g. Irregular upper surface and slightly convex shaped base. Breaks on three sides and tapering in one plane indicate that this is a side fragment of a plano-convex ingot. Interior vesicles evident along breaks. Breaks are worn and were made in antiquity. Green to grey-green patina. 9. Plano-convex ingot / cake fragment Maximum surviving length 75.0mm; maximum surviving width 63.8mm; maximum thickness 31.0mm; surviving weight 577.9g. Irregular upper surface with vesicles and irregular convex shaped base. Three breaks and tapering in three planes suggest this is an incomplete end fragment of a plano-convex ingot. Interior vesicles are evident along breaks. Breaks are worn and were made in antiquity. Light grey-green to grey-green patina. 10. Plano-convex ingot / cake fragment Maximum surviving length 87.0mm; maximum surviving width 60.3mm; maximum thickness 36.2mm; surviving weight 618.5g. Irregular upper surface with vesicles and irregular convex shaped base with vesicles. Three major breaks and tapering in one plane indicate this is a side fragment of a plano-convex ingot. There is a small break along the edge, although short sections of original ingot edge are present. Breaks and vesicle edges have some angularity however lack of freshly exposed surfaces suggest breakage in antiquity. Light grey-green patina.

NMGW-38B29D: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Late Bronze Age bronze socketed axe of South Wales (Stogursey) Type, of Ewart Park Metalworking Industry, dating to Needham's Period 7 (c. 950 - 750BC). The axe is fragmentary and distorted, represented by a mouth fragment, comprising part of one face and the looped side (with a surviving length of 44.1mm and a weight of 62.7g). The mouth (with a distorted width of 56.4mm and a surviving depth of 26mm) is flat topped (6.4mm - 9.4mm wide) and two casting runner stubs are evident on the surviving side and face. There is a mouth moulding, bevel to the face (6.8mm long). The loop springs from the base of the moulding and returns immediately above the break (with a length of 32mm and an internal length of 17.4mm). The loop is broken (with a surviving height of 9.6mm) and appears to have broken more recently. The casting seam is clearly discernible below the loop but has been neatly finished. The surviving side fragment is slightly concave across its length and across its width, is bevelled towards the centre, which would have produced a sub-hexagonal body section. The surviving face is decorated with three ribs, which are near-parallel or slightly converging. The face has been battered below the mouth, damaging the mouth moulding and distorting the axe. The surface has patinated, suggesting the damage occurred in antiquity. Further evidence of battering can be seen on the side of the face and above the break. The rear has a tears corresponding to the impact points. All damage to the axe, apart from the loop appears to have occurred in antiquity. The surface has a pale-green patina with small surviving traces of a black patina or corrosion surviving. The damage to the axe appears to have occurred in antiquity and may have been deliberate, possibly for votive purpose.

NMGW-5F8955: FLAT AXEHEAD
Early Bronze Age bronze Flat Axe of Type Migdale (Schmidt & Burgess, 1981, p 35-44)[1], or Class 3C Type Harlyn Bay (following Needham 1983; forthcoming) of Metalworking Assemblage III, corresponding to Needham's (1996)[2] Period 2 -3 and probably dating to c. 2,200 - 1,900BC. The axe is complete, with some surface damage (with a length of 139.7mm and a weight of 397.4g). The asymmetrical butt is very thin and 'edge-like' and is rounded (with a width of 30.6mm). The sides are straight and divergent to just above the midpoint (c. 60mm from the butt), after which the sides are concave and divergent to produce a moderately rounded blade edge (with a width of 80.6mm). The midsection of the blade edge is comparatively straight, possibly through use. The sides are slightly rounded across their thickness. The axe faces are both convex, producing a lentoid body profile, with no evidence of a blade facet. The surface is corroded and heavily-pitted with remnant patches of dark-brown patina. There is no evidence to suggest surface decoration on the remnants of surviving surface. Analysis to ascertain the elemental composition of the axe and was carried out[3] using a CamScan MaXim 2040 analytical scanning electron microscope (SEM) fitted with an Oxford Instruments energy dispersive X-ray detector and INCA spectrometer (EDS). Operating conditions employed a 30o take-off angle, a 20kV accelerating voltage, and the samples were analysed for 100 seconds livetime with a beam current which yielded a count rate of c.4000 counts per second when on a metallic cobalt standard. The results show the metal composition is a tin-bronze alloy (with mean readings of copper: 85.86% and tin: 10.98%), with a significant trace of arsenic (with a mean reading of 2.67%) and traces of lead (with a mean reading of 0.44%). It is difficult to match this composition to Northover's (1980, p 229-243 )[4] Early Bronze Age metal groups. The generalised form of this bronze axe is thin butted with gradually diverging sides to a comparatively wide blade edge. The axe has no developed features seen on later axes and therefore is likely to be of Type Migdale dating to c. 2,200 - 1,900BC. [1] Schmidt, P.K. & Burgess, C. 1981; The Axes of Scotland and Northern Ireland, Praähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung IX, 7. Band 7 [2] Needham, S. 1996; Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age , Acta Archaeologica 67, p. 121-140 [3] By Mary Davis; A&N Senior Conservator, Amgueddfa Cymru [4] Northover, J.P.; 1980; The Analysis Of Welsh Bronze Age Metalwork; Appendix in H.N. Savory, A Guide Collection of the Bronze Age Collections; National Museum of Wales

NMGW-61B893: SICKLE
Late Bronze Age socketed sickle of Ewart Park or Llyn Fawr metalworking, corresponding to Needham's (1996)[1] Periods 7 - 8, dated to 950 - 500BC. The sickle is fragmentary, represented by the incomplete socket and beginning of the blade (with a surviving length of 30.2mm and a weight of 18.1g). The socket is oval and is basal edge is undamaged (24.6mm long and 11.7mm wide, with internal dimensions of 23.1mm x 18-19mm). The socket is cast (1.3mm thick) without a visible casting seam and the side without the blade is straight. The top of the socket is damaged and has been slightly distorted (with internal dimensions 12.4mm x 7 - 9mm). The socket is perforated with two pairs of holes to accommodate the missing attachment rivets. The pair of holes near the apex have a slightly larger diameter (at 5.0mm - 6.0mm compared to the lower holes at 4.7mm - 5.5mm) and the pairs are not now directly opposite each other, probably because of distortion in the socket. The beginning of the blade springs from the side of the socket laterally, defining it as of Fox's (1939)[2] Group I socketed sickles. The small fragment of the surviving blade has clear evidence for a midrib. The blade is of lentoid, or pointed-oval section (23.5mm long and 5.6mm thick) and the top of the blade would have been below the top of the socket. There is no definite evidence for a rib on the short blade fragment surviving. The surface has a black patina with areas of brown stripped and corroded surface. Although fragmentary, there appears to be enough of the sickle to identify it as a socketed type of Fox's Group I and was likely to be of Late Bronze Age to Earliest Iron Age date, c. 1100 BC - 600BC. In Wales, sickles have been found associated with Ewart Park and Llyn Fawr assemblages within South-East Wales and probable tanged examples are represented in the Llantwit Major (Vale of Glamorgan) and Glascoed (Monmouthshire) hoards, both of Ewart Park metalworking and socketed examples in the Cardiff and Llyn Fawr (Rhondda Cynon Taff) hoards both of Llyn Fawr metalworking. This example appears to be a westerly outlier of the South-Welsh examples. Fox (ibid) demonstrated that sickles have a largely Irish distribution with a spread in Scotland and within England sickles are concentrated in the Thames Valley and in East Anglia. The few examples recorded by PAS to date, also have a largely eastern British distribution, with western examples of tanged form from Gloucestershire[3] and Somerset[4] and a sickle blade[5] from Rossett, Wrexham. Since the blade of this example ends before the top of the socket, the sickle may have been of open or closed, flat-topped form, which Fox (ibid.) suggests have an earlier date in the Group I sequence. Savory (1980, p 56)[6] stated that earlier stages of socketed sickles were not represented in Wales but it is possible to suggest that this example may represent the first. Few recorded socketed sickles have two rivet holes or have the rivet holes positioned adjacent to the blade. [1] Needham, S. 1996; Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age, Acta Archaeologica 67, p. 121-140 [2] Fox, C., 1939; The Socketed Bronze Sickles of the British Isles; with special reference to an unpublished specimen from Norwich; Proceedings of The Prehistoric Society 5, 222 - 248 [3] GLO-D4D0A6 [4] GLO-32DD84 [5] HESH-199F11 [6] Savory, H.; 1980; A Guide Catalogue of the Bronze Age Collections; National Museum of Wales

NMGW-62C84F: GOUGE
Late Bronze Age socketed gouge, possibly of Ewart Park metalworking, corresponding to Needham's (1996)[1] Period 7, and dated to c. 950 - 750BC The socketed gouge is incomplete, missing the mouth (with a surviving length of 41.4mm and a weight of 18.6g). The socket is oval at the break (with maximum surviving external dimensions of 15.0mm x 10.7mm and 11.3mm x 8.5mm internal) with no mouth mouldings present on the incomplete socket. Beneath the break is the beginning of groove, of V-shaped profile near the top and becoming U-shaped towards the blade. The sides of the gouge are straight and parallel (producing a blade width also of 15.0). The casting seams are no longer evident on either side. The blade comprises a shallow U-shaped depression and is evident below the break (39.2mm from the blade edge). The blade edge has moderate damage and is not significantly expanded. Linear striations are evident running along the groove. The surface has a dark brown patina with patches of a dark-green patina. The missing mouth makes typological identification difficult, Savory (1980, p 55)[2] suggests that the earliest socketed gouges such as those that occur in the Guilsfield hoard have multiple mouth mouldings, whereas later gouges tend to have a broad flat collar. [1] Needham, S. 1996; Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age , Acta Archaeologica 67, p. 121-140 [2] Savory H.N. 1980, Guide Catalogue of the Bronze Age Collections, National Museum of Wales

NMGW-35639F: BLADE
Bronze Age sword blade fragment of uncertain type, probably of Late Bronze Age date, possibly of Wilburton or Ewart Park metalworking Industry of Needham's (1996)[1] Periods 4-5, dated to c. 1150 - 750BC. The sword is fragmentary, represented by a blade fragment, broken at both ends in antiquity (with a surviving length of 42.2mm and a weight of 22.7g). The blade has no clearly defined midrib but has near straight faces gradually diverging towards the rounded central ridge (giving a consistent thickness of 5.7mm) of lenticular section. Both blade edges have been lost and only a very small piece of edge faceting is now evident (with a maximum surviving blade width of 26.7mm). The short blade fragment is flat across its length with no evidence of bending prior to breaking. There appear to be numerous striations running along the blade probably resulting from sharpening. The surface has a dark green patina preserved over much of the fragment with a silver sheen, probably from surface enrichment of tin and with areas of bright green corrosion at the periphery. The fragmentary nature of the blade, lacking diagnostic features makes typological identification difficult. The comparatively slender form of the blade may suggest its derived from near the tip. Although swords have origins in the later part of the Middle Bronze Age of Taunton and Penard Metalworking Industries, occurrences of the types are comparatively unusual and leaf-shaped swords of Late Bronze Age date tend to be more commonly recovered. [1] Needham, S. 1996; Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age , Acta Archaeologica 67, p. 121-140

NMGW-4675A9: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Late Bronze Age bronze socketed tool fragment, probably an axe mouth fragment The tool is fragmentary, represented by a mouth fragment (with a surviving length of 22.6mm, a surviving width of 20.6mm and a weight of 6.0g). The mouth is near-straight for most of its length but appears to be turning at the break on one side. There is a prominent collar moulding, thickest at the mouth (at 4.0mm thick and 7.9mm long) and there is no surviving evidence for a casting stub on the mouth. There are no ribs present on the fragment. One side has an irregular break, while the other side, with the suggested turn, has a comparatively straight break. The surface is heavily-corroded and pitted. The fragment has few diagnostic features and is difficult to identify confidently. The most frequently recovered socketed tools with mouth mouldings are axes of Late Bronze Age date. However, it is worth stating that the provenance of this find has so far produced an atypical signature of Late Bronze Age artefact types.

NMGW-46A3A3: HAMMER
Socketed bronze hammer probably of Late Bronze Age date (c. 1150 - 700BC) The hammer is fragmentary, broken across its width and is represented by just under half of the original (with a surviving width of 23mm and a weight of 40.9g). The whole length of the hammer is represented on the side (with a length of 52.2mm). The mouth suggests a square or rectangular body section (with external surviving dimensions of 22.3mm x 16.3mm and with an internal width of 16.7mm) and had a simple moulding (5-6mm long), now worn. There is no surviving evidence for casting runner stubs on the mouth (with a maximum surviving thickness of 4.7mm). The side and faces have a concave slope from the mouth, becoming parallel near the end (with a width of 13.3mm). It is possible to tentatively suggest the presence of a casting seam on the side. No decoration is evident on the fragment. The interior of the socket is roughly-cast and the base of the socket is not obvious (probably a base thickness of 6-7mm and socket depth of 46mm). The surface is heavily-corroded and pitted with a bronze-brown colour. Socketed hammers are comparatively unusual discoveries, the quadrangular form of this example is more typical of examples sometimes associated with Late Bronze Age, Ewart Park metalwork, although early hammers have been found associated with metalwork dating to the end of the Middle Bronze Age. Two other hammers are recorded from Wales at present, both from North Wales; one from the Bronze Age occupation soil behind the rampart of the hillfort at the Breiddin (D.G. Coombs 1991 in Musson ed., mo. 139, 3 133-4)[1], the Breiddin hammer is sub-quadrangular in form and is expanded at the working platform. The other known example is an unpublished, example from Burton, Wrexham (Gwilt pers comm.) and is more rounded in form. Hammers often have a higher tin content in the bronze (Coombs ibid.; Evans; 1881[2]) compared to contemporary axes, it has not been possible to metallurgically analyse this example at present. [1] Musson, C. R.; 1991; The Breiddin Hillfort: A later prehistoric settlement in the Welsh Marches; CBA Research Report No 76 [2] Evans, J., 1881; The ancient bronze implements, weapons, and ornaments, of Great Britain and Ireland

NMGW-475C27: HAMMER
Late Bronze Age socketed tool, probably a hammer of c. 1200 - 700BC The tool is near-complete with some peripheral damage and is very-heavily corroded and pitted (with a length of 61.6mm and a weight of 99.4g). The mouth is rectangular (29.2mm long and 19.4mm wide) and of variable thickness, with one side edge (6.7mm thick) being considerably thicker than the other side (5.0mm thick) or either face (4mm thick). The socket is also rectangular (8.1mm x 10.9mm and 40.5mm deep). There was a mouth moulding (7mm long), which appears to have been a simple collar but is poorly preserved. The sides are near-straight or gently concave, expanding slightly to the hammer platform (with a minimum width of 25mm and a blade platform width of 27.1mm). The sides appear to have been near-straight perhaps slightly convex across their width, producing a consistent sub-rectangular body section. The face were decorated with two ribs, converging to a single central rib in a Y-shaped device (29mm long). The hammer platform is rounded and is convex across both its length and thickness (with a thickness of 11mm). The surface is poorly preserved with remnant traces of mid-green patina surviving in protected areas in the socket and between the ribs. There are some areas of bright-green corrosion on the surface. Bronze Age socketed hammers are not frequently reported, with 26 reported examples to PAS at the time of writing. The quadrangular form of this example is more typical of examples sometimes associated with Late Bronze Age, Ewart Park metalwork, although early hammers have been found associated with metalwork dating to the end of the Middle Bronze Age. The decorative Y motif is also unusual and difficult to parallel but may be seen as a variation of the trident motif, sometimes seen on palstave axes or converging ribs, seen on socketed axes. Hammers often have a higher tin content in the bronze (Coombs ibid.; Evans; 1881[1]) compared to contemporary axes, it has not been possible to metallurgically analyse this example at present but the weight would may suggest a high proportion of lead, rather than tin. [1] Evans, J., 1881; The ancient bronze implements, weapons, and ornaments, of Great Britain and Ireland

NMGW-C9AC4E: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Late Bronze Age socketed axe, probably of South Wales (Stogursey Type) and of Ewart Park metalworking industry, of Needham's (1996)[1] period 7, dated to c. 950 - 750BC The axe is fragmentary, broken across both its width and length (with a maximum surviving length of 45.0mm, a maximum surviving thickness of 13.5mm and a weight of 53.1g). The one surviving side on the axe is concave, flaring to the blade tip. The casting seam is prominent and raised but has been neatly finished by hammering (with a thickness at the side of 5.4mm). The sides are angled towards the casting seam and would have produced a sub-hexagonal body section. The axe fragment is widest at the blade (with a surviving maximum blade width of 33.6mm). The blade edge has a moderate curve and appears damaged and blunted, presumably by repeated impacts. The basal parts of three converging ribs are discernible on the more complete face, where the face appears to have been pounded repeatedly (with a thickness of 5.4mm). The base of the socket is evident on the interior (with a maximum surviving depth of 24.2mm). Sharpening striations are evident running along the blade on both faces. The surface has a dark-green patina with patches of pale-green corrosion. The fragmentary state of the axe makes a confident identification difficult but the surviving features of the axe are consistent with the South Wales type. The damage patterns on the axe may suggest deliberate damage to the axe prior to deposition. [1] Needham, S. 1996; Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age, Acta Archaeologica 67, p. 121-140

NMGW-DE801C: BLADE
Possible blade fragment of Bronze Age date The blade is fragmentary (with a surviving length of 24.7mm and a weight of 5.1 g) and appears to represent a fragment from the apex of the blade and beginning of the hilt. The suggested hilt part is wider and marginally thinner (with a maximum surviving width of 22.8mm and a thickness of 2.0mm). The blade edge does not survive on either side (with a minimum surviving width of 15.5mm, where it has a thickness of 2.8mm). A sub-circular notch may possibly be the remains of a rivet attachment hole. However, only one face only has a midrib (12mm wide), the other face is flat and featureless. The surface is poorly preserved with remnants of a dark-brown patina, consistent with Bronze Age metalwork from the area; elsewhere the surface has a grey-green corrosion. The fragmented and corroded state make any identification tentative; the form is consistent with Bronze Age blades, possibly reworked although one flat side is difficult to understand but may relate to its reworking.

NMGW-6F5981: AWL
Copper alloy chisel or awl, possibly of Late Bronze Age date The tool is complete (with a length of 88.1mm and a weight of 9.5g). The tang has a short edge at its apex (1.3mm wide and 0.4mm thick) and is square-sectioned for nearly one-third of its length (for 27mm), gradually widening (to a maximum square-section of 3.7mm). The mid-part of the tool is circular-sectioned (with a diameter of 4.3mm) for a little over one-third of its length (for 31mm). The blade is sub-square sectioned (for 32mm) and each of the four faces on the top of the blade has a clear forged facet, which is possibly decorative. The lower part of the blade is sub-rounded and worn to the angled short chisel-like edge (2.5mm wide). The surface has a rich dark-green patina with the suggestion of more abrasion from one point, possibly suggesting the position of the end of the handle (approximately 37mm from the tip). Tanged chisels and awls have few diagnostic features and change little through time, making their dating and identification more difficult. The deep patina and attention to detail with the decorative facets, may be suggestive of a Bronze Age date. Bronze Age awls and narrow chisels are not common finds and their dating is further hampered by a lack of associated datable artefacts within hoards but tend to date to the Late Bronze Age, c. 1250-800BC. In Wales a socketed awl (Savory 1980, p 127, no. 307) was recovered from The Great Orme, Conwy associated with a palstave of Late Type and of Ewart Park metalworking. 1. Savory, H.; 1980; A Guide Collection of the Bronze Age Collections; National Museum of Wales

NMGW-7149A7: CHISEL
Late Bronze Age bronze tanged and collared chisel, probably of Ewart Park metalworking industry, corresponding with Needham's (1996) Period 7, dated to 950 - 750BC. The chisel is incomplete, missing the tang and with a little peripheral damage (with a surviving length of 34.1mm and a weight of 7.4g). The tang was truncated in antiquity and survives as a square-sectioned stub (with a surviving length of 4.0mm and a width and thickness of 5.2mm and 4.3mm respectively). The chisel is thickest at the shoulder (at 4.9mm). The shoulder mouldings are triangular, with the top edge perpendicular to the tang (with a length of 4mm and a depth of 3.8mm). The sides of the blade are slightly concave and divergent to the eroded blade edge, producing a near-triangular blade from. The blade tips and original blade edge have been lost (with a surviving blade width of 22.8mm). The blade is flat and thins gradually towards the edge (with a thickness of 3.2mm below the shoulder and 2.1mm above the edge). There is the suggestion of hammering forming rippled arcs on both blade faces and striations running parallel to the sides. The surface has a brown to dark-green patina with areas of pale-green surface loss and some pitting. The chisel can be broadly paralleled with an example found in the Brogyntyn Hoard (Savory, 1980, p 123, no 288) in Shropshire, associated with a Hallstatt C sword and a socketed gouge. The Brogyntyn chisel has smaller lugs than this example. In Wales, a similar tanged chisel was found associated with a Ewart Park Hoard from near Ystradgynlais, Powys (Savory, 1980, p 122, no 284). 1. Needham, S. 1996; Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age , Acta Archaeologica 67, p. 121-140. 2. Savory, H.N.; 1980, Guide Catalogue of the Bronze Age Collections; National Museum of Wales

NMGW-7B449E: BARBED AND TANGED ARROWHEAD
Early Bronze Age flint arrowhead of Barbed and Tanged type (c. 2500 -1800BC) The arrowhead is near-complete (with a length of 28.6mm, a width across the barbs of 15.1mm, a maximum thickness of 3.4mm and a weight of 1.2g), missing the end of the tip and is made on a convex flake. The flint is non-cortical and has differential pale-grey patination. The dorsal surface has extensive pressure-flaking while the ventral surface has a retouched edge and is gently convex.

NMGW-E73F68: PALSTAVE
Middle Bronze Age bronze palstave; a Group I palstave of Primary Shield Pattern type and of Acton Park Metalworking 1 metalworking Industry corresponding to Needham's (1996) Period 4 and probably dated to c. 1600 - 1450BC The palstave is near-complete (with a length of 161mm and a weight of 575.5g). The butt (29.2mm wide and 3.2mm thick) is damaged, possibly from the casting but appears to have ben straight. The sides are straight and broadly parallel as far as the stop (31.6mm wide at the stop). Below the stop (10mm), the sides are prominently nicked (32.8mm wide), below which the sides are concave and divergent to a slightly recurved blade edge (71.5mm wide). The flanges begin at the butt and are straight and divergent, reaching an apex above the stop (with a maximum depth of 39.4mm, 16mm above the stop. The flanges return to the blade below the stop, at the position of the side nicks. The flanges are convex across their depths and appear to have been comparatively elaborate, with an outer border parallel to the flanges (8mm wide) and defining a central lozenge (70mm x 15mm). The septum is comparatively flat and straight (9mm thick, 20mm wide and 33mm long). The stops have a slight curve and are raised above the blade faces (with a height above the septum of 5mm and 9mm and above the blade of 5mm and 3mm). Below the stop is a weak shield device (34mm long) defined by a slightly raised platform, rather than mouldings. Below the shield the blade is flat across its length and very gently convex across its width. There are clear hammered blade facets (beginning 20mm from the blade edge with a lower facet 11mm from the edge). The blade edge has some damage and it is now difficult to identify any contemporary nicks or wear. A small number of sharpening striations are now discernible running along the blade edge. The surface has a dark-brown patina and has suffered from some flaking but has been treated by the finder, possibly altering the patina colour. The axe is an early example of the palstave form and it has been argued (Schmidt & Burgess 1981, pp. 125) that North-East Wales and the Marches was the source of this form of axe type. Schmidt, P.K. & Burgess, C. 1981; The Axes of Scotland and Northern Ireland, Praähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung IX, 7. Band 7

NMGW-FDAA11: FLAT AXEHEAD
Early Bronze Age bronze Developed Flat Axe of Aylesford type (following Schmidt and Burgess 1981) or Class 4 (following Needham 1983; forthcoming), dating to Needham's (1996) Period 3 (c.1950-1750 BC). The axe is near-complete but is heavily corroded (with a length of 112.8mm and a weight of 173.1g). The butt is narrow (with a width of 18mm and a thickness of 3mm) and was moderately straight. The sides are straight as far as the midpoint, below which they are concave and expand to the eroded blade tips (with a surviving blade width of 56.0mm). The original blade edge has been lost and is moderately curved. The sides are comparatively flat across their thickness with no surviving evidence for any flanges on either face. One face has a clear median bevel (with a thickness of 9.8mm, positioned 58mm from the blade edge, where the axe has a width of 29mm). There is the suggestion of a blade facet discernible (8mm from the edge). The other face has suffered more surface corrosion and does not convincingly display a median bevel or blade facet. The better preserved face has remnant traces of a pale-grey to dark-brown patina, elsewhere the surface is heavily-pitted pale-green to dark-green corrosion. The axehead has a discernible median bevel on one face, suggesting some developed features on the axe. It is possible that hammered flanges were present but do not now survive.

NMGW-FDCDF0: PALSTAVE
Middle to Late Bronze Age bronze palstave of Transitional Type and uncertain sub-type, possibly Type Shelf or Roundhay dated to the Penard-Wilburton Metalworking phases (c.1275-950 BC) (following Needham et al. 1997). The palstave is incomplete missing peripheral areas and has a distorted butt (with a distorted length of 138.3mm and a weight of 323.2g). The butt is narrow and now rounded (with a width of 11mm and a thickness of 3.1mm). There is an oval aperture (5.7mm long and 3.2mm wide) probably the result of a casting flaw, since the flaw continues as a scar along the septum on one face. The butt has been distorted and is bent towards one face. The sides are straight and gradually divergent as far as the stops, where there is a gentle nick. The loop is incomplete, missing its central part (with a length of 29.2mm, internal length of 13.3mm, width of 10.1mm and a surviving height of 8.2mm giving the palstave a maximum surviving width of 35.1mm) and spans the position of the stops. The casting seams are discernible where the surface survives and appear to have been fettled. The sides of the blade are near-straight and divergent to the blade edge. The blade edge has been truncated and the blade tips lost (with a surviving width of 33.6mm). The blade now has a deep curve, although the original blade form is unclear. The septum is straight and flat, gradually thickening to the stops (with a thickness at the stops of 15.4mm). The flanges now rise from well before the butt but again, are likely to be truncated and eroded. The stops are curved with a perpendicular rise from the septum (of 6.7mm). The blade faces are prominently convex across their widths (with a maximum thickness of 20.8mm). There is a sharp bevel from the tops of the stops to the blade faces. The blade faces have no surviving evidence for a midrib or any other motif, accepting that the surface has been lost along the mid-section. The blade faces gradually narrow to the edge with no surviving evidence for a blade facet. The surface has a dark-brown patina, where it survives and elsewhere is pale to dark-green with patches of active corrosion.

NMGW-0F53D8: SPEAR
Possible fragment of a Bronze Age spearhead of indeterminate type and date A small fragment of copper alloy 20.7mm long, 6.4mm thick and 10.3mm wide). The fragment has slightly concave facets narrowing to the blade and at the apex the suggestion of a mid-ridge. There is no evidence for a socket at the centre. The surface has a dark-green patina, consistent with Bronze Age bronzes. The fragmentary condition of the copper alloy makes any identification tentative and speculative and it is possible that the fragment is from a more recent object but the form is generally consistent with Bronze Age spearheads.

NMGW-639A45: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Late Bronze Age socketed axe of Type Yorkshire and of Ewart Park metalworking, corresponding to Needham's (1996) Period 7, dated to c. 950 - 750BC. The axe is near-complete with some peripheral loss and has a prominent split down one side (with a length of 75.3mm and a weight of 163.2g).The mouth is sub-rectangular (39.3mm wide x 35.9mm long). The socket (57.8mm deep) has straight sides, each with an internal central rib (beginning 12mm below the mouth) which continue to the base of the socket. The top of the mouth is heavily-corroded, which has removed any evidence for casting runners. The mouth has a prominent rounded moulding and there is a collar moulding beneath the mouth (11mm below). The loop is present (23mm long, 8.5mm wide and 8.4mm high), springing from the collar moulding. The sides are moderately flat across their widths and concave across their lengths, and expand to the blade edge. The blade tips and original blade edge have been lost but the blade appears to have been moderately expanded and with a slight curve (with a surviving blade width of 42.0mm). The casting seams are prominent on both sides and have been hammer-finished. The looped side has a prominent split (43mm long and up to 3mm wide), which may be the result of casting problems. The faces are convex across both their lengths and widths and are decorated with three parallel ribs, descending from the collar moulding. The side ribs are positioned close to the corners of the faces. There are no blade facets evident and no sharpening striations discernible at the blade. The surface has a dark-brown patina, with areas of pale-green corrosion. Type Yorkshire axes are found throughout Britain but Schmidt & Burgess (1981, pp 238-9, pl. 130) have demonstrated that the distribution is concentrated on the East side of Northern Britain with the greatest density between the rivers Humber and the Tees. This example may be seen as being a somewhat south westerly outlier to the main areas of recovery. Needham, S. 1996; Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age, Acta Archaeologica 67, p. 121-140 Schmidt, P.K. & Burgess, C. 1981; The Axes of Scotland and Northern Ireland, Praähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung IX, 7. Band 7

NMGW-0BA169: PALSTAVE
Middle Bronze Age bronze Transitional palstave of Type Roundhay, Midribbed Variant (as defined by Schmidt & Burgess, 1981, p 149) and of Penard/Wallington metalworking, corresponding with Needham's (1996) Periods 5 -6 and probably dating to 1300 - 1100BC. The palstave is near-complete with some peripheral damage (with a length of 167mm and a weight of 459.5g). The butt (with a width of 21mm and a thickness of 3.7mm) is moderately straight but bevelled and is possibly truncated on one side. The sides are near-straight and slightly divergent as far as the stop (with a maximum width behind the stop of 27.6mm). The casting seam is only evident on the unlooped side but is possibly masked by corrosion on the looped side. The seam appears to have been neatly fettled. The loop is of D-shaped section (25.0mm long, 12mm wide, 9.4mm high and 3.8mm thick). The sides are flat across their widths and onto the flanges. The flanges begin at the butt and have a linear divergence to the stop but have slight damage to the top edges. The septum is straight and flat and is perpendicular to both the flanges and stops (with a maximum height of 16.1mm). The stops are rounded with a slope to the blade (where the palstave has a maximum thickness of 37.4mm). The sides of the blade narrow below the stop, producing a slight 'nick'. The sides are straight across their widths and gently concave are divergent along their lengths to produce a narrow and moderately rounded blade edge. The original blade edge has been lost but there does not appear to have been any significant loss to the blade tips (with a surviving blade width of 44.6mm). The blade faces are decorated with a single central midrib, which appears as wide as the face below the stop, producing convex faces at the apex, becoming flat near the blade edge. There is a discernible blade facet where the midrib ends. The surface is heavily-corroded with a mid-green corrosion and dark brown exposed metal on edges. There are some areas of active bright green corrosion on both blade faces. The palstave demonstrates a number of features characteristic of Type Roundhay such as the waisting and the near-parallel sides below the stop. The sides however are also straight and near-parallel above the stop, similar to Type Shelf (Schmidt & Burgess, 1981, p 146). Transitional palstaves are recovered occasionally from South East Wales but are far less well represented than Ewart Park metalwork and may have a different pattern of deposition, with the coastal findspot of this example, perhaps being of significance. 1. Schmidt, P.K. & Burgess, C. 1981; The Axes of Scotland and Northern Ireland, Praähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung IX, 7. Band 7 2. Needham, S. 1996; Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age, Acta Archaeologica 67, p. 121-140

NMGW-8F1E90: PALSTAVE
Middle Bronze Age bronze palstave of Group III, Low-Flanged (Broad blade) Type and of uncertain subtype, possibly a variant of Type Wantage (Schmidt & Burgess 1981, p 133-5) and probably of Acton Park II / Taunton metalworking industries, of Needham's (1996) Period 5; dated to c. 1500 - 1150 BC. The palstave is unlooped and is near-complete but is heavily corroded (with a length of 159mm and a weight of 438.4g). The butt (with a width of 18.4mm) has broken across one side. The sides are straight and near-parallel, diverging slightly as far as the stop (with a width of 20mm to 25.1mm at the stop). The sides are then concave and divergent to produce a comparatively wide blade. The blade is asymmetric, seemingly differentially worn or damaged on one side (with a blade width of 64.2mm). The casting seams are clearly discernible on both sides but have been neatly finished, surviving as a ridge where the surface is preserved. The flanges begin (9mm) beneath the butt and appear to be damaged and truncated. The more complete flange appears to be moderately straight, reaching its highest point beneath the stop (with a maximum surviving height of 30.4mm). The septum (with a thickness of 8.0mm) is flat across its length and has a slight concavity across its width. The stops appear more rounded on one face than the other (with heights of 8.6mm and 11.7mm). There is a bevel from the stop to the blade faces (where the blade has a thickness of 20.0mm) and the top of the faces is decorated with a subtle depression or sunken shield decoration but is without mouldings. The blade faces are flat and gradually convergent, increasing in convergence near the edge but without a discernible blade facet. The blade edge is comparatively straight. The surface has surviving remnants of a very dark, near-black patina and elsewhere has a pale to mid-green corrosion. The general form of the palstave would seem to suit Type Wantage, although the absence of decorative mouldings would make the axe a variant of the type. The features would seem 'developed' for an unlooped palstave and if the loop represents a typological progression , this axe may be seen as at the cusp. 1. Schmidt, P.K. & Burgess, C. 1981; The Axes of Scotland and Northern Ireland, Praähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung IX, 7. Band 7 2. Needham, S. 1996; Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age, Acta Archaeologica 67, p. 121-140

NMGW-B2F337: FLAT AXEHEAD
Early Bronze Age bronze flat axe, possibly a reworked axe or an axe blank probably dating to c. 2,200 - 1,900BC The axe is comparatively short with a wide thick butt (with a length of 82.2mm and a weight of 202.8g). The butt is straight and flat (with a width of 39mm and a thickness of 8.5mm) possibly suggesting the axe may have been reworked from a larger axe. The sides are straight and divergent for a short distance from the butt (approximately 20mm) before becoming concave and diverging to a moderately expanded blade edge (with a surviving width of 61.2mm). The sides are rounded across their thickness. The original blade edge has been lost and the edge is now comparatively straight with only a gentle curve. One of the blade tips has been lost and the axe has a pronounced distortion before the break. One face is flat, while the other is very gently convex across its length and both have a gentle convexity across their widths. There are no discernible developed features on the axe, such as a median bevel or flange. There is the suggestion of a short blade facet (6mm long) although this is more likely to be the result of corrosion and wear. The surface is heavily-corroded with a dark-green patina and areas of pale-green corrosion. The flat axe is an unusual form and appears comparatively short and wide and thick-butted but now shows no evidence of breakage, possibly suggesting the butt has been reworked. The lack of any of any surviving developed features and the simple, curved-sided form to the axe may be suggestive of Type Migdale (Schmidt & Burgess, 1981, p 35-44) , of Metalworking Assemblage III, corresponding to Needham's (1996) Period 2 -3 and probably dating to c. 2,200 - 1,900BC. The axe also may be an axe-blank and the unworked flat face may demonstrates minimal working subsequent to its casting. 1. Schmidt, P.K. & Burgess, C. 1981; The Axes of Scotland and Northern Ireland, Praähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung IX, 7. Band 7 2. Needham, S. 1996; Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age , Acta Archaeologica 67, p. 121-140

NMGW-BA6184: HOARD
Late Bronze Age metalwork hoard. 1. Plain socketed axe of Type Portree - near complete. Length 100.5mm; surviving blade width 58.1mm; external mouth dimensions 47.2mm by 38.2mm; weight 276.3g. Near complete bronze socketed axe with angular face edges and sub-rectangular cross-section. The loop is missing and there is some peripheral damage to the out-turned blade edge. The axe has an onset collar below the mouth and the axe was cast with mismatching mould halves, the collar on one side being markedly deeper than on the other. The surface has a dark grey-green and black patina, with small patches of light green corrosion around the mouth and along the blade edge. 2. Ribbed socketed axe fragment Surviving length 42.8mm; surviving width 23.5mm; weight 27.4g. Small mouth and partial face fragment of a ribbed socketed axe of bronze. The mouth has an onset collar. Two narrow raised ribs are visible, descending from the underside of the collar down the long axis of the surviving upper face. The fragment is markedly bent near the lower face break, suggesting deliberate force in breakage during antiquity. The surface displays a dark grey-green patina. 3. Ribbed socketed axe fragment Surviving Length 60.6mm; surviving width 23.1mm; weight 55.1g. Small mouth and upper body fragment of a ribbed socketed axe of bronze. The mouth moulding is out-turned but poorly defined, the mouth top uneven and imperfectly cast. Two raised narrow ribs extend down one upper face, while a single rib survives on the reverse axe face. The other rib is represented only partially by a short narrow rib on the edge of the break. This fragment has been bent in antiquity, one surviving face section being pressed together against the other, while the lower face break is also distorted inwards. The surface has a grey-green patina. 4. Plain or faceted socketed axe fragment Surviving length 37.4mm; surviving width 40.4mm; weight 27.2g. Small upper face and side fragment of a plain or faceted socketed axe of bronze. The mouth has an onset and well-defined collar. The original outer face has been deliberately bent inside out, making the original inner socket face convex and appear to be the outer surface, on first view. The surface a dark grey-green patina. 5. Socketed axe fragment Surviving length 35.5mm; surviving width 22.7mm; weight 33.3g. Small middle face and side fragment of a socketed axe of bronze, with a prominent casting seam. No ribs are visible on the surviving face. The fragment has been forcibly distorted and broken in antiquity and there is twisting and inner face cracking evident. The surface has a dark grey-green patina. 6.-8. Three fragments of a single and incomplete Plain Pegged Spearhead Estimated original length of complete spearhead 270-300mm Combined surviving weight 134.7g. This was originally a large spearhead of Plain Pegged type, with a lanceolate or flame-shaped blade. 6. Spearhead socket and lower blade fragment Length 96.4mm; external diameter of socket 25.8-26.1mm; maximum width 32.0mm; weight 67.3g. Socket and lower blade fragment of a Plain Pegged spearhead of bronze. The circular socket has slightly convex sides, giving it an external barrel-shaped profile. Two circular peg holes (each 5.5-6.5mm in diameter) are located 34.5-34.7mm from the mouth end of the socket. The spear blade has a pronounced and stepped blade bevel, the blade edge merging with the socket at a shallow and even angle. The lower blade wall thickness varies markedly on each face, suggesting casting imperfections. The break is uneven and occurred in antiquity, creating a small tear on one lower blade face. Areas of bronze metal are evident, with patches of dark grey and dark green patination also present. 7. Spearhead blade fragment Surviving length 65.4mm; surviving width 39.9mm; maximum thickness 12.1mm; weight 46.6g. Middle blade fragment of a Plain Pegged spearhead of bronze, with a probable join with spearhead tip fragment 8 (below). The spearhead has a prominent mid-ridge, which is lozenge shaped in cross-section, and a pronounced and stepped blade bevel. The fragment is bent at both ends, suggesting deliberate breakage in antiquity. Impact scars on one lower face suggests that the spearhead was bent and broken by being struck with a blunt bladed implement. The blade edges are badly corroded and damaged with pale green corrosion surfaces. The faces have a grey-green patination, one face being well preserved with crisp definition and lustre and the other being markedly rough, with a dull corrosion surface. 8. Spearhead blade tip fragment Surviving length 54.2mm; surviving width 23.5mm; maximum thickness 9.7mm; weight 20.6g. This is a tip fragment of a Plain Pegged spearhead of bronze, with a probable join with spearhead middle blade fragment 7 (above). The tip fragment has a prominent mid-ridge, tapering at the end to form a solid tip, also with a pronounced and stepped blade bevel. Bending is evident near the break, suggesting deliberate breakage in antiquity. One blade edge and side is badly damaged and corroded with pale green and unstable corrosion surfaces, which also extends across one side of the break point. The surface has a grey-green patina. 9. Penannular bracelet - fragment with terminal Surviving length 68.6mm; diameter of terminal 16.7 by 14.5mm; hoop diameter 5.4mm by 5.1mm; weight 22.9g. A fragment of a bronze penannular bracelet with an expanded oval-shaped terminal, representing between one third and one half of the original bracelet. The hoop has a near circular cross-section, though with slight flattening along the inner circumference, and was broken in antiquity. The bracelet had an internal front to back diameter of approximately 50mm and it is estimated that it once had an internal side to side diameter of 71-76mm. The bracelet surfaces have a green patina. 10. Ingot or recycled bronze fragment-- near complete Maximum height 55.5mm; diameter of base 74.0mm; maximum width 77.4mm; weight 670.4g. Bronze ingot or re-smelted bronze fragment. The molten metal was cooled inside the base of a ceramic vessel, set into the ground surface at an angle, so cooling into one half of the base and up one side of the interior vessel side-surface. The vessel once had an external base diameter of 105-115mm. The upper cooling surface is rough and irregular, while the underside surfaces have surface vesicles, representing air bubbles in the molten metal as it cooled. The base surface is slightly concave, while the side diverges and become wider with a convex profile, taking the contours of the internal vessel surface. A small fragment of the whole piece was removed in antiquity near the top of the body side. The upper cooling surface has a green patina, while the underside has large areas of light green surface corrosion with small areas of dark-green patina surviving. 11. Plano-convex ingot/cake fragment Surviving length 40.7mm; max. surviving width 62.7mm; max. thickness 13.3mm; weight 119.6g. Plano-convex ingot/cake fragment of bronze, representing one long-axis end of an irregular oval-shaped cake. The upper cooling surface is irregular and uneven. The lower surface is convex in shape, though uneven with slight flattening near the break, which was made in antiquity. The surfaces have a dark grey-green patination. 12. Single-runner casting-jet - complete Maximum height 29.1mm; top surface diameter of reservoir 35.2mm by 27.2mm; length of runner 13.7 mm; max. width of runner 12.5mm; weight 50.6g. A complete single-runner casting-jet of bronze. The reservoir is oval shaped in surface plan with a near flat upper surface. The reservoir tapers inwards steeply with a convex form on one side and a concave form on the other. A single, narrow and prominent runner extends from the central base of the reservoir aligned parallel with the long-axis of the reservoir. The surfaces have a dark grey-green patination. 13. Single-runner casting-jet - complete Maximum height 31.4mm; top surface diameter of reservoir 30.2mm by 23.3mm; length of runner 6.5mm; width of runner 21.1mm; weight 50.5g. A complete single-runner casting-jet of bronze. The reservoir is oval shaped in surface plan with a rough, uneven and concave upper surface. The reservoir tapers inwards at the underside with a straight to slightly convex profile. A wide and single runner extends from under the base of the reservoir, being the same width as the base width of the reservoir. The runner has been snapped off just a short distance (6.5mm) from the reservoir base. The surfaces have a dark grey-green patination. 14. Small single-runner casting-jet - complete Maximum height 16.0mm; top surface diameter of reservoir 23.5mm by 19.2 mm; weight 13.9g. A small single-runner casting-jet of bronze. The reservoir is oval shaped in surface plan, with a rough, uneven upper surface, with a significant hollowing at its centre. The reservoir tapers inwards at the underside with a slightly convex profile. Prominent but thin seams of metal have extruded between joins in the upper mould and parallel with the long axis of the jet. The reservoir has been snapped off near its base, with no clear runner stub evident. The surfaces have a dark grey-green patination. 15. Four-runner casting-jet - half fragment Maximum height 27.1mm; top surface length 52.2mm; maximum surviving width 24.8mm; length of runners 19.1mm & 13.8mm; maximum width of runners at base 13.2 & 13.4mm; weight 47.2g. Half fragment of a large four-runner casting jet of bronze, created during the casting of a South Wales type socketed axe. The reservoir is oval shaped in surface plan with a rough and uneven upper surface. The reservoir tapers and is shallow with a central perforation and uneven depth, deepest in proximity to the two surviving runner stubs. The runners are wide and prominent. Both runners are broken below the base of the reservoir. The break lines have even corrosion suggesting they occurred in antiquity. The surfaces have a dark grey-green patination. 16. Dried out wood fragments (3) Surviving lengths: 56.3mm, 44.9mm & 32.7mm; maximum surviving widths 11.0mm, 11.8mm & 14.7mm; weights 1.1g, 0.6g & 0.4g (combined 2.1g). Three small and elongate wood fragments, showing severe shrinking, cracking and warping, due to the drying out process inevitably speeded up by the removal of the wood from its burial context. Careful inspection under the microscope reveals no visible evidence of working and shaping of the wood, however the drying out and shrinking process hinders the identification of possible shape, form and working evidence. The wood fragments merit retaining and safe care as material for possible future radiocarbon dating samples and the potential for independent absolute dating of the burial of the hoard. Metallurgical analysis (Mary Davis) Qualitative and non-destructive surface analysis was undertaken using a Bruker TRACeR III-SD hand-held X-ray fluorescent spectrometer (HHXRF) with a rhodium tube, and a titanium/aluminium filter. The readings were taken with 40 kV and 3A for 100 live seconds. There was no surface preparation of the artefacts; the relatively high kV setting would have allowed penetration of the X-rays through corrosion layers, and resulting spectra could be compared with those from similar artefacts, but would not allow for the production of quantitative data. Results: The ingot or recycled bronze fragment (No. 10) and plano-convex ingot or cake fragment (No. 11) were both found to be of leaded bronze in composition.

NMGW-4D8933: HOARD
Two bronze socketed axes of Late Bronze Age date 1.0 South Wales Variant Type socketed axe Length 101.0mm; blade width 50.0mm; weight (prior to conservation) 354.9g. This is a complete bronze socketed axe of slender and rectangular form. The mouth moulding is deeper (approx. 10mm), thicker and less outsplayed than is typical of the type and the loop extends from the underside of the moulding. The axe has a sub-rectangular shaped mouth in plan view with four runner scars around the top surface, indicating a four-runner casting technology. The axe has slightly divergent and concave sides expanding slightly near the blade edge. Three longitudinal ribs descend from the mouth moulding down both faces of the axe, on one face being parallel and on the other slightly convergent. Both local prominences and gaps in the ribs suggest the re-use of a previously well used mould set. Casting flashes down the sides of the axe have been finished by rapid hammering, though remain prominent. There is little visible evidence of blade preparation on the one surviving blade bevel, the other original surface having been removed by corrosion. The axe has been deliberately damaged in antiquity and prior to burial, as evidenced by three impact scars, two on the mid-face on one side and one on the mid-face of the other. The shape of the scars suggests impact with another thick bladed implement, such as an axe. The axe has a grey-green patina, with small areas of lighter green patination and corrosion around the mouth and blade edges. 2.0 South Wales Type socketed axe Surviving length 79.2mm; surviving blade width 42.0mm; surviving weight (prior to conservation) 205.9g. This is a virtually complete bronze socketed axe, which is small and rectangular in cross-section. The blade edge and bevel has been badly damaged and corroded. The axe has an outsplayed mouth moulding and a high loop. The external mouth is sub-oval in plan view however the internal edge is rectangular in shape. Four prominent and un-filed runner stubs protrude around the moth top, indicating a four-runner casting technology. The axe has slightly divergent but straight sides, widening slightly at the balde end. Three very prominent and near parallel longitudinal ribs descend from the mouth moulding down both faces of the axe. Gaps and variable heights and rib definition on one face suggest the re-use of a well used mould piece. The face edges on both faces are slightly raised (though less prominent than the ribs) giving a pronounced angular profile. Prominent casting flashes down the sides indicate minimal preparation after casting by rapid hammering. The blade edge is damaged, though striations on the blade bevels and parallel with the blade edge indicate some preparation of the blade. The axe has a dark green patination, with areas of pale green corrosion around the mouth and blade edge. On one upper face, there are small patches of blue-green corrosion, consistent with possible burning of the axe before burial. These two bronze socketed axes were buried during the Ewart Park pahse of the Late Bronze Age and date to between 1000-800BC (Needham 1996; Needham et al 1997). South Wales Type axes and their Variants were commonly made and used in south east Wales at this time (McNeil 1973, Fig. 9; Moore 1978; Savory 1980; Needham 1981). Over 30 hoards containing more than 140 examples are known from this region (e.g. Needham 1981; Gwilt 2004), making it the core area within Britain for their burial in hoards. In Monmouthshire, the Llangwm, Glascoed, Coed Ithel, Llanddewi Rhydderch, Llantilio Pertholey, Llanvihangel Gobion and St Arvans hoards contain examples of these ribbed socketed axes (e.g. Gwilt 2004, 132-4, Appendix 2). A further forty single examples of South Wales type axe finds are now also known from south east Wales, with a further fifteen from the rest of Wales. However, they were also made and used across south western and central southern England, either as minor components of hoards or as single finds. A few examples circulated as far as northern Britain, Ireland and northern France (McNeil 1973, Appendix 63-4; Moore 1978, Appendix I, 61-5; Needham 1981, Appendix, 56-66). The discovery of two South Wales Type socketed axes in close proximity (approximately 2.5m apart from each other), strongly suggests that they were once buried as a hoard in direct association with each other. Their slight dispersal is most convincingly explained as caused by recent ploughing activity, leading to their dislodgement from an original burial context and dispersal into the overlying ploughsoil. Archaeological investigation of the approximate area of the find-spot for the larger socketed axe (No. 1 above) failed to reveal evidence for the recent detector pit, in which the axe was found. However, the recently disturbed upper ploughsoil was observed to be 0.25-0.30m deep here, while the larger axe was reported as found at a depth of 0.17-0.20m . Even allowing for the slight thickening of the ploughsoil caused by recent ploughing activity (i.e. loosening and aeration of the soil), it is likely that the three recent detector pits were all almost entirely restricted to within the ploughsoil layer. This provides additional evidence in support of the interpretation that the axes had recently been disturbed from their original burial context - probably a small Bronze Age pit - and dragged upwards into the ploughsoil during a recent ploughing event.

NMGW-4FCA62: HOARD
Early Bronze Age associated flat axes 1. Flat axe - Type Migdale, probable Variant Biggar (Class 3F) Dimensions: surviving length 142.9mm; surviving blade width 58.6mm; surviving butt width21.1mm; maximum thickness 8.2mm; surviving weight (prior to conservation) 253.9g. This is a largely complete but severely corroded bronze flat axe with no surviving original surfaces. It has a narrow, tapering and rounded butt and the axe has a slender profile, whose sides are not markedly concave and curved. One side is irregular to slightly concave and the other now appears slightly convex, with little widening and change of angle at the blade end. The blade edge is shallowly curved in plan view. The edges of the sides appear rounded with no surviving evidence of hammered low-flanges. There is no evidence of a median bevel and the blade is lenticular in side-section (i.e. with no marked central thickening or significant angle change in the blade thickness). On one butt end, an alloy imperfection shows as a curvilinear surface ridge, which has been differentially resistant to surface corrosion and erosion. The axe is now very fragile with pitted surfaces and a light green patination. 2. Developed Flat Axe of Type Aylesford (Low-flanged Class 4B axe) Dimensions: surviving length 129.3mm; surviving blade width 59.7mm; surviving butt width 26.0mm; maximum thickness (at median bevel) 12.5mm; surviving weight (prior to conservation) 240.5g. This is a largely complete Developed flat axe or low-flanged axe of bronze, with damaged blade edges, butt and sides, which are in a very fragile condition. Although the butt is damaged, it is narrow and square ended or slightly arched, tapering at the end in side-view. The butt end is narrow with slightly divergent and straight sides. The angle of divergence becomes more pronounced below the line of the median bevel and down the blade end, though the sides remain straight. This gives a slightly angled side profile to this axe. There is no evident widening or recurving of the sides near the blade edge, although the whole of the blade edge and much of the blade bevel is missing. It is estimated that the original length of the axe was approximately 140-150mm, while the original blade width was probably approximately 65mm. The surviving original surfaces on the sides are slightly rounded, but very unstable, the face edges having been hammered up slightly, to provide low-flanges. The axe is thickest at the median bevel, which is straight. The axe is decorated from butt to blade on both sides with continuous and linear rain pattern decoration, running in parallel with the long axis of the axe. Large areas of original surfaces survive, but are very unstable - having a dark green patination. The damaged blade end, butt and sides have a light green patina.

NMGW-928F55: PENANNULAR RING
This is a complete and small penannular ring (or 'hair-ring') decorated with gold foil and a silvery gold inlayed strip. It appears that the gold foil was wrapped around a copper core, and around this, in continuous spiral fashion a silvery gold strip was inlayed, to provide a striped colour effect. The stripes are wide, with four silvery gold inlayed stripes and five gold foil stripes evident around the ring. The terminals are flat-ended and not expanded, 1.3mm apart on the interior side and 2.7mm apart on the exterior side. Careful examination of the terminals shows the folded over gold foil, slightly detaching from the core beneath. In addition, a small piece of gold foil has also slightly detached from the interior surface, opposite the terminals. Slight compression tension lines, at right angles to the ring in plan, are evident in the surface on the interior face, suggesting that the ring may have been formed after the gold foil had been applied to a straight circular-sectioned copper rod. On one outer surface, there is an area of damage (6mm long by 3mm wide), where the gold foil and silvery gold strip are missing, revealing the exposed green copper core beneath. The surface of the silvery gold strip is noticeably more pitted than the gold foil. There are small nicks and scratches over the whole surface of the ring.

NMGW-CD2C58: HOARD
A Late Bronze Age hoard comprising eleven objects: 1. South Wales Type ribbed socketed axe Dimensions: length 98.1mm; blade width 56.1mm; external mouth dimensions 50.1 by 39.6mm; internal mouth dimensions 32.1 by 25.6mm; depth of socket approx. 64mm; width body below loop 36.7mm; dimensions projecting runner stubs (1) 7.9 by 2.3mm; height 0.5mm; (2) 8.6 by2.8mm; height 0.1mm; (3) 7.7 by 2.6mm; height 0.1mm; dimensions negative runner scar (4) 6.4 by 2.7mm; weight 270.0g A complete bronze socketed axe with a prominent out-splayed mouth moulding and a rectangular shaped body in cross-section. The axe has slightly concave and slightly divergent sides with splaying of the blade edge. The loop is high and narrow, descending from the mouth moulding. The axe has a four-runner casting technology, the runners spaced approximately 90 degrees apart, although slightly offset, rather than centrally placed along each side. Three of the runners are projecting stubs, while the other is visible as a negative scar. The exterior and interior outlines of the mouth are oval in plan. Three longitudinal, prominent and convergent ribs descend from the mouth moulding on each face. On the outer non-loop side there is a slight mismatch in the mould pairing, one side of the mould slightly wider than the other. The casting seams are prominent but blunt, suggesting rapid hammering of the excess after casting. Striations parallel with the curved blade edge indicate it was sharpened for use. Patches of blue corrosion products on both faces suggest that the axe may have been burnt immediately before burial. The axe has large areas of black patination on the upper surfaces, while the blade end and bevel has a grey-green patination 2. South Wales Type ribbed socketed axe Dimensions: length 101.5mm; blade width 55.8mm; external mouth dimensions 51.0 by 41.5mm; internal mouth dimensions 33.9 by 28.5mm; depth of socket approx. 74mm; width body below loop 38.9mm; dimensions projecting runner stubs (1) 8.4 by 4.7mm; height 0.3mm; (2) 7.8 by 4.3mm; height 0.2mm; (3) 9.3 by 4.9mm; height 3.0mm; (4) 10.5 by 4.0mm; height 1.5mm; weight 314.6g. A complete bronze socketed axe with a prominent and out-splayed mouth moulding and a rectangular shaped body in cross-section. The axe has straight and slightly divergent sides with pronounced splaying and recurving of the blade edge. The loop is high and narrow, descending from the mouth moulding. The axe has a four-runner casting technology, the runners approximately 90 degrees apart. All four runners are projecting stubs. The exterior and interior outlines of the mouth are oval in plan. Three longitudinal and slightly convergent ribs descend from the mouth moulding on each face and the face sides are defined and angular. The ribs are not continuous or well defined, suggesting the axe was cast in a re-used stone mould. The casting seams are prominent but blunt, suggesting rapid hammering of the excess after casting. There is a slight casting flaw, indicated by a projecting linear ridge extending from the underside of the loop on the side surface of the axe. Hammer facets are visible on the upper blade bevel, while striations parallel with the markedly curved blade edge, indicating that the axe was prepared and sharpened for use. On the upper blade surfaces, the axe has a black patination, while at the blade end, the axe has a grey-green patination, with an area of bronze metal showing through on one blade bevel. A small organic sample, possibly remnant wood, was retrieved from the socket of the axe, when the soil was removed from the axe's socket in the archaeological conservation laboratory (MD). 3. South Wales Type ribbed socketed axe (found associated with blade fragment 9) Dimensions: length 105.1mm; blade width 53.1mm; external mouth dimensions 54.6 by 45.5mm; internal mouth dimensions 36.0 by 32.2mm; depth of socket approx. 75mm; width body below loop 41.3mm; dimensions of projecting runner stubs (1) 9.3 by 3.7mm; height 1.0mm; (2) 7.8 by 2.9mm; height 0.1mm; weight 311.0g. A complete bronze socketed axe with damage and splitting of the mouth and down the non loop side, with further slight cracking on the mouth. The axe has a prominent mouth moulding and a rectangular shaped body in cross-section. The axe has near straight and slightly divergent sides with little splaying at the blade end. The loop is high and narrow, descending from the mouth moulding. Two projecting runner stubs are visible at 90 degree angles from each other, suggesting the axe had a four runner casting technology, even though two of the runners are no longer visible. The exterior and interior outlines of the mouth are sub-rectangular in plan. Three longitudinal and slightly convergent ribs descend from the mouth moulding on each face. The ribs are discontinuous on one face, suggesting the axe was cast in a re-used stone mould. The casting seams are prominent but blunt, suggesting rapid hammering of the excess after casting. Some mismatching of the mould halves is evident, with the sides of the loop misaligned and also a misalignment down the non-loop side of the axe, making one side stand proud of the other. In two places immediately below the mouth moulding, and in one place on an upper face, there are small holes in the axe wall, indicating further casting imperfections. Hammer facets are visible on the upper blade bevel on one side, while striations on both sides parallel with the blade edge indicate that the axe was sharpened for use. The axe has a grey-green patination, except on the blade bevels which have a lighter green patination. 4. South Wales Variant Type ribbed socketed axe Dimensions: length 93.7mm; surviving blade width 40.2mm; external mouth dimensions 39.8 by 31.2mm; internal mouth dimensions 27.5 by 20.5mm; depth of socket approx. 67mm; width body below loop 32.1mm; weight 223.1g. A near complete slender, bronze socketed axe, with damage to part of the blade edge. The axe has a deep mouth moulding, verging on a collar, and a sub-rectangular cross-section. The axe has near straight but slightly divergent sides with only very slight splaying at the blade end. The loop is narrow, but low, descending from the underside of the mouth moulding. There are no runner stubs or scars around the mouth. Small amounts of projecting excess metal are found around the inner rim of the mouth and at the joining points between the outer mould pairing. The exterior and interior outlines of the mouth are sub-rectangular in plan. Three longitudinal and parallel ribs descend from the mouth moulding on each face. These are prominent and well-defined. The casting seams are narrow, projecting and blunt, suggesting rapid hammering of the excess after casting. The surfaces have a few small vesicles or hollows on upper faces, slight surface casting imperfections. There are striations on the blade bevels running parallel with the blade edge, indicating that the axe was sharpened for use. The axe has a grey green patination, with bronze metal showing though on one lower face, blade bevels and on the ribs. A small organic sample, possibly remnant wood, was retrieved from the socket of the axe, when the soil was removed from the axe's socket in the archaeological conservation laboratory (MD). 5. Croxton Type ribbed socketed axe (fragment 11 is wedged in the axe socket) Dimensions: surviving length 103.7mm; blade width 54.9mm; external mouth dimensions 48.2 by 41.2mm; internal mouth dimensions 32.8 by 28.3mm; depth of socket approx. 76mm; width body below loop 41.5mm; combined weight (with fragment 11) 303.2g. A near complete bronze socketed axe, with a damaged blade edge. The axe has a deep and near flat, onset collar, with no marked flaring of the mouth. The axe is oval in cross section with rounded face edges. The axe has straight and slightly divergent sides, before flaring outwards at the deep blade bevel, though without any recurving of the blade edge. The loop is relatively wide and placed low, descending from the underside of the deep collar. Projecting, but possibly filed down, metal excess is found around the inner rim of the mouth and at the joining points between the mould halves. There are no runner stubs or scars around the mouth. The exterior and interior outlines of the mouth are oval in plan. Three longitudinal and near parallel ribs descend from the underside of the collar. The casting seams are prominent but blunted, suggesting hammering or partial filing of the excess after casting. There are small vesicles in the surface on one face and on one side of the mouth rim of the axe, which are slight surface casting imperfections. On one face, hammer marks are visible on the upper blade bevel. Striations parallel to the blade edge indicate that this axe was sharpened for use. The axe has a light grey green patination on one side, grading to a darker grey green on the other. Immediately beneath the onset collar, on one face, is a small patch of blue surface corrosion product, suggesting that the axe may have been burnt immediately before burial. At the base of the socket of the axe, is wedged a mouth fragment of another socketed axe (number 11, below), preventing an accurate weight for this complete axe to be established. 6. Croxton Type ribbed socketed axe (fragment 10 is wedged in the axe socket) Dimensions: length 116.8mm; blade width 51.5mm; external mouth dimensions 45.4 by 38.5mm; internal mouth dimensions 34.6 by 28.1mm; depth of socket approx. 73mm; width body below loop 40.3mm; dimensions of projecting runner stub 10.9 by 3.4mm, height 1mm; combined weight (with fragment 10) 434.2g. A complete slender and heavy bronze socketed axe with slight damage to one side of the blade edge. The axe has a deep but ill-defined collar, with no marked flaring at the mouth. The axe is sub-rectangular to hexagonal in cross-section with rounded face edges. There is slight angling and narrowing from the side casting-seams to the face edges, giving a slightly hexagonal cross-section to the axe. The axe has slightly concave sides, diverging and flaring slightly towards the blade end. Although there is no marked recurving of the blade edge, the blade bevel flares outward slightly. The loop is relatively wide and placed low, descending from the underside of the deep but ill-defined collar. Around the inner rim of the mouth and at the joining points between the mould halves, there is slight excess projecting metal, which does not look to have been filed or hammered down. A distinct widening of excess metal on an inner face may indicate the location of a single visible runner stub. The exterior and interior outlines of the mouth are sub-rectangular in form. Three longitudinal ribs descend down both faces of the axe. Unusually, the ribs project above the collar edge and into the lower collar zone, rather than emerging from the underside of the collar. On one face the three ribs are slightly convergent down the blade face, but on the other face there is a convex form with 'bulging' outwards in the middle areas of the ribs. The casting seams are prominent but blunted, suggesting rapid hammering of the excess after casting. Hammer marks and longitudinal striations are visible on the upper blade surfaces, while the blade bevels have striations parallel with the blade edge, indicating that the blade was prepared and sharpened for use. On one face edge, on the non-loop side, there are repeated blunt dent marks 2-3mm long and 10.5-1mm wide, in parallel sequence and at right angles to the side of the axe. A few further and similar dent marks are visible cross-cutting through the descending ribs on the same axe face. The axe has a dark grey patination on the mouth and upper end, while bronze metal is revealed over most areas of the lower and blade end. At the base of the socket of the axe, is wedged a side and face fragment from a mid-section of another socketed axe (number 10 below), preventing an accurate weight for this complete axe to be established. 7. Breiddin Type (Southern English ribbed - Class B4 / Welby Type) ribbed socketed axe Dimensions: length 84.6mm; blade width 45.4mm; external mouth dimensions 39.5 by 37.2mm; internal mouth dimensions 28.2 by25.5mm; depth of socket approx. 67mm; width body below loop 30.1mm; weight 168.4g. A complete small and slender bronze socketed axe with a swollen and everted mouth moulding and a rectangular shaped cross-section. The sides of the axe are straight but divergent with significant widening and recurving at the blade end. The loop is wide and low placed, descending from a lower horizontal moulding. The exterior and interior outlines of the mouth are sub-rectangular in form and the mouth is almost as deep as it is wide. The rim of the mouth is rounded and worn, with no clear runner stubs identifiable. Three longitudinal ribs descend from the underside of the mouth moulding, around one third of the length of each face. The ribs, like the mouth moulding are poorly defined and are narrowly spaced. On one face the ribs are parallel, while on the other, they are slightly divergent. The casting seams, though visible, appear to have been carefully and neatly hammered or filed down. On the loop side, around the upper point of insertion of the loop, there is a curving hole in the axe wall, around 13-14mm long and 3-4mm wide, indicating a casting flaw. The upper blade bevel has been heavily hammered, with hammer marks creating marked flattening and tapering. Striations both parallel with the blade edge and at right angles to the blade indicate that the axe was sharpened for use. The blade edge is markedly deep and curved, with slight damage on the loop side. The blade edge is asymmetric in shape, with lower and more pronounced recurving on the loop side, suggesting long-usage and repeated re-working and sharpening of the blade. Overall, the axe has a grey green patination, although on the upper blade and mouth end, there are patches of black patination, while on the blade bevel, the patina is light grey-green. On one face and the loop side are areas of green and dark blue concretions, suggesting that the axe may have been burnt immediately before burial. 8. Late Palstave of Type Isleham -ribbed form Dimensions: surviving length 145.2mm; surviving blade width 37.8mm; surviving blade length approx. 82mm; surviving length of butt to stop approx. 59mm; width of butt at break 21.8mm; body width below loop 22.0mm; maximum thickness at stop 32.1mm; stop heights (1) approx.11mm; (2) approx. 10mm; surviving weight 354.7g. A near complete, slender bronze palstave with a narrow blade. The palstave has a broken butt end and damage to the blade edge. The palstave widens very slightly from the butt end towards the stop, with a nipped-in waist under the stop. The blade sides are slightly concave and divergent, with slight flaring at the blade edge but no recurving of the blade evident. The stop is sub-rectangular and high, projecting in exaggerated fashion at near right angles to the axis in side view. On one face, there is a slight casting flaw where the stop does not project to full height. This shows as a central 'stepped shallowing' of the stop along a 10mm length, and by approximately 2-3mm in height. The flanges are convex in shape, meeting the septum approximately 17mm from the broken butt end. Descending from the stop on each face are three longitudinal and parallel ribs. These are short, extending only 20-22mm down the upper blade faces. Unusually, on each septum surface, there are also two longitudinal and parallel ribs, running parallel with the long axis. These extend from the stop approximately 43mm on one face, and approximately 31mm on the other, before being concealed by a corrosion patch. The casting flashes appear to have been carefully trimmed. Along each side, at the blade end, and below the waisting, slight faceting is visible either side of the central casting seam, 2.5-3.5mm from, and running parallel with the face edges. The loop is broad, one arm above and the other below the level of the stop. Four facets have been shaped onto this, parallel with the loop axis, giving a wide central face, with one wide, then one narrow facet to either side. There are striations running parallel to the blade edges, indicating that the palstave was sharpened for use. The palstave has a dark grey green patina over most areas, with a light grey-green blade bevel and small areas of light green corrosion on the stop, flange and butt end. On one upper blade face and septum, there are areas of green and dark blue concretion, suggesting that the palstave may have been burnt immediately before burial. The break on the butt of the palstave is not corroded but appears evenly covered with soil, suggesting the damage does not relate to the removal of the object from the ground, but may have occurred when a plough clipped the top of the implement at some time during the post-medieval period. 9. Socketed axe blade fragment - not diagnostic (associated with socketed axe 3) Dimensions: surviving length 42.0mm; blade width 54.8mm; width at break 49.6mm; thickness at break 15.1mm; distance base of socket to blade edge 29.5mm; surviving depth of socket 12.5mm; surviving weight 109.5g. Blade end fragment of a bronze socketed axe. The sides of the axe are divergent, with almost no flaring at the blade end and no recurving of the blade evident. The axes appears to have had a rectangular cross-section. The casting seams are prominent but blunted, suggesting rapid hammering of the excess after casting. There are striations, both parallel and at right angles to the blade edge, visible on the blade bevel suggesting it was sharpened for use. Slight indentations on the faces near to the break may be casting imperfections. The blade fragment has a grey patination, with areas of bronze showing through in places. Near the break and in the socket interior there are green corrosion patches, while on one face there are patches of dark blue corrosion, suggesting that this fragment may have been burnt immediately before burial. 10. Socketed axe side and mid blade face fragment - not diagnostic (wedged inside socketed axe number 6) Dimensions: surviving length approximately 32mm; surviving thickness approx. 13mm; surviving width - less than 51mm; combined weight (with axe 6) 434.2g. Side and face fragment from the mid section of a bronze socketed axe, securely wedged inside the socket of axe 6. The axe appears to have had a rectangular cross-section. The casting seam is prominent but blunted, suggesting rapid hammering of the excess after casting. It is not possible to determine whether the axe was plain or ribbed. The axe has a dark grey patination, with bronze showing on the casting seam and face edge. 11. Socketed axe mouth fragment - not diagnostic (wedged inside socketed axe number 5) Dimensions: surviving length - less than 46mm; surviving width at mouth approx 23mm; surviving thickness at mouth approx. 13mm; combined weight (with axe 5) 303.2g. Mouth, upper face and side fragment from a bronze socketed axe, securely wedged inside the socket of axe 5. The exterior outline of the mouth appears sub-rectangular, while the interior outline appears oval in shape. No runner stubs and no excess metal are visible on the surviving rim surface. It is not possible to determine whether the axe was plain or ribbed. The axe has a dark grey surface patination.

NMGW-4AF877: INGOT
Late Bronze Age copper plano-convex ingot probably of Ewart Park or Llyn Fawr metalworking industry, corresponding to Needham's (1996) Periods 7 to 8, c. 950 - 500BC The ingot is represented by approximately quarter of the original and has been roughly broken. The ingot would have had a diameter of 110mm and the quarter ingot has a weight of 1,140.2g, indicating an approximate weight of 4,560g for the whole ingot. This would imply a comparatively large ingot. The surface of the metal is corroded and has a pale green patina with areas of red-brown surface.

NMGW-3BF02D: HOARD
Late Bronze Age hoard of five objects. 1. Palstave butt end fragment Dimensions: Surviving length 24.7mm; butt width 23.5mm; max. thickness at break 11.2mm; surviving weight 25.9g. Small butt end fragment of palstave. In side view, the flanges reach the septum approximately 14mm below the butt end and there is some concavity and change of angle in the upper profile. The butt end is wide and angular, with a slightly convex curved top. On both faces of the upper septum, repeated scratch marks are evident and these look relatively recent. The break appears to have occurred in antiquity. The fragment has a dark grey green patination. 2. Palstave butt end fragment Dimensions: Surviving length 29.7mm; butt width 21.3mm; max. thickness at break 11.8mm; surviving weight 26.8g. Small butt end fragment of a palstave. In side view, the flanges reach the septum approximately 17mm below the butt end and there is little concavity and change of angle in the upper profile. The butt end tapers noticeably in plan view to approximately 21.3mm. There is some damage to the end profile, although it would appear that the butt end had a slightly convex curved top profile. The break appears to have been made in antiquity. The fragment has a light grey green patination with some surface pitting and corrosion evident. 3. Small blade fragment Dimensions: Surviving length 32.7mm; width at breaks 16.5mm & 17.5mm; max. thickness 4.8mm; surviving weight 10.4g. Small and narrow blade fragment, whose blade has a rounded centre-section. The blade sides are slightly concave. In side view, there is slight bending of the blade near the upper blade break, suggesting forcible breaking of the blade. Some areas of original blade face surfaces have been eroded, while blade edges have pale green powdering. The break surfaces are worn, suggesting the blade was broken in antiquity. The blade fragment has a green-brown patina. 4. Spearhead lower blade fragment Dimensions: Surviving length 33.0mm; max. surviving width at lower break 26.2mm; maximum thickness at lower break 10.9mm; aperture diameter at lower break 7.5mm; surviving weight 20.7g. Small lower blade fragment of a spearhead with a rounded midrib. The wide midrib tapers significantly from approximately13mm at lower break to approximately 10mm at the upper break, indicating it is a lower blade fragment. In side-section, there is an oval shaped hollow up the central midrib of the blade (7.6mm wide at lower break and 5.2mm wide at upper break). The blade margins and edges have been eroded away and are absent. In side view, there is pronounced bending towards the upper break, suggesting forcible breaking of the spearhead. Near the lower break on one face, there is a flattening and slight dent, suggesting breakage through impact with an implement of unknown form. The break surfaces are worn, suggesting the spearhead was broken in antiquity. One face is differentially eroded and pitted, with a pale green patina, while the reverse has greater survival of original surfaces and has a dark grey-green patina. The eroded edges are pale green and powdery. 5. Flat plate fragment Dimensions: Maximum length 23.7mm; maximum width 21.4mm; thickness 4.0mm; surviving weight 8.8g. Small flat plate fragment. One edge has a bevelled margin, as if it was deliberately shaped and was an upper surface. Very slight, almost imperceptible concavity of the reverse side suggests it may have been an interior surface. On both surfaces, there are slight linear and irregular shaped surface blemishes, showing as slight negative depressions. These are probable irregularities created during the casting process. The break edges of the plate are eroded, suggesting breakage in antiquity. The plate fragment has a dark grey-green patina. Discussion (by Adam Gwilt) The two palstave butt fragments (Nos. 1 & 2) may be identified with confidence as either belonging to Transitional palstaves of Middle Bronze Age date or Late palstaves of Late Bronze Age date. The chief discriminating feature between the butts of these two forms is in the shape of the side flange profile. With Transitional palstaves, flanges are highest at the stop and they typically extend in a straight line from stop to butt, to give an elongated lozenge form (Schmidt & Burgess 1981, 145-6). Late palstaves, by contrast have short flanges, curving and descending to meet the septum well below the butt (Schmidt & Burgess 1981, 158). The distinction however is one of degree: some later Transitional palstaves do have flanges reaching the septum well below the butt, with some concave curvature in the slope evident (Schmidt & Burgess 1981, 146). On these two small butt fragments, a clear typological distinction is difficult to make, since both have side flanges which meet the septum some distance below the butt and hinting at a concavity of slope, rather than in a straight line. The wide and square end of one palstave fragment (No. 1) is a tendency more typically viewed on Late palstaves (Schmidt & Burgess 1981, Plates 66-7), however some Transitional palstaves also exhibit similar characteristics. On this morphological evidence, it is difficult to differentiate between later examples of Transitional palstaves or Late palstaves. The presence of small but deliberately added quantities of lead (1-5%) to the composition of these palstaves is instructive. Metallurgical analysis of Transitional palstaves from Wales and The Marches has indicated a general pattern of unleaded bronze compositions with trace presences (less than 0.1%) of lead in some (Northover unpublished b, Analyses 451-86). By contrast, analyses of Late palstaves from Wales and The Marches show leaded bronze compositions with a range of 1.0-17.5% lead added, and frequently in the range of 1-6% (Northover unpublished b, Analyses 496-545). On this metallurgical evidence, the two palstave butt fragments from Penllyn are consistent with Late palstave compositions and, on a balance of probability, are probably fragments of Late palstaves rather than Transitional palstaves. Late palstaves were made during the Wilburton and Ewart Park phases of the Late Bronze Age and spanning from 1150 to 800 BC (e.g. Savory 1980, 47; Schmidt & Burgess 1981, 162-3; Northover unpublished a, 212, 270, 274-7; Davies & Lynch 2000, 180-7 & Fig. 4.15). In Wales, Late palstaves were included within the Guilsfield hoard of late Wilburton date (e.g. Savory 1980, 117-8, Fig. 32) and they have commonly been found in hoards of Ewart Park date (e.g. Savory 1980, 120-2, Cats. 275, 281 & 285 & Figs. 31, 42 & 44; Northover unpublished a, Hoards 3, 28, 63, 68, 74, 108, 114, 130, 134). The small blade fragment (No. 3), though not definitively diagnostic has two diagnostic features, a narrow blade form combined with a blade with rounded centre section. This is sufficient to exclude the possibility of it belonging to a dagger or knife of Early Bronze Age date (e.g. Gerloff 1975), or a sword blade of Middle to Late Bronze Age date (e.g. Colquhoun & Burgess 1988). This leaves two main possibilities: either a blade fragment from a socketed knife of Late Bronze Age date or a rapier blade fragment of Middle Bronze Age date, possibly from a reworked blade. The unusually narrow blade width is not frequently paralleled amongst the known examples of socketed knives from Wales (Gwilt et al 2005, 54). However a similar blade width and profile with a rounded centre section is seen on a single example of socketed knife from Minera, Wrexham (Savory 1980, 54, 111, Cat. 224a & Fig. 26; Gwilt et al 2005, 54). This has a blade width of approximately 16.5mm, in comparison with the range of 16.5-17.5mm width on this blade fragment. The Minera knife is of Type Thorndon, a type dating to the Late Bronze Age, with a number of associations in the Ewart Park phase dating to between 1000-800 BC (e.g. Hodges 1956; Coles 1959-60, 46; Needham 1993,44-6 & Fig. 33.10; Gwilt et al 2005, 37 & 54-55, Appendix 2). Alternatively, this combination of blade features most closely matches one of the later types of Group IV rapiers, such as Type Appleby or Type Stuntney (Burgess & Gerloff 1981, 74-84). These belong to the Penard phase of the Middle Bronze Age but continued into the Wilburton phase at the beginning of the Late Bronze Age, spanning the centuries from 1300 to 1000 BC (Burgess & Gerloff 1981, 106-109). Group IV rapiers are the most common of the British rapier forms and were commonly reworked later during their use lives, often being found as broken and undiagnostic blade fragments. It is possible therefore, that a rapier made towards the end of the Middle Bronze Age could remain in use and circulation into the Late Bronze Age, only being deposited in a hoard then. The presence of small but deliberately added quantities of lead (1-5%) to the composition of this blade fragment is however instructive in determining between these two possibilities. Metallurgical analysis of nine examples of Middle Bronze Age Group IV rapiers from Wales and The Marches has so far indicated a pattern of unleaded bronze compositions with trace lead presences (less than 0.5%) in some (Northover unpublished b, Analyses 997-1007). Similar analyses of eleven examples of Late Bronze Age socketed knives and reworked knife blades from Wales and The Marches typically show leaded bronze compositions with a range of 2.0-9.5% lead added (Northover unpublished b, Analyses 1353-68). This would be in a range consistent with the composition of the blade fragment, suggesting it is probably from a socketed knife of Late Bronze Age date, and not a blade fragment from a Group IV rapier. The spearhead fragment (No. 4) is part of a lower blade, as evidenced by the size of the internal aperture (7.5mm) along the central rib of the spear at the lower break. No diagnostic features are preserved on this spearhead fragment, to link it to type and secure date. A spearhead with a prominent rounded mid-rib and circular to oval shaped internal aperture is consistent with deriving from a larger side-looped spearhead or basal looped spearhead of Middle Bronze Age date (1500-1150BC), or a pegged spearhead of Late Bronze Age date (1150-800 BC) (e.g. Ehrenberg 1977; Davis 2006; 2012). The spearhead contains a small percentage of deliberately added lead (1-5%), which may be compared with the compositions of other spearheads of side-looped, basal-looped and pegged spearheads from Wales and The Marches. The existing compositional data indicates side-looped and basal-looped spearheads of Middle Bronze Age date contain up to 1.5% lead, though most commonly less than 1% lead (Northover unpublished b, Analyses 1111-1161). The plain pegged and lozenge sectioned spearheads of the Late Bronze Age contain a range of 0.6-18.6% lead composition, most commonly in the 1.5-10% range (Northover unpublished b, Analyses 1164-1267). On the basis of metallurgical composition, this spearhead fragment has a lead content most likely to derive from a Late Bronze Age pegged spearhead form. The bronze plate fragment (No. 5) proves problematic to identify to a known class of finished artefact of Bronze Age date. While its bevelled edge, slightly convex upper surface and slight concavity of the underside suggest the possibility of once belonging to a cast artefact, it exhibits no diagnostic features. However its bronze composition, with a small added component of lead (1-5%) is the same as the composition of the other artefacts and suggests that this piece is probably of contemporary age. Its similar patination, thickness and cast technology all add to this suggestion. Ingot and plate scrap fragments become recognised raw material components of hoards during the Late Bronze Age. The Guilsfield, Powys hoard contains many fragments cast plate fragments of leaded bronze (Savory 1965; 1980, 117-8, Cat. 268, Fig. 38). It is possible therefore, that this plate fragment represents a bi-product of the bronze casting process; a piece of bronze available for recycling and casting into a finished object. The dating of all the artefact types present in this scatter suggests a probable date during the Wilburton or Ewart Park periods of the Late Bronze Age, spanning from 1150 to 800 BC (Needham 1996; Needham et al 1997). Typological attribution has been considerably aided by semi-quantitative analyses of the metallurgical compositions of these artefacts and their comparison with existing quantitative data from known Bronze Age metalwork from Wales and The Marches. Small, but deliberate additions of lead to the bronze in all cases, have tipped identifications of these highly fragmentary pieces in favour of known Late Bronze Age possible types and away from Middle Bronze Age possibilities. These similar compositional signatures are consistent with the artefacts being of contemporary date when deposited. Given their tight spatial clustering within a 50m area of a field and the presence of multiple artefacts of contemporary date, it is felt that, on a balance of probability and given the evidence available, these artefacts were once probably buried together as a hoard group, and therefore may be regarded as treasure. It is probable that the artefacts had been disturbed in recent times on this shallow soil onto bedrock, possibly through spike harrowing or ploughing of marginal land during the Second World War. The finder reported also discovering modern agricultural harrow spikes of iron within the field where the artefacts were reported. It is possible that further artefacts or artefact fragments remain to be discovered in this field and were also once part of the same hoard. The association of Late palstaves, knife and spearhead in this hoard group and the highly fragmented character of artefacts reported, make its composition and character unusual for south east Wales. Here, most Ewart Park hoards are dominated by socketed axes of the South Wales type (e.g. McNeil 1973; Moore 1978; Needham 1981; Gwilt 2004), while complete or near complete artefacts are usually present in addition to fragmentary objects.

NMGW-3C195F: HOARD
Late Bronze Age hoard of six objects. 1. Ribbed socketed axe - South Wales Type socketed axe Dimensions: surviving length 87.1mm; surviving blade width 44.6mm; surviving weight 156.8g. This is a socketed axe with a damaged and largely absent mouth and damage to the blade end and lower side caused by erosion, lamination and detachment of the original surfaces from the core. The axe has a narrow and out-splayed mouth moulding, the top too damaged to observe its original shape or evidence for runner stubs. The axe is sub-rectangular in section with rounded face edges. The loop is absent, though two scars indicate the loop was high but descended from beneath the moulding. From the underside of the moulding on both faces, three ribs descend over three quarters of the length of the faces. Though largely parallel with each other, they curve slightly and converge slightly towards the blade end. Casting seams are visible down both sides, though they have been hammered down or filed. The blade end is too damaged to observe whether it was prepared for use. The axe has a brown patination and break edges are unstable and laminating in places. 2. Plain slender socketed axe fragment - unidentifiable to type Dimensions: surviving length 84.4mm; surviving blade width 34.1mm; surviving weight 112.1g. This is the blade and body of a plain slender socketed axe, missing its mouth end. The sides are near parallel with no evidence of recurving at the blade end. The surfaces are eroded, however there is no evidence of rib decoration on the upper blade and the face edges are rounded. The axe has a sub-rectangular cross-section. The loop is missing, though a pair of eroded scars are evident on one side. The blade edge, although eroded, exhibits a marked asymmetry, probably through repeated use and re-sharpening. The axe has a brown patination and the mouth breaks are unstable. There is surface cracking evident on one mid-face, suggesting surfaces are unstable and laminating. 3. Ribbed socketed axe fragment - unidentifiable to type Dimensions: surviving length 76.8mm; surviving blade width 31.2mm; surviving weight 28.0g. This is a highly eroded blade and side fragment of a slender socketed axe. The side of the axe is near straight and shows no recurving at the blade end. The narrow blade suggests a slender axe and the blade end is slightly assymetric, possibly through use and re-sharpening. The feint projecting line a possible linear rib can just be traced on the eroded axe face, suggesting that this was once a ribbed form of socketed axe. The loop is missing, however one loop scar is evident just beneath the side break, suggesting the axe was originally in the range of 100-110mm long. An apparent gently curved protrusion near the face edge has been created through differential erosion of the axe surfaces, the socket wall behind it being even and undistorted. All faces and breaks are highly eroded and the axe has a green patination. 4. Socketed axe fragment - undiagnostic Dimensions: surviving length 59.3mm; surviving blade width 37.8mm; surviving weight 65.2g. This is the highly eroded blade end fragment of a socketed axe. The sides are straight and parallel with no evidence of recurving at the blade end. The axe is sub-rectangular in cross-section. Insufficient of the axe faces survive to tell whether the axe was plain or had ribbed decoration. On one face, there is evidence of deliberate impact in antiquity with a sharp pointed tool or weapon, which has punctured and deformed the socket wall inwards in two places. The original axe surfaces are largely eroded and removed and the axe has a brown patination. 5. Socketed tool fragment - undiagnostic Dimensions: surviving length 39.9mm; maximum surviving width 25.2mm; maximum thickness 12.5mm; surviving weight 20.3g. This is a small highly eroded socket base and face fragment of a socketed tool of uncertain form. In side-section, the faces are tapering towards the blade end. The linear socket base and surviving width of the object suggest a narrow and flat bladed socketed tool - perhaps a socketed knife or a very slender axe. There is no moulding or change of slope evident on the surface to indicate a socket to blade transition. The lower breaks are extremely eroded, while the upper socket wall is laminating. Surface cracking and lamination is evident on one face and side. The artefact has a brown patination. 6. Jet - two runner form Dimensions: top surface length 27.9mm; top surface width 23.9mm; maximum height 19.6mm; weight 24.6g. This is an oval shaped jet of conical form. The upper surface is uneven and has a radial cooling pattern. The underside tapers, taking the contours of the top of the clay mould. Two runners extend beyond the base of the reservoir and are elongate oval in shape, (8.8mm long and 4.5mm wide and 6.5 by 3.8mm in size at root). At one point, an irregular bronze protrusion extends sideways, once infilling a small cavity in the top of the mould. The jet has a green patination, although an area of the underside has a dark blue-grey patina. This artefact appears fresh and unworn. Discussion (by Adam Gwilt) One of the socketed axes in this group (No. 1) may be confidently identified as of South Wales Type, dating to the Ewart Park phase of the Late Bronze Age (1000-800 BC). The combination of out-splayed mouth, high placed and ephemeral loop, blocky rectangular form, ribs descending from the underside of the collar and poorly finished state following casting are all diagnostic elements, in combination helping to identify it to this type (e.g. Needham 1981, 31; Northover unpublished, 259-60; Burgess 2012, 239 & Fig. 1). These socketed axes and their variant forms a frequent and dominating element within Ewart Park hoards across south east Wales (e.g. McNeil 1973, Fig. 9; Moore 1978; Savory 1980, 49, 120-2; Needham 1981; Gwilt 2004). Here, over thirty hoards now contain at least 140 examples. They are also frequent smaller presences in contemporary hoards across mid and north-east Wales, south western and England, southern England and northern France, with occasional outliers in northern Britain and Ireland (McNeil 1973, 61-4; Moore 1978; Needham 1981, 55-66; Burgess 2012, 241-4 & Fig. 2). A second axe may be tentatively identified as a ribbed socketed axe (No. 3), but undiagnostic to type. Hoards containing multiple associations of South Wales Type socketed axes are common in south east Wales. Further types of ribbed socketed axes are also known and are also common components within Late Bronze Age hoards of Ewart Park date in Wales. These are variously known as Southern English/Welby Type ribbed axes, Yorkshire Type axes, Croxton Type axes, Llanarth Type axes and Breiddin Type axes (Schmidt & Burgess 1981, 221-39; Needham 1990, 32-38; Northover unpublished, 267). The presence of a plain socketed axe of slender form (No. 2) may also be discerned, however the absence of a mouth precludes certain identification to type. However, its slender proportions, lack of facets and sub-rectangular cross-section help to rule out many plain and all faceted types, while tending to point towards the axe belonging to a Class A South-eastern type socketed axe (e.g. Schmidt & Burgess 1981, 212-7; Needham 1990, 28-31; Northover unpublished, Cats. 624-53). When found in hoards in Britain, they are almost exclusively dated to the Ewart Park/Carp's Tongue phase of the Late Bronze Age (e.g. Schmidt & Burgess 1981, 216-7; Needham 1990, 30). The axe blade fragment (No. 4), although not identifiable to type, did belong to a socketed axe. Socketed axes are a diagnostic artefact form of the Late Bronze Age, with the overwhelming majority made and buried at this time. While a few exceptional examples are known in the Middle Bronze Age and certain forms continued to be made and used into the Earliest Iron Age, the vast majority known in Wales and Britain belong to the Ewart Park phase of the Late Bronze Age (e.g. O'Connor 1980, 161 & 225; Schmidt & Burgess 1981; Gwilt 2004; Northover unpublished, 237-90). Therefore, the association of such an undiagnostic blade fragment is entirely consistent with a Late Bronze Age hoard of Ewart Park date (1000-800 BC). The socketed tool fragment (No. 5) is not identifiable to artefact type. Its narrow dimensions and narrow, linear socket base suggest either the mid blade fragment of a slender or small socketed axe, or perhaps the socket to upper blade interface of a socketed knife. The seeming absence of a step between the socket and upper blade and the lack of evidence for a perforation through the wall of the socket are factors suggesting that this socket fragment does not have dimensions entirely typical of Type Thorndon or Type Dungiven socketed knives (Hodges 1956; Gwilt et al 2005, 54-5). However, it is possible that this may have belonged to a knife with a particularly long socket or not entirely conforming to typical characteristics. Socketed axes of small size or very slender form, possessing narrow sockets and narrow blade widths do exist within the overall range of sizes and dimensions of socketed axes known in Britain and Ireland (e.g. Schmidt & Burgess 1981; Pearce 1983; Eogan 2000; Northover unpublished). The width of this socket is particularly slender and implying an axe with a blade width in the range of 25-35mm. Very small or slender socketed axes may be of plain, faceted or ribbed types. It is likely that many had a specialist function, as distinct from the more common and general purpose axes. The jet of two runner form (No. 6) is the excess reservoir of metal at the top of a mould and a bi-product of the casting process. Jets are commonly incorporated into hoards during the Late Bronze Age, yet are rarely present within hoards of Early and Middle Bronze Age date. Examples with between one and four runners are known. This relatively small example with two runners could have been used to cast a socketed axe, a spearhead or a socketed tool. The South Wales Type axe (No. 1) and jet (No. 6) are diagnostic artefacts which may be dated to the Ewart Park phase of the Late Bronze Age spanning from 1000 BC to 800 BC (Needham 1996; Needham et al 1997). The less diagnostic artefact fragments belong to classes of artefacts that are also consistent with this Ewart Park date. The range of possible artefact types suggested have been found in association with socketed axes of South Wales Type and within hoards of Ewart Park date in Wales. The account of the discovery indicates that the artefacts were found buried at significant depth beneath the surface and closely clustered together. The artefacts were retrieved from four adjacent and deep detector pits, however no archaeological burial context, such as a pit, was observed by the finder. On the basis of this evidence, a hoard of directly associated artefacts can be confirmed. The finder indicated that the find-spot was within a boggy and uncultivated field, speculating that the hoard may have been buried in an ancient pond or within a river bed. Today, springs do issue into small stream channels in the immediate vicinity of the finds and in this boggy area, although the extent to which drainage patterns may have changed during the post-Medieval period through mining and quarrying is not fully known. This specific watery landscape locality may have been deliberately selected for the deposition of the hoard as a gift to the gods (Gwilt 2004, 121; Gwilt et al 2013, 11).

NMGW-3EA2A8: HOARD
Late Bronze Age hoard of five objects. 1. South Wales Type socketed axe fragment Dimensions: surviving length 77.4mm; mouth dimensions 50.1 x 37.7mm (external; surviving weight 203.2g. This is a large mouth and body fragment of a ribbed socketed axe, whose blade end is entirely missing. The axe has a narrow and out-splayed mouth moulding, with three of four runner stubs visible on the upper mouth surface. The axe is rectangular in section with angled face edges. The loop is complete, descending from beneath the base of the mouth moulding. Three prominent ribs descend from the underside of the moulding on both sides, converging slightly towards the lower blade end. The ribs are discontinuous in places, suggesting imperfections in the mould, possibly through re-use. Prominent casting seams are visible down each side and appear to have been rapidly hammered down. The internal flashes inside the loop remain prominent and unfiled. The axe was poorly cast, possibly within a misaligned or ill-fitting three-part mould, with one side markedly thicker than the other, the wall being very thin on one face and side along the break. The break appears to have been made in antiquity and both faces have been dented near the break through impact with a blunt ended object, thereby narrowing the socket aperture at the break end. The axe has a green patination over undamaged surfaces. Recent damage is evident along the thin walled face and side, which has removed a rib and the upper surface, through a side shearing action with a blade. This has created a hole and fissure in the side wall, while the damaged surfaces have a light green patination. 2. Plain slender socketed axe Dimensions: length 93.1mm; surviving blade width 39.7mm; external mouth dimensions: side to side 38.6mm, front to back 38.6mm; weight 153.7g. This is a complete plain and slender socketed axe with a single and flared mouth moulding. The axe has a sub-rectangular shaped cross section with rounded face edges. The axe has a deep front to back socket, its mouth being sub-square in shape. A small and wide loop descends from the underside of the mouth flaring. Casting seams are visible down each side, having been partially hammered or filed down, but still projecting in places. The sides of the axe are slightly divergent and concave, flaring slightly at the blade end. The blade edge appears slightly assymetric in shape, deeper at the loop side. Striations parallel with the cutting edge indicate it was sharpened for use. The axes has a green to dark green patination, with small areas of light green powdery surface on damaged blade and around the mouth. 3. Plain socketed axe fragments (6) - Class A, South Eastern Type Dimensions: surviving length 49.8mm; external mouth dimensions: side to side 41.6mm; combined surviving weight of fragments 63.1g; surviving weight of large fragment 52.2g. This is a partial mouth end fragment of a plain socketed axe with a double mouth moulding. The axe has a sub-rectangular shaped cross section with rounded face edges. The axe has a sub-rectangular shaped mouth. It is estimated that the front-back mouth dimension was in the range of 37-40mm, giving it a comparatively deep mouth and socket. A wide loop descends from the lower mouth moulding. The axe appears relatively wide in form, with divergent but straight upper sides, suggesting this was once a sizeable socketed axe. Untrimmed casting seams are visible down both sides. Two small fragments of mouth and lower mouth moulding were discovered pushed into the socket of the axe and these breaks are soil covered and appear to be ancient, suggesting the axe was deliberately damaged in antiquity. It is possible that the reverse face was also damaged in antiquity, as evidenced through a tear and in-turned break. A further three small axe wall fragments were retrieved at the time of discovery. The presence of fresh breaks on these and on one lower face of the larger fragment suggest this damage was caused during recent retrieval from the ground. A casting seam crack is evident on the non-loop side, probably caused by ancient or recent impact and deformation to the axe. The axe has a grey green patination, with small areas of light green powdery patination near breaks and around the top of the mouth. 4. Plain Pegged Spearhead, with elliptical leaf-shaped blade (2 fragments) Dimensions: combined surviving length of large blade fragment and socket fragment c. 174.0mm; surviving maximum blade width 48.6mm; combined surviving weight (including concretion inside socket)135.5g. A Plain Pegged spearhead, with a lanceolate leaf-shaped blade, broken below the base of the blade insertion. The spearhead midrib shows a marked angularity or ridge along its central length on both faces, giving its external cross-section a sub-lozengic shape at the break. The blade has a bevel 4-4.5mm wide, though only now surviving near the base of the blade and in one localised place along the upper blade, have been partially worn away over much of its length. The blade surfaces have many longitudinal striations parallel with the line of the midrib, suggesting the blade was prepared and sharpened in antiquity. A socket fragment conjoins on one face with the main blade and exhibits a continuing curved ridge, as witnessed down the midrib. An amorphous copper alloy concretion is wedged inside the socket of the spearhead. The spearhead has a grey green patination over most surfaces, although one face is differentially eroded with patches of light green corrosion evident. The tip and blade edges also have a light green patination along much of their length. 5. Lunate-opening spearhead, with leaf-shaped blade (2 fragments) Dimensions: combined surviving length of large blade fragment and socket fragment c. 179.0mm; surviving length of blade (tip to base) approx. 117.0mm; surviving blade width 53.8mm; combined surviving weight 118.6g. This is a leaf-shaped spearhead fragment with lunate-openings, with a missing spear tip and also broken just below the base of the blade insertion. The spearhead has an angled ridge down the centre of the blade, giving a lozenge-sectioned upper blade and hexagonal central cross-section on the lower blade, where the lunate openings occur. The angled ridge extends down the upper socket to give the socket here a sub-lozengic cross-section. The blade appears to have been widest below its mid-point and of probable lanceolate leaf-shaped form. The lunate openings are long and wide, in proportion to the blade length, and the spearhead is hollow-bladed, as best viewed along the upper blade break. The blade itself probably once extended a further 50-60mm to give a total blade length of around 150-170mm. The blade has a bevel 5.0-5.5mm wide near its base, though is heavily eroded along middle and upper blade sections. A small rectangular hole is evident in the inner wall of one of the lunate openings, while there is modern damage on one face near the upper break. A socket fragment conjoins with the large blade fragment, extending the combined surviving length to 179.0mm. A side ridge extends from the base of the blade to the point of the peg-hole, whose edge is 21-22.0mm from the base of the blade. Though incomplete and now eroded, this peg-hole appears to have been 5-6mm in diameter and there is a similar concave edge curvature at the same level on the opposing side of the socket. The spearhead has a grey green patination, with localised areas of light green corrosion at blade edges and breaks. 6. Small spearhead socket fragment (probably part of lunate-opening spearhead 5) Dimensions: maximum surviving length 18.0mm; maximum surviving width 11.7mm; wall thickness 0.9-1.2mm; surviving weight 0.8g. This is a small socket fragment, found within the backfill of the detector pit, when the find-spot was subsequently investigated. Its thickness and curvature is consistent with the incomplete sockets of the two spearheads in the hoard. The breaks are soil covered and not apparently freshly made. Attempts to re-fit the fragment have not yielded a certain clean join, however it is very probable that this fragment once belonged to the socket of the lunate opening spearhead (No. 5 above). On one side of this fragment is an even concave curve, suggesting part of the aperture of a peg-hole. This is consistent with a peg-hole of 6mm in size, similar to that observed on the conjoining socket fragment of the lunate-opening spearhead. The fragment has a grey-green patination. 7. 'Copper alloy' amorphous drib fragment Dimensions: maximum length 37.5mm; maximum width 12.9mm; maximum height 11.6mm; weight 5.6g. This is a small amorphous 'copper alloy' drib fragment, exhibiting no sign of shaping into an artefact form. It is possible that this represents the excess bi-product of a casting or metalworking event, or alternatively, was once an artefact that was heated to a very high temperature and molten state. The possible underside of the fragment has a very uneven surface, taking the contours of the uneven surface on which it lay or landed on. One end of the reverse face has a rounded convex and smooth surface, with two small protrusions, indicating cooling and solidifying from molten state. At the opposite end of the upper surface, there is a thickening of the metal, which projects upwards unevenly. Here, the metal contains holes or vesicles, suggesting bubbling when the metal cooled and solidified. Metallurgical Analysis of the copper alloy fragment (Mary Davis) Qualitative surface analysis of the copper alloy fragment (No. 6 above) was undertaken using a Bruker TRACeR III-SD hand-held X-ray fluorescent spectrometer (HHXRF) with a rhodium tube, and a titanium/aluminium filter. There was no surface preparation of the artefacts; the relatively high kV setting deployed would have allowed penetration of the X-rays through corrosion layers, and resulting spectra could be compared with those from similar artefacts, but would not allow for the production of quantitative data. Results The 'copper alloy' fragment was revealed to be a zinc alloy, containing at least 90% zinc, plus a small amount of copper. Alloys containing significant quantities of zinc are not found in Britain until the Late Iron Age, when brass containing up to c. 27% zinc was first introduced as a copper-zinc alloy (Bayley 1998, 13). Metallic zinc was not isolated in Europe until the post-medieval period; the composition of this piece strongly suggests a date within the last 100-200 years. It could be the bi-product of a metal casting event or the result of the heating of a zinc artefact (melting point 420oC), causing it to become molten and lose its original form. Identification and Discussion (Adam Gwilt, Mark Lodwick & Mary Davis) One of the socketed axes in this group (No. 1) may be confidently identified as of South Wales Type, dating to the Ewart Park phase of the Late Bronze Age (1000-800 BC). The combination of out-splayed mouth, high placed and ephemeral loop, blocky rectangular form, ribs descending from the underside of the collar and poorly finished state following casting are all diagnostic elements, in combination helping to identify it to this type (e.g. Needham 1981, 31; Northover unpublished, 259-60; Burgess 2012, 239 & Fig. 1). These socketed axes and their variant forms a frequent and dominating element within Ewart Park hoards across south east Wales (e.g. McNeil 1973, Fig. 9; Moore 1978; Savory 1980, 49, 120-2; Needham 1981; Gwilt 2004). Here, approaching forty hoards now contain at least 150 examples. They are also frequent smaller presences in contemporary hoards across mid and north-east Wales, south western and England, southern England and northern France, with occasional outliers in northern Britain and Ireland (McNeil 1973, 61-4; Moore 1978; Needham 1981, 55-66; Burgess 2012, 241-4 & Fig. 2). The plain slender socketed axe (No. 2) is difficult to identify to a widespread type, although the absence of any mouth moulding or collar precludes many recognised types. In combination, the slender form with flaring mouth, sub-rectangular section and deep mouth plan, with slightly concave divergent sides and modest blade expansion, are most closely paralleled with Class 5 plain socketed axes from Ireland (Eogan 2000, 42-5, Cats. 201-25 & Pls. 11-12) or the miscellaneous slender socketed axes with rectangular bodies provisionally grouped together within Scotland and northern England (Schmidt & Burgess 1981, 217-8, Cats. 1295-1303, Pl. 86). They have been found associated within hoards of Ewart Park / Dowris date (1000-800 BC) in Britain and Ireland, although an earlier origin within the preceding Wilburton phase of the Late Bronze Age (1150-950 BC) is suspected but remains unproven (Schmidt & Burgess 1981, 218; Eogan 2000, 45). In Wales, a plain socketed axe of similar form has been found within a hoard at Margam Beach, Neath-Port Talbot, beside two other plain socketed axes and a South Wales type ribbed socketed axe (Wear unpublished; Northover unpublished, Hoard 76). This hoard is dated to the Ewart Park phase of the Late Bronze Age (1000-800 BC). The mouth fragment and accompanying small fragments of the second plain socketed axe (No. 3) may be confidently identified as of Class A - South-eastern Type (e.g. Schmidt & Burgess 1981, 212-7; Needham 1990, 28-31; Northover unpublished, Cats. 624-53). This form is characterised by a double mouth-moulding, of which the upper moulding is the more prominent, with the lower giving rise to the loop on one side, with a sub-rectangular body section, squarish mouth and plain non-faceted faces. When found in hoards in Britain, they are almost exclusively dated to the Ewart Park/Carp's Tongue phase of the Late Bronze Age (e.g. Schmidt & Burgess 1981, 216-7; Needham 1990, 30). In south-east Wales, Class A - South-eastern Type socketed axes are repeated presences within hoards of this same date, with single examples present in the Tal-y-garn (1&2) (Rhondda Cynon Taf), Margam Beach (Neath-Port Talbot), Llantwit Major, Pendoylan (both Vale of Glamorgan), Glascoed (Monmouthshire) and Myddfai (Carmarthenshire) hoards (e.g. Storrie 1887; GGAT 1977-8; Metcalf & Lambert 1979; Savory 1980, 121, Cat. 281 & Fig. 42; 1984, 441; Briggs & Williams 1995;Gwilt 2004, 132-4, Appendix 1. 3; Northover unpublished, H 38,74, 76, 79; Wear unpublished). One of the spearheads (No. 4) may be identified as a Plain Pegged Spearhead with a leaf shaped blade. Pegged spearheads, as an artefact class, generally span from the second half of the Middle Bronze Age to the Late Bronze Age (1300-800 BC) (e.g. Greenwell and Brewis 1909, 463; Ehrenberg 1977, 3, 13-14 & Fig. 1; O'Connor 1980, 100-101, 138-41; Northover unpublished, 271, 283). In Wales, early examples of Plain Pegged socketed spearheads are found in the Penard (Swansea), Guilsfield (Powys) and Princetown (Blaenau Gwent) hoards, the first dating to 1300-1150 BC and the second and third dating to 1020-920 BC (Barnwell 1864; Savory 1965; 1972; 1980, 117-19, Cats. 266, 268 & 272; Figs. 32-8 & 40). However, they become most common as associations within hoards of Ewart Park date, dating to 1000-800 BC. In Wales, there are currently thirteen other known hoards of Ewart Park date which include Plain Pegged spearhead associations: the Ty Mawr (Anglesey), Llandderfel (Gwynedd), Llantysilio (Denbighshire), Pant-y-Maen, Manorbier (both Pembrokeshire), St Ishmael (Carmarthenshire), Llantwit Major, Cowbridge (both Vale of Glamorgan), St Fagans (Cardiff), Llantarnam (Torfaen), Llangwm, Glascoed and Llanvihangel Gobion (all Monmouthshire) hoards (Barnwell 1864; Williams 1877; Davies 1929, 368; Griffiths 1957; Burgess et al 1972, 240; Savory 1980, 120-1, Cats. 273 & 281; Gwilt 2004, 132-4, Appendix 1, Nos. 1, 3 & 9; Lynch 1991, 246-9 & Fig. 69; Northover unpublished, H4, 53, 74, 85,108, 121, 141; Gwilt & Lodwick 2011; unpublished; Gwilt et al, 2011a; 2011b). The wooden hafts of a number of Plain Pegged spearheads in England have also been radiocarbon dated to the Ewart Park period of the Late Bronze Age dating to between 1000 BC and 800 BC (Needham 1996, 136-7 & Fig. 3; Needham et al 1997, 93-8). The second spearhead (No. 5) may be identified as a leaf-shaped Pegged Spearhead with Lunate-openings. This artefact class was first developed during the second half of the Wilburton phase of the Late Bronze Age (c.1050-950 BC), being present within hoards of this date from Wilburton (Cambridgeshire), Blackmoor (Hampshire) and Guilsfield (Powys) (Burgess et al 1972, 214; Savory 1965; 1980, 117-8, Cat. 268 & Figs. 32-8). However, they flourished within the later Ewart Park phase (1000-800 BC), becoming one of the type fossils within the Broadward Complex of large spearhead dominated warrior hoards whose distribution extends across the Marches, into south-west England, across central southern England and into East Anglia and Yorkshire (Burgess et al 1972, 221, 230-5, Fig. 1c; Northover unpublished, 247). In looking at the overall composition of the hoard, the combination of spearheads and axes suggests an intermediate position between the spearhead dominated warrior hoards of the Broadward tradition and the axes, tools and casting bi-products defining most Late Bronze Age hoards of the Llantwit-Stogursey tradition across south-east Wales and the Carp's Tongue tradition across southern England. Metalwork with Broadward Complex affinities is not abundant in Wales, the evidence currently comprising the Pant-y-Maen (Pembrokeshire) spearhead hoard (Griffiths 1957; Burgess et al 1972, 232 & 240), the Princetown (Blaenau Gwent) spearhead pair (Savory 1972; 1980, 119 & 188, Cat. 272, Fig. 40; Green & Northover 1981; Gwilt 2004, 115-6, Appendix 1.2, Fig. 5.1) and a single barbed spearhead, now lost from Pendoylan (Burgess et al 1972, 232; Savory 1984, 441; Northover unpublished 251). The amorphous 'copper alloy' (No. 7) was analysed and discovered to be a zinc alloy, comprising over 90% zinc and a small amount of copper. Technologically it cannot be of Late Bronze Age date and it very probably dates to recent times, and is certainly post-medieval or later. Therefore, it cannot be deemed to be directly associated with and buried beside the other five Late Bronze Age artefacts in this hoard.

NMGW-3F3BBC: HOARD
Early Bronze Age hoard of three axes. 1. Long-flanged axe (Class 5) Dimensions: surviving length 118.3mm; surviving blade width 63.7mm; surviving weight 266.7g. This is a largely complete bronze flanged axe with cast flanges. The sides of the axe are straight and very slightly divergent towards the blade end and the sides curve out suddenly to a widely expanded blade with a crescentic cutting edge. The butt end is damaged, making it impossible to tell whether it was straight ended or arched. Approximately 57mm from the butt end, there is a low stopridge across both faces. The flanges, although now damaged, would have risen approximately 3mm above the septum on each face. The blade edge is damaged and fragile, making it difficult to accurately determine the original blade width. On one face, just below the stopridge, the feint traces of decorative hammer marks can be observed, forming three or four linear zones parallel with the stopridge. Hammer marks are also evident along the sides of the axe, though forming no distinct faceting or patterning. On the recurving side of one blade edge, a number of impact marks are present, suggesting use wear. On one upper septum face, there is a patch of green corrosion product. The overall patination is green, although the damaged blade edge, flanges, butt end and stop-ridge have a blue green colouration. These edges are fragile and powdery. 2. Long-flanged axe (Class 5) Dimensions: surviving length 119.0mm; surviving blade width 68.1mm; surviving weight 223.0g. This is a largely complete bronze flanged axe with cast flanges. The sides of the axe are straight and near parallel, the lower sides curving out to a cutting edge that is widely expanded and with a crescentic blade edge. The butt end is damaged, however there is curvature in the remaining edge, suggesting the butt was originally arched. Approximately 51mm from the butt end, there is a median bevel across both faces. The flanges, though partly damaged, rise approximately 2.0mm above the septum on both sides. The blade edge is damaged and fragile and the surviving blade width is less than the original blade width. The sides are hammer faceted into three facets, with cable hammer decoration evident. The overall patination is green-brown in colour, while damaged blade edge, butt end and flanges have a lighter blue-green colouration. The damaged surfaces are fragile and powdery. 3. Long-flanged axe (Class 5) Dimensions: surviving length 113.5mm; surviving blade width 57.5mm; surviving weight 199.8g. This is a largely complete bronze flanged axe with cast flanges. The sides of the axe are straight and slightly divergent towards the blade end, the lower sides curving out to a cutting edge that is widely expanded and with a crescentic blade edge. The butt end is damaged, making it impossible to determine whether the butt end was arched. Approximately 47.5mm from the butt end, there is a median bevel across both faces. The flanges, though damaged, are estimated to have risen approximately 2.0mm above the septum on both sides. The blade edge is damaged and fragile, making it difficult to determine the original blade width. The sides are hammer faceted into three facets. On one side, feint cable hammer decoration can still be observed within the middle facet. It is probable that similar decoration, originally on the other side, has now worn away. On one face, a large patch of blue corrosion can be observed. The axe has a green brown coloured patination, while the damaged blade edge, butt end, flanges and corrosion patches on one face have a lighter blue-green colouration. The damaged surfaces are fragile and powdery. Identification and Discussion (Adam Gwilt) These three axes may all be identified as Class 5 long-flanged axes belonging to the Arreton - Ebnal-Inch Island/Gavel Moss phase (Period 4, Metalwork Assemblage VI) of the Early Bronze Age (e.g. Northover unpublished, 104-13; Burgess & Cowen 1972; Schmidt & Burgess 1981, 70-5; Needham et al 1985, iii; Needham 1996, 132-3; Rohl & Needham 1998, 91-2). They are contemporary with the Wessex 2 rich grave tradition and Camerton-Snowshill dagger and knife series across southern Britain, now independently radiocarbon dated to 1750/1700-1500 BC (e.g. Burgess & Cowen 1972, 179-80; Needham & Woodward 2008, 7, Fig. 3; Needham et al 2010, 364-5 & Table 1; Woodward & Hunter 2015, 462). One of the flanged axes (No. 1 above) is typologically slightly different to the other two, having a stopridge, rather than a median bevel, being notably thicker in casting and having more prominent cast flanges. Unfortunately, the butt end is damaged, making it impossible to tell whether the butt end was originally straight, as predicted for this type. This shows similarities with Type Balbirnie long-flanged axes of Scotland and with some of the axes included within Type Derryniggin flanged axes of Ireland (e.g. Harbison 1969, 55-66, Pls. 69-78; Burgess & Cowen 1972, 178-9; Schmidt & Burgess 1981, 70-2, Cats. 396-407A; Northover unpublished, 112). This flanged axe would seem to exhibit characteristics more similar to the Inch Island / Gavel Moss metalworking tradition of Ireland and Scotland (e.g. Burgess 1980, 122; Schmidt & Burgess 1981, 71-2), although it would also fit within the metrical parameters of a Class 5Da axe (Needham 1983, 198-250). Its more pronounced flanges (RHF of 0.0314) suggest that it could be typologically slightly more developed than the other two flanged axes in the hoard. Two flanged axes (Nos. 2 & 3 above) exhibit very similar attributes: a more slender form, with median bevels, low cast flanges, hammer faceting and hammer cable decoration on their sides. These best correlate with Type Arreton long-flanged axes most densely distributed across southern, eastern and south-western England (e.g. Burgess & Cowen 1972, 176-8, Figs. 6 & 7; Schmidt & Burgess 1981, 72-5, Cats. 408-25B; Needham 1985; Needham et al 1985, iii; Northover unpublished Cats. 95-108). When the critical measurements for these flanged axes are applied within Needham's metrical classification of Class 5 axes for central and southern Britain (Needham 1983, 198-250), both appear to fit within the parameters of Class 5Da axes, while their relative flange heights, at 0.0216 and 0.0225, sit within the lower range for true Class 5 flanged axes (Needham 1983, 65-6 & 198, Figs. 72-6). In Wales and The Marches, two published hoards of broadly comparable date and containing Arreton type, Class 5 long-flanged axes are the Menai Bridge, Anglesey and Ebnal, Shropshire hoards (Chitty 1940; Burgess & Cowen 1972; Savory 1946; 1980, 115, Cats. 259-60 & Figs. 18 & 29; Needham 1983, 300-13, Fig. 48.1; Lynch 1991, 218-21 & Fig. 60; Northover unpublished, 106-8, H. 7 & 164). Unfortunately, in each case, many of the artefacts reported in the hoards, both discovered during the nineteenth century, have been lost: there are only three of eight axes surviving in the Menai Bridge hoard (single axes now at Bangor Museum, Amgueddfa Cymru and The British Museum) while only one of three axes originally in the Ebnal hoard survives (Savory 1980, 115 & Cat. 260.3, Fig. 29). A further Arreton hoard with flanged axe fragments has very recently been reported from Wenvoe, Vale of Glamorgan (Treasure Case 15.03), but has yet to be studied and reported upon in detail. Two of the flanged axes (Nos. 2 & 3) were found in direct association, while the third was found approximately 3-4m away from the other two. The discovery of all three axes at significant depths of approximately 0.46m beneath the surface is unusual, especially if one is to interpret that the three axes were originally buried together in direct association as a hoard, but dispersed through recent agricultural activity. Commonly, dispersed hoards are discovered at shallower depths, with dispersed artefacts found within shallower ploughsoil, rather than at depth. A number of tenable possibilities can be offered, to explain this. Firstly, it is possible that the hoard was disturbed in antiquity, only to be covered by deep clay soil deposits. Secondly, the hoard may have been disturbed in recent times, only to be recently covered during depression infilling events by the landowner with overlying soil deposit. Thirdly, it is possible that the hoard could have been disturbed at depth by the cutting of deep drainage channels, with one axe being dragged and moved along the line of the drain. Finally, it is possible that tentative attempts may have been made to deep plough this area of marginal land, leading to disturbance of the hoard. In addition, it has been shown that the three flanged axes all date to exactly the same Arreton phase of the Early Bronze Age, and could all have been used and deposited at the same time. These axes are relatively rare discoveries in Wales, with only around twenty examples known to date from hoards and as single finds (e.g. Needham 1983, Figs. 224-31; Northover unpublished, 105, Cats. 95-108). It seems unlikely that a third example of closely similar form and date would be buried separately and as a single find at the same place. Therefore, overall, and on a balance of probability given the available evidence, it is felt probable that the third flanged axe was once buried in direct association with the other two and as part of a single hoard group.

NMGW-E28ECD: FLANGED AXEHEAD
Middle Bronze Age cast flanged axe of Early Short-Flanged form and probably of Type Kirtomy, possibly variant Arnhall, as defined by Schmidt & Burgess (1981, p 82-4) and of Acton Park II metalworking Industry, dating to Needham's (1996) Period 4; c. 1500 - 1300BC The axe is near-complete but is very heavily corroded (with a length of 132.3mm and a weight of 255.5g). The butt (with a width of 21.4mm and a thickness of 2.5mm) is moderately straight and is likely to have suffered some erosion. The sides are straight and divergent as far as the blade (where the axe has a width of 28.1mm). The cast flanges appear to begin just before the butt and are convex across their heights (reaching a maximum surviving height of 20.8mm) and appear to have had a regular curve, producing an oval side profile. The septum appears moderately flat with no surviving evidence for a median bevel. The sides are 'nicked' (with a width of 32.0mm and a thickness of 10.5mm) immediately below the flanges, below which the sides are concave and divergent to the blade edge. The casting seams are no longer evident. One of the blade tips has been lost (producing a surviving blade width of 53.5mm). There is no decorative device now evident on either blade face. The blade faces are gently convex across their widths, with the possible suggestion of a mid-ridge and are flat and convergent across their lengths before converging more sharply to the blade edge but without discernible blade facets. The surface is very poorly preserved with a small remnants surviving on the septum and blade with a dark-brown patina; elsewhere the surface has corroded pale-to mid-green and brown. The loss of subtle surface features makes typological identification difficult, the general form however is consistent with Type Kirtomy, Early Short Flanged axes and the noticeable nicked sides may suggest the variant Arnhall. 1. Schmidt, P.K. & Burgess, C. 1981; The Axes of Scotland and Northern Ireland, Praähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung IX, 7. Band 7 2. Needham, S. 1996; Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age, Acta Archaeologica 67, p. 121-140

NMGW-1DCB6A: FLAT AXEHEAD
Early Bronze Age bronze Developed Flat Axe of uncertain type, possibly Type Bandon or similar and of Willerby metalworking, c. 1900 - 1700BC The axe is fragmentary, represented by an approximate blade half and has broken in antiquity (with a surviving length of 54.0mm and a weight of 94.6g). At the break, the axe has a rectangular section with a comparatively slender blade (25.6mm wide and 10.8mm thick) and displays evidence that the axe was bent prior to breaking. The sides are convex across their widths and near-straight or gently convex across the surviving length and divergent before sharply out-turning to produce an expanded and well-curved blade edge. The blade tips and original blade edge have been damaged (giving a surviving blade width of 44.7mm). Beneath the break, both faces were decorated with crude linear incised lines. There is no suggestion of flanges on the surviving part of the blade. Both faces have a discernible blade facet, corresponding with the recurving of the blade (15mm from the blade edge). The surface is corroded with some deep pitting and a mid-green patina and areas of pale-green corrosion. The fragmentary state of the axe makes typological identification difficult but the slender blade form and out-turned blade may suggest an axe of Type Bandon or allied axe, as defined by Schmidt & Burgess (1981, p 65-48) . Schmidt & Burgess (ibid) note the lack of associations between Type Bandon and other axes and tentatively suggest that they may be of Stage V, Willerby metalworking, corresponding to the latter part of Needham's (1996) Period 3, (c. 2,050 - 1,700BC), perhaps suggesting a date of c. 1900 - 1700BC. 1. Schmidt, P.K. & Burgess, C. 1981; The Axes of Scotland and Northern Ireland, Praähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung IX, 7. Band 7 2. Needham, S. 1996; Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age , Acta Archaeologica 67, p. 121-140

NMGW-487432: BLADE
Middle Bronze Age bronze blade, possibly a dirk of Group IV blade with a damaged butt. The dirk is incomplete with some peripheral damage to the butt (with a length of 124.3mm and a weight of 29.3g). The shoulders are eroded but appear to have been comparatively broad (with a surviving width of 48.2mm) and is better preserved on one side. The original form of the hilt is now uncertain although it may have been of trapezoidal form with differential corrosion to the apex of the butt, which now has convergent sides. There are no definite rivet holes evident but there is a notch at the central apex, which may have aided the hafting or attachment. The butt is thinned (with a thickness at the apex of 0.6mm) and may have been reworked. Below the shoulders, the sides are concave and convergent (for approximately 26mm). The blade is then near straight and convergent (for approximately 17mm with a width of 26-18mm) after which, the blade is straight and only slightly convergent before the tip. The blade is of lozenge section and gradually thickens to reach a maximum near the tip (of 4.1mm). The blade edge has been lost and is now rounded. The surface is heavily-pitted and corroded with a dark-brown to black patina and with an area of pale-green corrosion. There is no surviving evidence for a hilt mark on the surface The corrosion makes it difficult to confidently identify the blade typologically with the scheme as outlined by Burgess and Gerloff (1981) but would seem to best fit the Group IV weapons with damaged or reworked butts. Group IV blades belong to Taunton to Penard Metalworking industry of the Middle Bronze Age, corresponding with Needham's (1996) Period 5, dated to 1500 - 1150BC. 1. Burgess C.B. & Gerloff S., 1981; The Dirks and Rapiers of Great Britain and Ireland, Praähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung IV. Band 7. 2. Needham, S. 1996; Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age, Acta Archaeologica 67, p. 121-140

NMGW-F0B7C3: BLADE
Middle Bronze Age bronze blade, possibly a dirk of Group II or III blade with a damaged butt The dirk is incomplete with some peripheral damage to the butt and upper part of the blade (with a length of 135.2mm and a weight of 32.6 g). The top edge of the butt is damaged and irregular, with a number of arcs, possibly related to rivet holes but none of which may now be identified with any certainty. The dirk is thinnest at the butt (with a thickness of 0.8mm) and is widest across the eroded shoulders (with a surviving width of 38.7mm). The original form of the hilt is now uncertain but there is a clear midrib on the blade, which begins comparatively near the end of the dirk (at approximately 12mm), possibly suggesting that most of the butt has been lost or possibly that the blade is reworked. The blade gradually narrows from the shoulders, giving the dirk something of a triangular form, rather than the wide-butted and slender-bladed types. The blade edges appear to have been more sharply convergent (for c. 32mm from the butt), before being more gently convergent but still straight and then converging with an arc to the tip (for c. 19mm). Both faces are very heavily-corroded, masking the detail but the midrib is evident on both faces (giving the dirk a maximum thickness of 3.0mm below the shoulders) and there is the suggestion of blade facets. The pitting on the surface has penetrated the bronze in areas and the surviving surface has a dark-brown to black patina and with an area of brown and grey corrosion. There is no surviving evidence for a hilt mark on the surface The corrosion and fragmentary, eroded butt makes it difficult to confidently identify the blade typologically within the scheme as outlined by Burgess and Gerloff (1981) but would seem to best fit the Group II to III weapons. It is also very possible that the blade has been reworked. Group II to III blades belong to Acton Park II and Taunton Metalworking industry of the Middle Bronze Age, corresponding with Needham's (1996) Period 5, dated to 1500 - 1150BC. 1. Burgess C.B. & Gerloff S., 1981; The Dirks and Rapiers of Great Britain and Ireland, Praähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung IV. Band 7. 2. Needham, S. 1996; Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age, Acta Archaeologica 67, p. 121-140

NMGW-61E56A: FLAT AXEHEAD
Early Bronze Age bronze Developed flat axe, of Class 4 (following Needham 1983) or probably of Type Scrabo Hill (Schmidt & Burgess, 1981, p 63-5) and of Metalwork Assemblage IV to V, corresponding to Needham's (1996) Period 3; dated to 2,050BC - 1,700BC. The axe is near-complete but is heavily corroded with some peripheral loss (with a surviving length of 132.4mm and a weight of 295.4g). The butt is rounded (with a width of 31.1mm) and it is now uncertain how much rounding has resulted from corrosion. The sides of the axe are comparatively straight and gradually divergent to the blade. One side expands more sharply below the blade and suggests that the blade originally had at least a moderately expanded blade edge (with a surviving blade width of 56.2mm). The long profile of the axe is lenticular and the better preserved face has the suggestion of a median bevel (occurring approximately 60mm from the butt, where the axe has a maximum thickness of 12.0mm). A small fragment of the surface survives on the side of the face, just above the median bevel where a weak flange is discernible. A blade facet is evident on the better preserved face (13mm from the blade edge). The original blade edge has been lost and is now moderately rounded. Small remnant patches of the original surface survive which show that the axe was decorated with short linear and parallel marks or 'rain-pattern' decoration. A longer surviving strip of surface appears to show where the decoration ends (32mm from the blade) and the surface then exhibits striations running along the blade, probably from sharpening. The surface patina is dark-brown and elsewhere is heavily-pitted with a pale to mid-green corrosion.

NMGW-6216A4: DAGGER
Early Bronze Age bronze ogival dagger of Camerton-Snowshill Type (following Gerloff 1975), or Series 5D (following Needham 2015) and of Needham's (1996) Period 4-5, probably dating from c.1600 to 1400BC. The dagger is incomplete, missing the tip and with peripheral damage (with a surviving length of 67.8mm and a weight of 32.2g). The butt end is eroded and of uncertain form but now with a straight top edge (with a surviving width of 25.6mm and a minimum thickness of 1.8mm), possibly suggesting it was originally of trapezoidal form. There appears to have been three rivet holes, for plug-rivets, two of which are evident, including a central rivet hole (of 6.2mm diameter). The side rivet is less well preserved (with a diameter of 5mm). The dagger widens and thickens to the top of the blade, incorporating the prominent midrib (giving the blade a maximum surviving width of 34.5mm and a maximum thickness of 6.5mm). The central midrib is widest at the hilt (at 19mm), with straight and convergent sides, gradually narrowing to the break (where it has a width of 9mm). Flanking the midrib on each side are three to four decorative rounded ridges, separated from each other by grooves. The decorative ridges are very slightly concave, extending from the butt to the break. There is the suggestion that the decorative ridges may continue as far as the better preserved side rivet hole. There is no convincing evidence of pointillé decoration on the midrib, or elsewhere on the blade. At the break (where the blade has a width of 16mm and a thickness of 4.5mm) the blade has a gentle bend, suggesting the tip was bent prior to breaking in antiquity. Both blade edges have been lost, but there are discernible sharpening striations running along both blade edges on both faces. The surface is partially preserved with a dark-brown patina and is heavily-pitted. The corrosion on both faces at the hilt has a V-shaped form, extending onto the midrib and may possibly suggest a V-shaped hilt handle, which would be unusual, and differs from the more common omega-shaped arrangement at the hilt.

NMGW-623A54: DAGGER
Early Bronze Age bronze Wessex dagger of Camerton-Snowshill Series (following Gerloff 1975) or Series 5D (following Needham 2015), and of Needham's (1996) Period 4-5, probably dating from c. 1600 to 1400BC The dagger is incomplete, missing the hilt and is slightly distorted (with a surviving length of 112.1mm and a weight of 31.5g). The damaged butt is now of indeterminate form (with a maximum surviving width of 30.7mm and a thickness of 0.8mm) but there is the remains of a rivet hole or notch at the apex of the centre (of approximately 5.3mm diameter). The dagger thickens at its centre to form a prominent, rounded midrib (reaching a maximum thickness of 6.2mm, 30mm from the damaged butt), which narrows and becomes more angular towards the tip. The dagger is decorated with two prominent grooves, beginning at the butt and converging along the midrib (approximately 27mm from the tip). There is the suggestion of a third, outer groove at the butt, which goes on to define the edge of the midrib and start of the blade and continues to the tip. There is no evidence for punched-dot pointillé decoration on the dagger. The blade is flat sectioned (0.6mm - 1.2mm thick) and narrows slightly towards the tip (with a width of 4.5mm near the butt and 2mm near the tip). The original blade edge has largely been lost and the edge is near-straight and gradually convergent to the tip. There are no sharpening striations discernible on the small areas of surviving surface preserved along the blade. The dagger has received a blow to one face at its midpoint, probably in antiquity and resulting in slight distortion and surface damage, comprising a short diagonal groove on the midrib (approximately 2mm long and 0.7mm wide) and stress lines evident on the surface. The surface has a dark-brown patina with areas of pale brown corrosion with patches of bright-green surface loss. The patina may be preserved with an omega-like mark on one face, possibly suggesting the remains of a hilt.

NMGW-48018B: FLAT AXEHEAD
Early Bronze Age copper flat axehead, c. 2400 – 2200BC The cast flat axe is fragmentary, represented by a butt fragment (with a surviving length of 63.4mm and a weight of 160.6g) and would have been from a large axe. The butt is wide and straight (with a width of 50.3mm and a thickness of 4mm). The sides of the axe were near-straight as far as the break and are gradually divergent (with a maximum width at the break of 58.7mm where the axe has a maximum thickness of 8.8mm). The sides are slightly rounded across their depths, producing a sub-rectangular body section. The axe faces are flat across both their lengths and widths, gradually becoming thicker but with no suggestion of a median bevel or similar feature. The surface has a mid-dark brown coarse corrosion with some pale-green corrosion products, possibly indicating copper rather than bronze. The axe form is broad butted and is likely to have been a large example. The axe has few developed features but the thinned butt would perhaps suggest an axe of Type Growtown, as defined by Schmidt & Burgess (1981, p. 23). The fragmentary condition of the axe makes its exact typological identification using Needham’s (2017) classification uncertain. However the suggested copper metallurgy and wide but thinned butt would suggest a lenticular long-profile and indicate a Class 2 axe and the wide, straight butt would indicate a Class 2A or 2B axe. Chalcolithic axes of Class 2 A / B can be dated to Period 1, c. 2400 – 2200BC and are amongst some of the earliest metal objects recorded from Wales. A study by Needham (2017) listed four axes of Class 2A or B from Wales and the marches, from Shropshire, Flintshire and Powys. This example represents the most south-westerly of the small number of recorded finds.

NMGW-EEAB28: KNIFE
Late Bronze Age socketed knife of Thorndon Type and of Ewart Park metalworking, corresponding with Needham’s Period 7, dated to c. 950-750BC The cast knife is near-complete, but in two fragments, broken across the slightly distorted blade (with a distorted length of 134.4mm and a weight of 37.7g). The socket has a sub-oval mouth (21.8mm x 12.7mm external, 17.6mm x 10.0mm and 33.2mm deep) and has gently concave, waisted sides (with a minimum width of 18.6mm). The socket faces are gradually convergent towards the blade and have two perforations to secure handle, the upper perforation is central and larger (at 5.1mm – 5.9mm diameter) and the lower is towards one side, smaller and somewhat irregular on one face (at 4.4mm – 6.5mm) and may be a secondary attachment attempt. One side of the socket sides has a sub-linear opening (18.8mm long 2.5mm – 5.2mm wide), probably a casting flaw. The socket and the blade have a near-linear junction, helping to define the knife as Thorndon type. The blade is both widest and thickest beneath the socket (with a width and thickness of 19.9mm and 4.2mm respectively and a minimum thickness above the tip of 0.8mm). The edges are convergent and concave below the socket (for 18mm) before being straight and gently convergent until just above the tip (14mm). The blade has a flattened midsection (8.8mm wide at the socket and 3.2mm wide above the tip), flanked by gently concave blade facets and giving a hexagonal blade section. Both blade edges have considerable damage and nicks, all of which have patinated surfaces, suggesting, they may be contemporary with the use of the knife, or may have occurred post deposition but some time ago. The blade has a shallow S-shaped bend, at the top and mid blade, which is likely to have resulted in the break. The surface on one face is heavily-pitted around both the bend and break. The surface has a pale to mid green patina with no clear evidence for sharpening striations on the blade edge. Thorndon Socketed knives have a distribution perceived as being concentrated in Southern England. As of 2006, there were seven recorded socketed knives of Thorndon type know from south- western Britain, and specifically Wales (Gwilt, 2006, p 54)[1] , with a largely North Wales distribution and with only one outlier in South Wales, recovered within the St Nicholas hoard from the Vale of Glamorgan. Since then a hoard from Glascoed in Monmouthshire also contained a fragment of a Thorndon type socketed knife and another two examples have been recorded with PAS[2] from Bridgend and Newport in South Wales. There are no examples recorded with PAS from Gloucestershire at the time of writing. The Thorndon type knives from the South Wales hoards are associated with Ewart Park metalworking but both hoards also contain an element of the Carp’s Tongue complex. The two fragments were found approximately 3.5m apart and were at a depth of approximately 0.12m, seemingly within ploughsoil and separated by the plough. [1] [1] Gwilt, A., 2006; A Late Bronze Age Hoard from Trevalyn Farm, Rossett, Wrexham; Studia Celtica; The Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies XXXIX 2005 [2] NMGW 2011.146.1, 2017.87.1

NMGW-6F1157: SWORD
A cast copper alloy fragment of a Late Bronze Age sword dating to c.1000-800 BC. The fragment is sub-rectangular in plan and sub-oval in section with both ends terminating in old damage. The fragment is a small section of the blade with a convex/raised midrib (14mm wide, max 8.8mm thick) flanked by a pair of parallel longitudinal grooves on either side c.3mm from the long edge on both faces. The grooves do not appear to narrow on the fragment and the distance is the same between the lines at the upper and lower section of the fragment (14mm) although the long edges of the blade are damaged from corrosion so the cutting edge has been lost. The tip of the object is rounded and pitted with bright green corrosion. The other end has a central concentric depression c.3.5mm in diameter in profile. One side of the blade has 3 small holes, likely corrosion products. The fragment is small and lacking diagnostic features so it is difficult to ascribe a type with certainty. A similar sword fragment of Carp’s Tongue type with two longitudinal grooves is illustrated in Knight, Ormrod & Pearce (2015:99 pl. 26 no. 325) from West Knighton, Dorset. Burgess (1968:22 fig. 13) also illustrates a sword from the River Thames dating to the Carp’s Tongue complex of the Late Bronze Age. The fragment is likely from a Carp’s Tongue type sword of the Ewart Park phase of metalwork. The object is a medium green patina with patches of bright green corrosion and measures 27.8mm long, 21.5mm wide, 8.8mm thick and weighs 16.05kg. Similar objects are recorded on the PAS database e.g. CORN-56AC86, DOR-B4D511, BH-9CC7C7, BH-4C7707, ESS-3BF240 References: Knight, M., Ormrod, T., and Pearce, S. 2015. The Bronze Age Metalwork of South Western Britain: A corpus of material found between 1983 and 2014. BAR British Series 610. Burgess, C.B. Bronze Age Metalwork in Northern England c.1000 to 700 BC. Andover: Cengage Learning (EMEA)

NMGW-3B328A: FLAT AXEHEAD
A badly corroded copper or copper alloy flat axe of Early Bronze Age date (c. 2350 BC to 1601 BC). It is broadly sub trapezoid in plan, although the axe has lost too much of its original shape to confidently assign it to a type using Schmidt and Burgess (1981). No. 270, pg. 50, Plate 22 has a generally similar shape apart from its smaller, flatter butt. The axe itself has a fairly narrow and rounded butt (36.5mm wide) and appears to have relatively straight sides although one is slightly convex- again it is difficult to tell the original side shape due to the heavy corrosion. The cutting edge is strongly curved and unexpanded. The axe is flat lenticular in profile, and rectangular in section. The axe is heavily corroded, with much of the surface covered with active corrosion and corrosion products. This corrosion has led to the total loss of the original surface, changing the shape of the axe. The parts of the axe not covered by corrosion bear a dull red brown patina of uneven, pitted texture. The dull red colour may suggest that the axe is made of copper rather than copper alloy, which would date it to the chalcolithic, the earliest part of the Bronze Age (c. 2500-2200 BC).

NMGW-5942EB: FLAT AXEHEAD
Early Bronze Age developed flat axe of Needham’s Class 4 but of uncertain sub-type, probably dating to Willerby assemblage (Metalworking Assemblage V), the later part of Needham’s (1996)[1] Period 3 to c. 1900 – 1600BC The axehead is near-complete but has lost all of its surface, except at the blade edge and is a comparatively small axe (with a length of 80.5mm and a weight of 101.8g). The axe is likely to have had a lozengic long profile but the surface loss has eradicated any median bevel. The butt (with a width of 18mm and a thickness of 1.7mm) is straight and angled to one side. The sides are straight and near-parallel, gently divergent, before diverging more sharply at the blade (52mm from the butt, where the axe body has a width of 25.5mm). The blade is now asymmetric, differentially worn or corroded on one side. The blade edge is moderately expanded, producing a curved blade edge (with a surviving blade width of 38.2mm). The flanges appear to have begun just below the butt and probably reached their maximum heights around the midpoint of the axe (with a surviving maximum depth of 11.3mm and a height of 2.1mm), which was likely to have corresponded with the median bevel. The sides are convex across their thicknesses and there is the suggestion of a central ridge. The flanges are likely to have been hammered, rather than cast. The faces are now gently convex across their lengths, with no surviving evidence for a median bevel or for blade facets. The blades also have a gentle convexity across their widths. The surface survives near the blade edge with a dark-brown green patina. Sharpening striations running along the blade are discernible on one face. Elsewhere the surface has been lost and has corroded bright-green. The loss of surface detail makes typological identification difficult. The low flanges indicate a developed form and the straight butt and straight, near-parallel sides, only more divergent at the blade may suggest an axe of Type Bandon, as defined by Schmidt and Burgess (1981, p. 65-8)[2], furthermore, its comparatively small size would seemingly indicate the variant Swinton. [1] Needham, S. 1996; Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age, Acta Archaeologica 67, p. 121-140 [2] Schmidt, P.K. & Burgess, C. 1981; The Axes of Scotland and Northern Ireland, Praähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung IX, 7. Band 7

NMGW-5957A5: PALSTAVE
Bronze Age bronze early palstave or Early Short-Flanged axe, sharing features with Bar-Stop axes (Stegbeile) as defined by Schmidt and Burgess (1981, p.89-90)[1] and of Acton Park 1 metalworking industry, straddling the end of the Early Bronze Age to the beginning of the Middle Bronze Age; c. 1600 – 1400BC The axe is near-complete but is heavily-corroded (with a length of 144.5mm and a weight of 321.7g). The butt appears slightly eroded and is of irregular shape (with a width of 20.4mm and a thickness of 4.5mm). The sides are straight and near-parallel as far as the top of the blade, to a point just below where the flanges end (where the axe has a width of 26.4mm). There is no suggestion that there was a side loop but there is the suggestion of possible nicking on the sides where the flanges end, although corrosion has removed any detail. Below the flanges the sides diverge more sharply to produce an expanded blade with a crescentic blade edge (51.3mm wide), damaged on one side. The sides are flat across their thicknesses. The flanges are truncated through corrosion or damage and begin just beneath the butt, rising with a gradual curve to reach a maximum height above the stop (with a maximum surviving height of 23.5mm). The flanges appear comparatively thin (at 2.5mm – 3.7mm thick) and are perpendicular to the septum. The septum is flat across its length and has a gentle concavity across its width (with a thickness of 6.5mm, a length of 57mm and a width of 16mm – 18mm). The ledge stop is perpendicular to the septum (with a height of 11.0mm) and has a slight concavity across its width. There is a casting flaw at the base of the stop on one face. On one face, the stop projects above the blade faces, highest at the centre (5.1mm high) but near level to the blade at the sides and giving the impression of the stop being detached from the flanges. The stop on the other face (with the flaw) is less raised above the face and here the flanges are more damaged, making any distinction poorly defined. There is no shield pattern or midrib now evident below the stop, there is however the suggestion of a D-shaped depression at the top of the blade and it is possible to tentatively suggest an enclosing moulding, where the surface is better preserved on one face. The blade faces are subtly convex across both their lengths and widths with no discernible blade facets but giving a near-rectangular body section. There is a curved ridge evident on both faces (19mm from the blade edge) and is likely to define the position of a blade facet, now lost to corrosion. The original surface has largely been lost but with occasional surviving remnants of dark-brown patina over the pitted, pale-green surface. The axe appears to be somewhat transitional between flanged axes and early palstaves. The prominent bar ledge stop relates to ‘primitive’ palstaves, perhaps of Shield Pattern type, if the suggested shield-pattern decoration is correct. The separation between the stop and flanges, perhaps relates to Early Short Flanged axes and the suggested nicked sides would also be an early feature. The loss of more subtle details of the axe makes precise typological identification difficult. Needham (1996, p 133)[2] and others have argued that there is considerable overlap for ‘final EBA and earliest MBA’ types and this axe form would appear to relate to this overlap. [1] Schmidt, P.K. & Burgess, C. 1981; The Axes of Scotland and Northern Ireland, Praähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung IX, 7. Band 7 [2] Needham, S. 1996; Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age, Acta Archaeologica 67, p. 121-140

NMGW-598318: BLADE
Copper alloy blade fragment, probably a Bronze Age reworked blade, possibly of Middle Bronze Age date The weapon is fragmentary, represented by the lower part of the hilt and the top of the blade (with a surviving length of 67.1mm and a weight of 11.9g). The hilt has broken through a rivet-hole, positioned off-centre (with a diameter of 4.2mm). The hilt has a lenticular section at the break (2.0mm thick at the break and 3.2mm thick at the shoulders), becoming lozengic at the shoulders. The sides of the hilt are moderately straight and diverge slightly towards the shoulders (with a width at the break of 12.6m and 15.0mm above the shoulders) and both sides appear to have been blunted (with a thickness of 1.3mm). The shoulders are expanded (where the blade has a maximum width and thickness of 16.9mm and 3.4mm respectively). Below the shoulders, the blade narrows sharply to produce a rapier type blade profile (with a width and thickness at the break of 6.0mm and 1.6mm respectively). The top of the blade has a defined mid-ridge, with the suggestion of a flat-topped ridge near the break. The original blade edge has been lost and it is now uncertain whether any of the damage relates to its contemporary use. A curve at the break indicates that the blade was bent prior to breaking. The surface has surviving remnants of a mid-brown patina over a darker-brown corrosion The comparatively long hilt with central rivet placement does not correspond with typical wide and trapezoidal butted dirks and rapiers, usually secured with side rivets or notches. The blade width is also unusually slender. The fragmentary condition of the weapon makes a definitive identification problematic, however it is possible to suggest that the weapon was reworked from an earlier blade. Rapiers were in use in Britain principally through the Taunton and Penard Metalworking Industries of the Middle Bronze, dated to c. 1400 – 1100BC.

NMGW-59A3AB: ARROWHEAD
Early Bronze Age flint barbed and tanged arrowhead The arrowhead is near-complete, missing the tip and is slightly asymmetric with near-straight and gradually convergent sides. The arrowhead has been bi-facially pressure flaked, equally on the two faces. One face is more convex, presumably the original dorsal surface of the flake. The flint is non-cortical and has patinated white. Surviving length of 21.9mm; maximum width across the barbs of 18.8mm; a maximum thickness above the tang of 4.7mm and a weight of 1.3g

NMGW-5A8E7B: BARBED AND TANGED ARROWHEAD
Early Bronze Age flint barbed and tanged arrowhead The bifacially worked arrowhead is incomplete, missing one barb, which has broken in antiquity (with a length of 23.6mm, a surviving basal width of 20.9mm, a maximum thickness of 4.2mm and a weight of 1.4g). The flint has patinated white and is non-cortical. Found 320m to the north of the arrowhead at ST 4975 9063 were three pieces of debitage, two bladelets and a spall, all unpatinated and non-cortical. One of the bladelets is a proximal fragment with utilisation scars along one side edge

NMGW-6F4B2A: DAGGER
Copper alloy blade, probably corroded remnants of an Early Bronze Age dagger The leaf-shaped blade is truncated and heavily-corroded (with a surviving length of 47.9mm and a weight of 6.1g). The butt is evenly-rounded, giving the blade a maximum width at the base of the blade of 18.9mm). There are small rounded indents beneath the start of the blade edge, possibly remnants of rivet notches to secure the handle. The butt is thinned (with a minimum thickness of 0.8mm) and reaches its maximum thickness (of 2.5mm) near the midpoint of the blade. The butt is flat across its width, while the blade appears to have had a rounded central ridge. The original blade edge and tip have been lost. The surface is very-heavily pitted and has a pale to mid-green patina. Metallurgical analysis was undertaken[1] using X-Ray fluorescence, which demonstrated the alloy is a tin-bronze with trace elements of iron, lead, zinc and arsenic detected. [1] By Mary Davis; Principal Analytical Services Officer at Amgueddfa Cymru

NMGW-9B1D82: PALSTAVE
Bronze Age bronze palstave of Group I, Primary Shield Pattern type as defined by Schmidt & Burgess (1981)[1] and of Acton Park 1 metalworking Industry corresponding to Needham’s (1996)[2] Period 4 and probably dated to c. 1600 – 1450BC The palstave is near-complete, with some damage to the blade edge (with a length of 145.9mm and a weight of 475.5g). The butt is moderately straight and undulates slightly (with a width of 24.5mm and a thickness of 3.1mm). The flanges end just below the butt and rise to their highest point above the stop (with a maximum depth of 36.6mm and a maximum height above the septum of 14.5mm). The flanges have a slightly convex profile across their widths. The septum is concave across its width and the stop is of bar ledge form and is near-straight (with a maximum height above the septum of 12.5mm and 14.4mm). The sides of the palstave are straight and near-parallel, slightly divergent as far as the stop (with a width of 30.4mm), below which, they gradually become more divergent before expanding sharply to the splayed and recurved blade tips, now slightly damaged(producing a blade width of 62.0mm). There are subtle transverse ridges or ‘nicks’ on the sides below the stop (where the blade has a width of 32.2mm). The blade edge is asymmetric, partly through wear but with some damage at the centre. The casting seams are discernible but appear to have been carefully removed and finished on both sides. The flanges extend onto the top of the faces, flanking a central hollowing below the stop. The hollowing is coarse and unfinished but has a broadly ‘shield-pattern’ form. The axe faces are flat across their widths and their lengths before converging more sharply below a blade facet (17mm from the blade edge). The blade edge is corroded, with no surviving evidence for sharpening striations. One of the blade faces has striations running up the blade evident above the facet but beneath the patina, possibly finishing marks. The surface has a mid to dark-brown patina, largely preserved but damaged at the blade. The palstave demonstrates the characteristics of Primary Shield Pattern palstaves, but has a shallow depression rather than a moulding for the shield-pattern. This example with the recurved blade edge, slender body and of a smaller size the many Acton Park type examples, would suggest Type Colchester as defined by Schmidt & Burgess, (1981, p. 117). [1] Schmidt, P.K. & Burgess, C. 1981; The Axes of Scotland and Northern Ireland, Praähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung IX, 7. Band 7 [2] Needham, S. 1996; Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age, Acta Archaeologica 67, p. 121-140

NMGW-9B610B: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Late Bronze Age socketed axe of indeterminate type probably of Ewart Park metalworking Industry, dated to c. 950 – 750BC but possibly of Wilburton-Wallington through to Llyn Fawr Industries, dating to c. 1,150 – 600BC The axe head is fragmentary missing its upper part and is represented by approximately half of the original (with a maximum surviving length of 56.6mm and a weight (containing sediment) of 143.6g). The break across the axe occurred in antiquity (where the axe had a maximum surviving width and thickness of 42.3mm and 22.3mm respectively). The axe has a sub-rectangular section at the break and is of variable wall thickness (1.8mm – 4.3mm). The surviving parts of the sides are straight and near-parallel before diverging gently to a slightly expanded blade edge (with a blade width of 48.3mm). The sides of the axe are rounded across their thickness with the raised casting seam evident running along the centre and finished. The blade edge has a gentle curve, rounded near the tips. There is the suggestion of a central rib on the more complete face. The faces are slightly convex across both their lengths and widths and gradually convergent to the edge, with no blade facets evident. Both faces have deep striations running diagonally along the entire surviving lengths beneath the patina. The surface has dark-green patina surviving elsewhere. The fragmentary condition of the axe makes typological identification uncertain. The form is consistent with socketed axes of Late Bronze Age date, c. 1,150 – 600BC of Wilburton-Wallington, Ewart Park or Llyn Fawr metalworking industries. However, the form and suggested ribbed decoration are likely to suggest Ewart Park metalworking industry (c. 950-750BC) and possibly of South Wales or allied axe type.

NMGW-EBDF21: GOUGE
Copper tanged gouge of uncertain date possibly Bronze Age The cast tanged gouge is complete (with a length of 86.2mm and a weight of 24.7g). The tang is pointed at its apex ad below is square to rectangular sectioned, with straight sides gradually diverging towards the blade (reaching a maximum thickness of 5.6mm at the top of the blade, where the gouge has a width of 9.8mm). The sides of the blade are also straight and diverge more markedly to the blade edge. There are no lugs or mouldings on the sides. The blade edge is straight (with a width of 23.4mm and, a depth of 4.2mm). The flute gradually both deepens and widens along the blade (with a length of 37mm). The surface is heavily-corroded and is stripped to the red-brown metal with traces of pale to dark-green patina. Metallurgical analysis was conducted on the gouge using X-Ray Fluorescence and suggested that the metal composition is largely copper. The gouge is of an unusual form and cannot easily be paralleled in Bronze Age metalwork. Gouges generally are of socketed form and date to the Late Bronze Age. Very few tanged gouges are recorded, with one of the few instances in the Carlton Rode (Norwich) hoard[1] of Ewart Park metalworking, although the examples are of significantly different form, being slender and collared. Tanged chisels are easier to parallel and also date to the Late Bronze Age but also generally have a collar or side lugs. Simple ‘chisels’ of similar form have been recovered, including the ‘axe-chisel’ from Llandyfan (Anglesey) associated with an Early Bronze Age Food Vessel urn (Savory 1980, no. 334)[2]. The suggested copper composition would be very unusual for Middle and Late Bronze Age artefacts and if Bronze Age, a Late Bronze Age date may be expected for the gouge. Therefore it is perhaps unlikely that the gouge dates to the Bronze Age but cannot be discounted. [1] NHER Number: 1002 [2] Savory, H.; 1980; A Guide Collection of the Bronze Age Collections; National Museum of Wales

NMGW-ED5968: FLAT AXEHEAD
Early Bronze Age bronze flat axe probably of Needham’s Class 3 axes but of uncertain subtype The axehead is incomplete, missing the butt end and with some truncation to the blade tips and edge (with a surviving length of 93.6mm and a weight of 199.2g). The axe is rectangular-sectioned (with a width and thickness at the break of 28mm x 10.0mm), with no suggestion of hammered flanges or developed edge features on the intact areas of the edges. The sides are straight and divergent before expanding more sharply to the blade tips, now damaged and truncated (with a surviving width of 69.1mm). The original blade edge has been lost (with a minimum thickness at the blade edge of 3.2mm) and the current edge is comparatively straight with a shallow profile, although the original edge was likely to have been deeper and with at least a moderate curve. The blade faces are flat across their widths and the blade becomes more convergent but there is no discernible facet and there is no median bevel evident. Hammering marks are evident on the blade and there is the suggestion of a blade facet (7mm deep from the current blade edge) with sharpening striations running along the blade facet. Large areas of the surface survive with a dark-green to brown patina, elsewhere the surface has a pale-green corrosion. Metallurgical analysis was conducted on the axehead using X-Ray Fluorescence and suggested that the metal composition is a leaded bronze. The fragmentary and truncated condition of the axe makes detailed typological identification uncertain. The lack of any developed features but the bronze composition would suggest a Needham Class 3 axe and generally perhaps corresponds to the Migdale type as defined by Schmidt and Burgess (1981)[1] of Metalworking Assemblage III and dated to c. 2200 – 1900BC. [1] Schmidt, P.K. & Burgess, C. 1981; The Axes of Scotland and Northern England, Praähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung IX, 7. Band 7

NMGW-ED6A68: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Late Bronze Age socketed axe of (Class B) Southern English ribbed type and of Ewart Park metalworking, dated to Needham’s (1996)[1] Period 7, c. 950 – 750BC The socketed axe is fragmentary, missing the mouth and one face (with a surviving maximum length of 104.0mm and a weight of 234.0g) and was damaged in antiquity. The more complete face is likely to have broken just below the mouth but with no mouth moulding surviving. The socket has a moderately consistent rectangular profile (29mm x 19mm and with a surviving depth of 67.5mm). The longer side has the stub of the loop surviving just below the break (with a surviving height of 9.0mm). The sides are near-straight, gently convex and divergent before a moderate out-turning at the blade tips (giving a blade width of 54.3mm). The sides are perpendicular to the faces and straight across their thickness. The casting seams are discernible and were finished but the detail has been removed through corrosion. The blade edge has a slight curvature with some damage. The faces are gradually convergent with no blade facets and have a shallow convexity across their length and are near-flat across their widths, producing a rectangular body section (with a maximum surviving body width, below the loop of 38mm). The faces were decorated with vertical parallel ribs and the more complete face appears to have had 6 ribs, with the two outermost ribs following the edges of the face. Striations are evident running between the ribs. The surface has a dark-brown patina partially preserved, with pale-green corrosion elsewhere. The missing mouth makes any typological identification uncertain, the form and size of the axe would suggest the axe type to be a Southern English ribbed axe, which Needham (1990, p 32)[2] called Class B and if the axe also had a double-mouth moulding may have been similar to his B1 axe but with a less expanded blade edge. Southern English ribbed axes are not commonly recovered from South Wales and together with occasional Carp’s Tongue components in Ewart Park hoards, perhaps begin to suggest a degree of contact between western and South Eastern Britain at the start of the 1st millennium BC, which may be observed proportionately less in South Eastern Wales. [1] Needham, S. 1996; Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age, Acta Archaeologica 67, p. 121-140 [2] Needham, S. 1990; The Petters Late Bronze Age Metalwork; An Analytical Study of Thames Valley metalworking in its settlement context; Department of Prehistoric and Romano-British Antiquities 1990; British Museum Occasional Paper 70

NMGW-EEFAFA: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Late Bronze Age socketed axe of uncertain type but probably South Wales (Stogursey) Type of Ewart Park metalworking Industry, dated to c. 950 – 750BC but possibly of Wilburton-Wallington through to Llyn Fawr Industries, dating to c. 1,150 – 600BC The axehead has been damaged and is incomplete missing its mouth and loop (with a maximum surviving length of 88.9mm and a weight of 232.8g). The break across the axe occurred in antiquity (where the axe had a maximum surviving width and thickness of 43.0mm and 27.6mm respectively, a surviving socket depth of 60.9mm; a face thickness of 2mm – 3mm and a side thickness of 3mm – 5mm) and has a sub-rectangular section at the break, with a stub on one side, presumably from the loop. One face and part of the side have been hammered inwards, over the socket and suggests deliberate contemporary damage. The sides are near-straight parallel before diverging more sharply to an expanded blade edge (with a blade width of 55.0mm). The sides of the axe are bevelled towards their centre, where the raised casting seam is evident running along the centre. The casting seam has been neatly hammer-finished. The blade edge has a moderate and even curve. Both faces are decorated with three parallel ribs, with the central rib slightly more pronounced. The faces are convex across both their lengths and widths and gradually convergent to the edge, with no blade facets evident. One face has recent damage scars. The blade edge is preserved and has a contemporary impact indent near the centre and sharpening striations are discernible running along the blade edge. The surface has a mid to dark-brown patina with green corrosion in the recent damage scar. The fragmentary condition of the axe makes typological identification uncertain. The form indicates a socketed axe of Late Bronze Age date, c. 1,150 – 600BC of Wilburton-Wallington, Ewart Park or Llyn Fawr metalworking industries. However, the form, scale and ribbed decoration suggest the axe to be of South Wales or allied type and of Ewart Park metalworking industry (c. 950-750BC). The inward hammered at the break would suggest deliberate damage prior to deposition.

NMGW-012BC2: FLAT AXEHEAD
Early Bronze Age bronze Developed Flat axe probably of Needham’s Class 4 axes and of uncertain sub-type, possibly an axe-chisel and probably of metalworking Stage IV; dated to c. 2050 – 1700BC The flat axe is incomplete with considerable peripheral damage surface loss and likely truncation at the butt (with a surviving length of 89.7mm and weight of 121.98g). Although damaged the axe appears to have a lozengic long-profile. The original butt does not survive (but with a surviving width of 15mm). The better preserved side is unusually straight for its preserved length (of 43mm) and is bevelled towards its mid-axis. There is the suggestion that the side may be beginning to curve outwards before the surface has been lost. The side of blade faces have a slight lip for the flange and corresponding hammer facets are discernible on the sides. The original blade edge has been lost (with a surviving blade width of 35.8mm) and the original form is no longer evident. Both blade faces have a clear median bevel, which has a gentle curve and is positioned close to the damaged butt end (32mm from the butt where the axe has a maximum thickness of 12.0mm and a surviving width of 25.3mm), producing a lozengic long-profile. The blade faces have a gentle convexity across their both their widths and lengths, with no discernible blade facet. There are striations running along the blade near its end, suggesting only a slight loss to edge. The surface has a dark-brown patina with areas of powdery grey-green corrosion. The unknown scale of truncation to the axe, particularly the butt makes typological identification difficult. The comparatively high position of the median bevel would suggest that the butt end may be significantly eroded. If the current very narrow and straight-sided form of the axe, is representative or near-representative of its original shape, then the axe would perhaps suggest a Class 4 axe-chisel. The axe may possibly be of similar form to Developed Axes of Type Bandon, as defined by Schmidt and Burgess (1981, p. 65-7)[1] and if correct may correlate to Needham’s Class 4E. The axe is likely to date to Needham’s (1996)[2] Period 3, dated to c. 2050 – 1700BC. [1] Schmidt, P.K. & Burgess, C. 1981; The Axes of Scotland and Northern Ireland, Praähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung IX, 7. Band 7 [2] Needham, S. 1996; Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age, Acta Archaeologica 67, p. 121-140

NMGW-0431CC: AXE HAMMER
Early Bronze Age stone axe-hammer; c. 2300 – 1800BC The axe-hammer has been shaped by pecking and appears to be complete (with an overall length of 148.0mm and a weight of 1055.7g) but has an irregular facet adjacent to the hammer end. Both faces are near-flat for most of their lengths (with a thickness at the blade end of 39mm and a thickness at the perforation of 41mm), before having a curved divergence at the hammer end (with a maximum thickness of 46.9mm). Both sides of the axe have a smooth curve, reaching their maximum width (of 88.1mm) across the perforation, nearer the hammer-end. The perforation is positioned near the centre of the axe-hammer and is circular with a minimal hour-glass profile (with a maximum diameter of 21mm and a minimum diameter of 13.3mm). The interior of the perforation has been smoothed more than the exterior faces. The hammer end is asymmetric because of the facet to the side, probably resulting from the shape of the rough-out. The end is sub-circular (46mm diameter) no clear signs of battering. The minerology of the rock was examined[1]; the weathered faces made a detailed identification difficult, however the stone is igneous, probably a microgabbro. Sources of similar stone can be found in Pembrokeshire or the Clee Hills in Shropshire. Although the majority of the face profile of the implement is flat, this axe hammer would seem to be better suited to Roe’s (1979) [2] Class II, concave axe hammers and could be further refined to Class IIa. Axe hammers cannot be dated at present through association or context but are suggested as having a chronology contemporary with battle axes and therefore are suggested as being of Early Bronze Age date, c. 2300 – 1800BC. When Roe conducted her survey of shafthole implements in 1979 (ibid.) she recorded approximately 950 axe hammers from Britain, with a midlands, northern English and western British distribution focus. In Wales, the distribution largely excludes South Wales east of Pembrokeshire. [1] By Dr Jana Horak, Head of Mineralogy & Petrology at Amgueffda Cymru [2] Roe, F.R.S; 1979; Typology of Stone Implements with Shaftholes in Clough & Cummins ed. Stone Axe Studies; CBA Research Report 23; p. 23-48

NMGW-1C82A7: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Late Bronze Age socketed axe of South Wales (Stogursey) Type and of Ewart Park metalworking, dated to Needham’s (1997) Period 7, c. 950 – 750BC The socketed axe is incomplete, missing the upper part of one face and side and the loop and is comparatively small (with a length of 52.6mm and a weight of 56.9g). The mouth is incomplete, with a little less than half surviving and appears to have been sub-rectangular (with surviving external dimensions of 33.0mm x 24.5mm and internal 22.6mm x 14mm, with socket depth of 40.0mm). The surviving part of the top of the mouth is irregular and two of the probable four casting runners are evident. There is a slight lip discernible at the mouth, above the rounded mouth moulding (with a length of 6mm and a depth of 4mm - 6mm). The loop springs from the moulding, just above the break and the stub of the lower return is evident (giving a loop length of 18.6mm). The sides of the axe are moderately straight, before diverging to the slightly expanded blade edge (with a blade width of 33.2mm). The blade edge is largely straight (with a depth of 4.4mm) with minimal expansion. The sides of the axe are bevelled towards the centre, where the casting seam is evident but has been neatly finished. The faces appear to have been flat across both their lengths and widths and gradually convergent to the blade edge. Both faces display evidence of damage from battering, possibly deliberately and the battering on the fragmentary face is likely to have removed its upper part. Both faces are decorated with three ribs, convergent on the complete face and near-parallel on the incomplete face but with irregularly placed. The blade edge has a distorted lip on the incomplete face, possibly from impact and is also suggestive of abuse. The surface is corroded with a dark-green brown patina where it survives and elsewhere has corroded pale to mid-green.

NMGW-1D56C4: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Late Bronze Age socketed axe of South Wales (Stogursey) Type and of Ewart Park metalworking, dated to c. 1000 – 750BC The axehead is near-complete, missing the loop (with an overall length of 107.5mm and a weight of 436.0g, including some sediment in the socket). The flat-topped mouth is sub-oval (56.8mm x 50.3mm) with a sub oval socket (36.9mm x 32.4mm and with a maximum depth, containing sediment of 41mm). Three of the four casting runner stubs are evident on the face but have been carefully removed. The mouth moulding has a prominent lip on most of one face but the other face has the usual bevelled-steeped moulding. The sub-circular loop (with a length of 37mm) springs from the moulding on one side and has broken just above the moulding. Both breaks on the loop appear to be recent. The sides have a gentle concavity long their lengths and are bevelled to the centre across their thicknesses. The casting seams are clearly discernible but have been neatly finished. The sides diverge to the gently expanded blade edge (with a width of 58.0mm), which has a very gently curvature. The original blade edge has been lost. Both faces are decorated with three parallel ribs, which descend from the moulding and continue for most of the faces (with a length of 66mm). Additionally the edges of the faces are raised, suggesting further ribs. The faces are otherwise gently convex across their widths and near straight across their length, before converging more sharply at the blade, below the ribs but with no blade facet. Hammer facets are discernible on both blades. The surface has a dark-green patina and traces of probable tenorite survive on the upper part of the faces and along the length of both sides. There are crude incised marks on both blades, lying beneath the patina and seemingly deliberate, the marks generally extend from the ribs, including the sides and end before the blade edge. There are addition incised marks running across the blades crossing the verticals. Some of the marks are doubled in areas, suggesting a secondary attempt on the same alignment and implying a deliberate design was attempted. A number of sharpening striations are also evident running both along and perpendicular to the blade edge.

NMGW-81A292: PALSTAVE
Middle Bronze Age bronze palstave of Group III, Low Flanged, Broad Blade form and possibly of Sleaford variant type, as defined by Schmidt & Burgess (1981, p136) [1]. The palstave is near-complete, missing much of the loop the butt-end and a blade tip and is a small example (with a surviving length of 106.5mm and a weight of 173.1g). The butt is damaged (18.5mm wide and 3.7mm thick), now pointed at the centre but is unlikely to have been much longer. The sides are straight and near parallel to below the stop (where the axe has a width of 19.9mm below the loop). The sides of the blade are divergent with a moderate curve before diverging more sharply to the blade tips, one of which is lost (giving a surviving blade width of 42.1mm). The blade edge has a moderately deep curve (with a blade depth of 15mm). The sides are flat across their thickness with the casting seam clearly evident but neatly finished. The loop is damaged (with a length of 18.8mm, a maximum thickness of 6mm and a surviving height of 5.6mm) and positioned near the position of the stop. The flanges are truncated but appear to have begun at or below the butt and have a linear top edge, reaching their maximum height at the stop (where the axe has a thickness of 25.6mm). The septum (with a surviving length of 39.5mm, a width of 14mm and a thickness of 5.5mm) is flat across its length and gently concave across its width. The stop is also gently concave with near vertical sides (with a height of 10.4mm). The faces are bevelled from the top of the stop to the face and are decorated with three ribs, a prominent linear central rib, flanked by weaker side ribs, curving from the edge of the sides towards the central rib before petering out by the mid blade face. The curved converging ribs perhaps suggest a trident variant design. The central rib extends all the way along the blade, reaching the prominent blade facet (12.6mm long). The original surface with a dark-brown patina has been lost over much of the surface and is fragile with a tendency to flake. The palstave is of unusual form, particularly in relation to its small size but also with the curving ribs. The form may be best paralleled in Low-Flanged palstaves, perhaps a variant of Type Sleaford, as defined by Schmidt & Burgess (1981, p136). Broad Blade palstaves are traditionally dated to the Taunton phase of the Middle Bronze Age in Britain, corresponding to Needham’s (1996)[2] Period 5, dated to 1500 – 1150BC. [1] Schmidt, P.K. & Burgess, C. 1981; The Axes of Scotland and Northern Ireland, Praähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung IX, 7. Band 7 [2] Needham, S. 1996; Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age , Acta Archaeologica 67, p. 121-140

NMGW-81C2E4: WEDGE
Lead axe-shaped wedge, possibly a miniature votive axe of uncertain date, possibly Bronze Age to Roman The axe-shaped object has been hammer-shaped and is complete (with a length of 28.7mm and weight of 8.1g). The butt is thickened and of rectangular section (8.4mm wide and 5.2mm thick). The sides are straight and divergent before flaring to the expanded blade edge (with a blade width of 16.6mm and a thickness of 0.8mm). The faces are somewhat irregular but generally flat and gradually convergent from the butt to the blade. There is no applied decoration to the object. The wedge-shaped piece of lead has few diagnostic features, making any identification speculative and uncertain. The expanded blade edge is similar to axes of Bronze Age and later date, however a rectangular-sectioned block, hammered at one end would produce a similar ‘blade’ profile. The thickened squared butt is best paralleled in shaft-hole axes of Iron Age and later date but there is no suggestion of attempts to represent a shaft-hole. While miniature votive axes are recorded, these generally are of copper alloy and often represent socketed axe forms. Copper alloy shaft-hole axes are known, generally of Roman date but often include the handle in the representation.

NMGW-830817: VESSEL
Prehistoric pottery sherd The fragment is irregular (28.2mm long, 22.4mm wide and up to 11.2mm thick, with a weight of 5.7g). Two of the breaks are old, while the other appears to be more recent. The fabric has a buff oxidised exterior surface but the interior is grey and appears reduced. Frequent angular quartz inclusions are present within the sherd of small and medium size. There is the suggestion of a linear decorative line on the surface, although uncertain. The sherd is a wall sherd and is likely to be of Early Bronze Age date (c. 2000 – 1500BC). The wall thickness would indicate a vessel other than beaker and possibly suggest a cinerary urn from c. 1750 – 1450BC

NMGW-A89A97: PALSTAVE
Bronze Age bronze palstave of Group I, Primary Shield Pattern type as defined by Schmidt & Burgess (1981)[1] and of Acton Park 1 metalworking Industry corresponding to Needham’s (1996)[2] Period 4 and probably spanning the end of The Early Bronze Age and the beginning of the Middle Bronze Age (c. 1600 – 1400BC). The palstave is near-complete but heavily corroded and eroded at the edges (with a length of 124.2mm and a weight of 245.4g). The butt (with a width of 24.6mm and a thickness of 4.8mm) is damaged and its original form uncertain. The sides are straight and near-parallel as far as the position of the stop (where the axe has a width of 27.2mm and a thickness of 18.1mm). The sides of the blade have an even and gradual curve to the now damaged and eroded blade tips (with a maximum surviving blade width of 49.4mm). The sides are corroded and no transverse ribs, or ‘nicked-sides’ are evident. The original blade edge has been lost but suggests a moderately deep curve (with a depth of 17mm). The flanges are truncated but appear to have low, beginning from beneath the butt and reaching their maximum heights (with a surviving height of 17.4mm and a maximum height above the septum of 5.5mm) above the stop. The septum is straight and flat across both its length and width and has a few small casting flaws. The stops are vertically sided and slightly concave (with a height of 5.5mm). Corrosion has removed much of the surface detail on the blade faces but there were depressions below the stops, suggestive of the shield-pattern. It is also possible to suggest a midrib, indicating a trident design. The blade faces have a gentle convexity across their widths and are straight but gradually convergent across their lengths, with no obvious blade facet surviving. The original surface has largely been lost with remnants of a dark-brown patina and elsewhere is pale brown with patches of pale green corrosion. The corroded surface has removed much of the diagnostic detail but the palstave appears to be of an early form, with a depression below the stop rather than a shield moulding. The suggestion of a subtle midrib may indicate similarities to ‘Early Midribbed palstaves’. Primary Shield Pattern and Early Midribbed palstaves are likely to both be of Acton Park metalworking, dated to c. 1600 – 1400BC. [1] Schmidt, P.K. & Burgess, C. 1981; The Axes of Scotland and Northern Ireland, Praähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung IX, 7. Band 7 [2] Needham, S. 1996; Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age, Acta Archaeologica 67, p. 121-140

NMGW-AA6F65: ARROWHEAD
Early Bronze Age flint barbed and Tanged arrowhead The arrowhead is incomplete, missing the tang (with a length of 21.7mm, a surviving width of 16.4mm, a thickness of 4.2mm and a weight of 1.2g). The arrowhead is bifacially worked, with extensive pressure flaking on the convex dorsal surface and with edge retouch (scaled and stepped) on the flat ventral surface. The dark-grey flint is non-cortical and largely unpatinated.

NMGW-C256C0: FLAT AXEHEAD
Early Bronze Age fragmentary bronze flat axe of uncertain type perhaps contemporary with Type Migdale axes as defined by Schmidt & Burgess (1981, p 35-44)[1], of Metalworking Assemblage III, corresponding to Needham’s (1996)[2] Period 2 -3 and probably dating to c. 2,200 – 1,900BC. The axe comprises a worn blade fragment (with a surviving length of 39.7mm and a weight of 63.6g). The break has occurs in antiquity across the thickest surviving part of the axe (where the axe has a width of 27mm and a thickness of 7.3mm). The sides are worn and corroded but appear to have been straight and divergent but widening more sharply at the blade. The blade tips have been lost (giving the blade a surviving width of 40.8mm). Both blade faces are gently convex across their width and flat across their lengths, before narrowing more sharply at a poorly defined blade facet. The original blade edge has been lost but now has a comparatively deep curve. The surface is heavily-pitted and corroded with a dark-green patina with areas of bright-green active corrosion. The fragmentary state of the object makes any definite identification difficult and typological identification more problematic. The general form, with a lack of developed features and straight, divergent sides are broadly consistent with Type Migdale axes, dating to the Early Bronze Age (c. 2200 – 1900BC). Metallurgical Analysis was undertaken by Mary Davis[3], with three readings taken from a micro-sample and analysed by Scanning Electron Microscope with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy; minor and trace element analysis is included; although possibly inaccurate, particularly when below 0.1%, but give an indication of presence and absence, which researchers are finding significant for analyses of Early Bronze Age material. The results indicate a tin-bronze with significant trace elements of zinc and lead. The measured percentage results are: Fe Co Ni Cu Zn As Ag Sn Pb Total 0.02 0.01 0.05 89.86 0.58 0.12 0.06 9.08 0.22 100.00 [1] Schmidt, P.K. & Burgess, C. 1981; The Axes of Scotland and Northern Ireland, Praähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung IX, 7. Band 7 [2] Needham, S. 1996; Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age , Acta Archaeologica 67, p. 121-140 [3] Principal Analytical Services Officer, Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales

NMGW-155FEB: AXEHEAD
Copper alloy fragment, probably a blade edge fragment from a Bronze Age axe of undetermined type and date but possibly a fragment of a Late Bronze Age socketed axe The axe is fragmentary, represented by a side fragment of a blade edge only (with a surviving width of 17.1mm, a surviving length of 25.5mm, a maximum surviving may possibly have broken across the base of a socket, possibly suggested by a depression on the break. Only a very short part of the blade edge survives (7mm). The casting seam is evident on the surviving side, with the suggestion that the sides are angled to the centre. The side is slightly convex across its surviving length. Both face are slightly convex across their lengths with no discernible blade facet or ribs surviving. The surface is corroded with some surviving dark green patina. The fragmentary state of the object makes identification difficult and typological identification indeterminate. Although it is possible to tentatively suggest the base of a socket on the fragment and together with angled sides, indicating a hexagonal body section may indicate a socketed axe of Late Bronze Age date, c. 750 – 600BC.

NMGW-E9E53C: PALSTAVE
Late Bronze Age bronze ‘Late’ Palstave of Type Isleham as defined by Schmidt & Burgess (1981, p 158-163)[1], dated to late Wilburton or Ewart Park metalworking industries (ibid.) and dated to perhaps 1100 – 750BC The palstave is near-complete, with some peripheral damage to the flanges (with a length of 136.6mm, and a weight of 304.1g). The butt is straight and like the septum, is thick (with a width of 19.6mm and a thickness of 6.5mm). The sides are straight and gently divergent as far as the stop (where it has a width of 25.1mm). The loop begins before the stop and continues on to the side of the blade (with a length of 26.0mm, a width of 8.8mm, a height of 9.1mm and giving an overall width of 29.7mm). The palstave narrows slightly to the blade (at 19.5mm), after which the sides are gradually divergent and produce a slightly expanded blade edge, with some damage and loss to the blade tips (with a blade edge width of 33.6mm). The casting seams are evident on both sides and have been neatly finished but are more-finished and barely discernible on the sides of the blade. The flanges rise from well below the butt (13mm) and rise linearly to reach their maximum depth (of 31.1mm) at the stop. The stop is comparatively straight and is perpendicular to the septum (with a height of 9.6mm). The thick septum is enhanced on both faces with three parallel ribs, beginning at the stop and ending before the flanges start (with a length of 34mm). Both blade faces are decorated with three short, parallel ribs (19.1mm long) beginning beneath the stop. The stop is raised above the blade (3.2mm high) with a near-perpendicular bevel to the blade faces. The blade faces are straight and convergent, before converging more sharply to the blade edge but with a subtle but discernible blade facet. Hammer facets are evident on the blade and occasional striations, possibly from sharpening. The surface has a mid to dark green and black patina with areas of bright green corrosion. The palstave has many of the characteristic attributes of ‘Late’ palstaves and the ribbed blade decoration with nipped-in waist under the stop, suggests Type Isleham. The continuation of the ribs on the septum is an unusual feature and is difficult to parallel. The ribbed septum would have helped to eliminate rotational movement when hafted. [1] Schmidt, P.K. & Burgess, C. 1981; The Axes of Scotland and Northern Ireland, Praähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung IX, 7. Band 7

NMGW-3D42CC: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Late Bronze Age socketed axe mouth fragment of undetermined type and probably of Ewart Park or Llyn Fawr metalworking industries, c. 1000 –600BC The axe is fragmentary, represented by a mouth and upper face and side fragment (with a surviving length of 27.1mm, a surviving width of 23.5mm, a surviving depth of 8mm and a weight of 13.5g) with all of the breaks occurring in antiquity. The mouth is rounded (6.5mm thick and 8mm long) with no casting runner stubs present on the mouth. Beneath the collar is a horizontal moulding on the mouth and side. The face (with a thickness of 4mm) has the top of two of the three ribs descending from the moulding and continuing to the break. The face is flat across its width and its length, beneath the collar. The side has a slight angle, perhaps suggesting a hexagonal body section on the axe. There is no evidence for a loop on the side. The socket is flat across both its length and width. The fragmentary condition of the axe makes typological identification difficult. The horizontal moulding beneath the collar indicates that the axe was not of South Wales Type but may be of Type Welby, Type Yorkshire or other similar types of Ewart Park metalworking but also may possibly of Sompting or allied types of Llyn Fawr metalworking.

NMGW-228645: SPEARHEAD
An incomplete cast copper alloy spearhead probably of late Bronze Age date (c.1500-700 BC). The spearhead is fragmentary, missing the basal end of the blade and base of the socket with only the top end with tip surviving. The spearhead has broken through the central socket, which is solid, with a diameter of 14.2mm x 12mm). The position of the socket is marked by a prominent, rounded midrib with a width of 12.1 at the break, height of 3.3mm on one side and 4.3 on the other, and maximum surrounding overall depth of 12.2 just before the break. The midrib tapers gradually towards the tip (0.7mm in width and 3.2mm overall depth at the point). Faint lines run parallel to the midrib from the break and appear to terminate c.7.6mm from the point, though they could have run up to the tip and have since been eroded away from surface damage. The surviving blade edges suggest the blade end is triangular in plan and widens just before the break (39.3mm), so was possibly leaf-shaped. The spearhead is slightly bent towards the break (as seen in section) suggesting the object was intentionally bent and broken prior to deposition. One side of the spear has been struck, possibly by plough, with a diagonal groove running from the midrib to the edge of the blade. The absence of the socket makes typological identification uncertain. The more commonly–recovered types consistent with the form of the fragmentary spearhead are pegged, of Davis’ generic Group 11 (2015)[1], or possibly of a side-looped type, Davis’ (ibid) Group 6. Socketed Spearheads of Davis’ Generic Group 11 can be dated to the Wilburton phase of the Late Bronze Age, dated by Needham et al (1996)[2] to c. 1200 – 900BC. The spearhead is an uneven grey patina with patches of bright green, dark grey/black possible tenorite, and orangey brown. The object has a max length of 85.3mm, width of 39.3mm, thickness 14.2mm and weighs 48.72g. Similar spearheads are recorded on the PAS database e.g. NMGW-215EBE, YORYM-E5C837, YORYM-3D457F, NMGW-3EA2A8, SOM-4FBE8D

NMGW-32296E: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Late Bronze Age bronze socketed axe fragment of indeterminate type and of Wilburton-Wallington, Ewart Park or Llyn Fawr metalworking industries dated to c. 1150 – 600BC The fragmentary cast axe is represented by a blade fragment (with a surviving length of 42.3mm, a maximum thickness of 12.2mm and a weight of 65.5g). The axe has broken in antiquity across one face and through the base of the socket on the other face. The socket is rectangular (33.4mm wide). The sides appear to be straight and gradually divergent to the blade edge. Corrosion has removed any casting seam on the sides. The original edge blade edge has been lost and is eroded (with a width of 42.0mm) but is near-straight and shallow (with a surviving depth of 5mm). The blade faces are slightly convex across their widths but near-flat across the length of the more complete face. There is no surviving evidence for ribs on the face but the surface is very heavily corroded. Traces of a mid to dark green patina are evident but much of the surface has a pale-green active corrosion. The fragmentary nature of the axe makes typological identification uncertain. The presence of a socket base indicates a Late Bronze Age date for the axe, c. 1,150 – 600BC, probably of Wilburton-Wallington, Ewart Park or Llyn Fawr metalworking industries. The fragment is comparatively heavy, possibly suggesting a leaded bronze, consistent with late Bronze Age and particularly Ewart Park metalwork. The straight shallow blade is consistent with axes of South Wales (Stogursey) type but should not discount other possible types

NMGW-3128F8: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Late Bronze Age bronze socketed axe fragment of indeterminate type and of Wilburton-Wallington, Ewart Park or Llyn Fawr metalworking industries dated to c. 1,150 – 600BC The fragmentary cast axe is represented by a blade fragment only (with a surviving length of 29.9mm, a maximum thickness of 12.0mm and a weight of 52.3g) and is of comparatively slender form. At the top of the fragment is the base of the socket of sub-rectangular form (26.7mm x 5.5mm and with a maximum surviving depth of 2.4mm), broken in antiquity. A small length of the sides survive (24-5mm), which appear slightly bevelled towards a raised central ridge, which comprises the finished casting seams. The surviving sides are near-straight and slightly divergent to the blade tips (with a surviving blade edge width of 40.0mm). The original edge blade edge has been lost and is eroded but has a slight curved edge (with a surviving depth of 5mm). The surviving blade faces are very slightly convex across both their lengths and widths. There are no ribs evident on the surviving faces. The surfaces are corroded with a partially preserved dark-green patina and elsewhere has a pale green corrosion. The fragmentary nature of the axe makes typological identification indeterminate. The presence of a socket base indicates a Late Bronze Age date for the axe, c. 1,150 – 600BC, probably of Wilburton-Wallington, Ewart Park or Llyn Fawr metalworking industries. The fragment is comparatively heavy, possibly suggesting a leaded bronze, consistent with late Bronze Age and particularly Ewart Park metalwork.

NMGW-31C923: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Late Bronze Age bronze socketed axe fragment of indeterminate type and of Wilburton-Wallington, Ewart Park or Llyn Fawr metalworking industries dated to c. 1,150 – 600BC The fragmentary cast axe is represented by a blade fragment only (with a surviving length of 30.5mm, a maximum thickness of 12.4mm and a weight of 30.2g). At the top of the fragment is the base of the socket of sub-rectangular form (28.8mm x 5.2mm and with a maximum surviving depth of 7.6mm), broken in antiquity. The socket is wedge-shaped, converging towards its base. A small length of the sides survive (19mm), which appear slightly bevelled towards a central ridge, which comprises the neatly finished casting seams. The surviving sides are straight and slightly divergent to the blade tips (with a surviving blade edge width of 39.2mm). The original edge blade edge has been lost and is eroded but is irregular with a slight curved edge (with a surviving depth of 5mm). The surviving blade faces are slightly convex across both their lengths and widths. There are no ribs evident on the surviving faces. The surface has a partially preserved dark-green patina and elsewhere has a pale green corrosion. The fragmentary nature of the axe makes typological identification indeterminate. The presence of a socket base indicates a Late Bronze Age date for the axe, c. 1,150 – 600BC, probably of Wilburton-Wallington, Ewart Park or Llyn Fawr metalworking industries. The fragment is comparatively heavy, possibly suggesting a leaded bronze, consistent with late Bronze Age and particularly Ewart Park metalwork.

NMGW-460555: PENANNULAR RING
A copper alloy penannular ring or ring core of probable Bronze Age date (c. 1300-800BC). The ring is made from a circular sectioned loop. The original surface is missing, and green and brown copper corrosion products cover the ring. The blue corrosion product is likely azurite. Objects such as this are often termed “ring money” or “hair rings” but are most likely a form of personal adornment worn on the nose or ears. Typically dated to the Ewart Park phase of the Late Bronze Age, it is suggested in NMGW-04216C that they in fact originate in the Middle bronze age and continue in use until the end of the Bronze Age. This means a wider date range of c. 1300-800BC must be given for this object. It is possible that this object is a core onto which sheet gold or gold/silver alloy would have been fixed. The XRF results may support this as a trace quantity of gold and silver was detected. The finder was kind enough to take an XRF scan of this object. While this will not give precise readings of the metal composition it does give indication as to the elements present. The results were: Cu 42%; Sn 42%; Si 7%; Pb 3%; Au + Ag 0.4%

NMGW-F1155E: PALSTAVE
An incomplete cast copper alloy looped palstave of possible South Western type dating to the Taunton/Penard metalworking phase (c. 1400-1100 BC). The palstave has an incomplete length of 130.3mm and a weight of 394.5g. A transverse break at the butt end of the flanges means that the butt is missing but can be assumed to have been relatively narrow- the width at the break is 23.1mm, tapering slightly from the maximum width at the flanges of 28.1mm (not including the side loop). The sides are slightly convex as far as the high point of the stop and are then straight and slightly faceted before flaring out to the expanded blade. The roughly ovoid/flame shaped flanges are relatively high, being 32.6mm at their point of maximum breadth, reaching this point above the stops. The flanges can be assumed to have been slightly higher originally, as the edges show damage. The septum is c. 5.2mm thick and somewhat concave, ending in rounded stops. The broken loop is very slight, being a maximum of only 5.3mm thick and 18.2mm long. It extends from just above to just below the stops. The blade projects seamlessly from the flanges, with the sides smoothly narrowing down from the above the stops before. The length from the stops to the middle of the blade edge is 85.7mm. The blade is decorated with a single broad, poorly defined midrib on each face which extends from the stops to the top of the blade facet. The expanded blade has an incomplete width of 57.8mm, with one of the blade tips, and some of the edge missing. The blade has a maximum thickness below the stop of 27mm and thins to 11.1mm at the blade facet. The maximum length of the blade facet is c. 14mm. Some possible sharpening striations running perpendicular to the blade edge are visible, although the corrosion and abrasion damage on this part of the palstave can make it difficult to be certain. File marks, presumably from removing casting flashing, are visible on both sides of the blade. A single casting flaw is visible on one face of the septum, consisting of a cavity that extends through the stop wall and into the body of the palstave. The palstave is in relatively good condition, with the majority of the original metal surface remaining, which bears a dark green, brown and black patina. There is corrosion pitting and grazes over much of the surface, some of which expose the metallic core.

NMGW-4811C9: DIRK
Late Bronze Age dirk of Penard or Wallington metalworking Industry, dated to c. 1300 - 1000BC The cast dirk is complete but now distorted across the mid blade (with a distorted length of 282mm, a straightened length of approximately 288mm and a weight of 94.4g). The butt is flat-topped, slightly angled (23.0mm wide and 1.8mm thick). There are two rivet notches beneath the butt and on the sides (of 8.5mm diameter, with their midpoints 9.6mm beneath the butt and giving a minimum butt width of 17.5mm). There is no clear hilt mark but there is the suggestion of a curving mark from the top of the blade on the sides and arcing down onto the midrib. Beneath the rivet notches, the sides of the butt are straight and near parallel (with a width of 10.2mm where the butt has a thickness of 4.6mm), before converging at the top of the blade (with a width of 17mm and where the dirk has a maximum thickness of 5.0mm). The sides of the blade are near-straight and gradually convergent before narrowing to the tip. The blade has a flattened mid-section rib (6.5mm wide). The blade facets are concave (4mm - 6mm wide) and the original blade edge is eroded and now lost. There is differential wear on one side, above the tip (for approximately 10cm above the tip). The dirk has a black patina, well preserved over much of the blade but lost at the position of the interior bend, perhaps suggesting the damage to the blade occurred post-deposition. Otherwise the blade has a grey-green to pale-brown corrosion. The weapon is of Group IV and the hilt form and blade profile would suggest a Type Appleby dirk, as defined by Burgess and Gerloff (1981, p. 74)[1]. The rectangular form to the butt with upright sides would further suggest 'Variant Barnes' (ibid. p 76-7) of Type Appleby. However it is unclear whether the notches are cast into the hilt or the weapon was damaged and reworked from rivet holes. If the notches were original, then it may suggest a slightly later weapon of Type Stuntey, or similar, although these types often have more trapezoidal butt forms. [1] Burgess C.B. & Gerloff S., 1981; The Dirks and Rapiers of Great Britain and Ireland, Praähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung IV. Band 7.

NMGW-B5E854: HOARD
Plain Pegged Spearhead with flame-shaped blade of Type 11 A - largely complete, two fragments (metal-detector find, number 9) Dimensions: Surviving length approx. 195.0mm; max. blade width 46.6mm; max. blade length approx. 154.0mm; surviving socket length approx. 41.0mm; surviving external diameter of socket at break 25.9mm; depth of socket - unknown, as obscured by concretion; diameter of surviving peg hole approx. 5.7mm; surviving weight (prior to conservation) 190.2g. Dimensions of small socket fragment: max. surviving length 10.3mm; surviving width 7.5mm; thickness 1.5mm; surviving weight (prior to conservation) 0.4g. Combined weight (prior to conservation) 190.6g. This is a largely complete Plain Pegged spearhead of bronze, with a flame-shaped blade, which is now missing its lower socket and tip-end. Originally, the spearhead was probably around 220-230mm long. The point of maximum width on this blade is low and the blade edges follow a smooth curve from the blade/socket junction to the spear tip. The spearhead mid-rib is angled, providing a sub-lozengic cross-section. The mid-rib sides have very slightly concave profiles on the lower blade and near where the midrib merges into the top of the socket. The blade has a bevel which is a maximum of 3.5-4.0mm wide, surviving best on the lower blade sides. On one side of the socket, half of a peg-hole survives at the lower break, being approximately 5.7mm in diameter. A small socket wall fragment was detached and embedded within soil remaining inside the socket when reported and this was separated as the excess soil was removed in the conservation laboratory. The spearhead shows evidence of deliberate narrow blade damage in antiquity. On one face and mid-way down the mid-rib, there is an angled narrow blade impact. This has revealed the cavity down the hollow centre of the rib, also causing the whole spearhead blade to have been bent in side-section. Secondly, on the socket, there is evidence of one, possibly two, similar angled impacts with a narrow-bladed weapon or tool, causing a break and distortion in the socket wall. Finally, on one upper blade edge, there is a deep nick in the blade bevel, approximately 1.5mm deep and 1.5-2.0mm wide, which looks to have been made in antiquity. On both sides, there are areas of surface scraping, as if by glancing blows. One of these has revealed fresh bronze, suggesting this damage may be recent. The spearhead has a dark green patina on the blade, merging to brown on the socket. The upper blade surfaces are part covered with green and blue surface corrosion concretions. Sword blade of Carp's Tongue Type - fragment (metal-detector find 3) Dimensions: Maximum surviving length 133.2mm; max. blade width 45.5mm; blade width near break 1 42.8mm; blade width near break 2 42.5mm; max. blade thickness 8.7mm; width mid-ridge 14.0-15.0mm; surviving weight (prior to conservation) 160.0g. This is a blade fragment of a bronze straight-sided sword. The sword has a rounded midrib, precisely defined by single grooves, 0.2-0.3mm wide, which follow the outline of the blade. The blade edges are defined by blade bevels, approximately 3.5mm wide. In places, there are striations along the blade bevel, indicating the blade edges were prepared for use. Original blade edges survive in short sections, however the edges and bevels are damaged through fragility and corrosion. Near one of the blade breaks, there is local distortion of the blade, the blade being distinctly bent in side view. This suggests the bending was caused, as pressure was being applied to snap the sword. The blade has a grey-green patina, with areas of blue corrosion surface concretions evident. The concretions are particularly marked and thick on one face (approximately 2.5mm thick), suggesting the blade may have been in direct contact with another bronze artefact in the hoard, as buried. South Wales Type socketed axe - complete (metal-detector find 8) Dimensions: Length 101.9mm; blade width 53.4mm; width body below loop 41.6mm; external mouth dimensions 49.1mm (side to side) by 39.4mm (front to back); internal mouth dimensions 34.7mm (side to side) by 26.6mm (front to back); dimensions runner stub (1) 7.2 by 3.7mm, height 0.3mm; dimensions runner scar (1) 6.4mm by 3.2mm; depth of socket approx. 68.0mm; width loop 6.1-6.9mm; weight (prior to conservation) 388.8g. A complete, bronze socketed axe with a prominent and out-splayed mouth moulding and a near rectangular shaped body in cross-section. The axe has slightly concave and slightly divergent sides, splaying slightly towards the blade end. The loop descends from the underside of the mouth moulding and is narrow. The runner stubs and scars are barely visible around the mouth, however slight ridges on the front and back sides, and a slight scar on the loop side, suggest that this axe was probably cast using a four-runner casting technology. The exterior outline of the mouth is sub-rectangular and the interior outline is slightly more curved and approaching sub-oval in shape. On one side, on the upper mouth moulding beneath the mouth, there is a slight indent, as if the bronze has been cast slightly above a defined edge in the mould part. Three longitudinal and near parallel ribs descend from the mouth moulding on each face, though now partly obscured by surface corrosion deposits. The casting seams are prominent but blunt, suggesting rapid hammering after casting. The blade bevel is largely obscured by corrosion deposits, however there are slight striations both parallel and at right-angles to the blade edge in one small area, suggesting that the axe may have been sharpened for use. On both sides of the axe, there are green and blue patches of corrosion products, while the original surfaces have a grey-green patina. On one lower blade face, there are two small areas of thick blue-green concretions with flattened top surfaces, which may once have attached to the flat face of another artefact placed immediately above or below this axe in the hoard group. South Wales Type socketed axe - complete (small find number 7) Dimensions: Length 120.1mm; blade width 55.1mm; width body below loop (including flashes) 47.0mm; width body below loop (excluding flashes) approx. 42.0mm; external mouth dimensions (including flashes) 61.2mm (side to side) by 47.3mm (front to back); internal mouth dimensions 37.0mm (side to side) by 31.6mm (front to back); dimensions runner stubs (1) 9.0 by 3.6mm; height 0.1mm; (2) 8.0 by 4.0mm; height 0.5mm; (3) 9.2 by 4.4mm; height 0.3mm; (4) 9.6 by 3.4mm; height 0.1mm; width loop 4.8-5.2mm; depth of socket approx. 79.0mm; weight (prior to conservation) 458.5g. This is a complete and long, slender bronze socketed axe with a prominent out-splayed mouth moulding and a rectangular shaped body in cross-section. This heavy axe has slightly concave and slightly divergent sides and there is no splaying or recurving near the blade edges. The loop is high and narrow, and descends from the mouth moulding. The axe has a four-runner casting technology, the four runner-stubs spaced approximately 90 degree apart around the four sides of the mouth. The exterior and interior outlines of the mouth are sub-rectangular shaped in plan. Three prominent and longitudinal ribs descend from the mouth moulding on each face, extending nearly two-thirds of the way down the axe faces. Though near parallel to each other, they are not quite straight with very slight meanders evident. It is evident that this axe was never prepared for use and in just out of the mould state. The casting flashes down both sides are prominent and very sharp and the loop was never used. The blade edge was never hammered or sharpened for use and there is excess around the mouth top, which was never filed or hammered down. Large areas of the axe's surfaces are covered with blue corrosion products, suggesting that the axe may have been burnt immediately before burial. On one upper face, there is a particularly prominent area of corrosion with flattened upper surfaces, which may once have attached to the flat faces of another artefact placed immediately above or below this axe in the hoard group. The original surfaces of this axe have a grey-green patina. South Wales Type socketed axe - fragment (metal-detector find 6) Dimensions: Surviving length 65.6mm; width body below loop 41.7mm; external mouth dimensions 50.2mm (side to side) by 42.4mm (front to back); internal mouth dimensions 35.3mm (side to side) by 29.5mm (front to back); dimensions runner stubs (1) 13.4 by 4.8mm; height 1.3mm; (2) 11.7 by 6.1mm; height 1.5mm; (3) 12.3 by 3.0mm; height 0.2mm; (4) 10.7 by 3.5mm; height 0.1mm; width loop 5.1-6.6mm; surviving weight (prior to conservation) 135.9g. This is a mouth and upper body fragment of a bronze socketed axe with a prominent and out-splayed mouth moulding and a rectangular shaped body in cross-section. The axe has straight but slightly divergent sides, but the lower body and blade end is missing. The high loop descends from the under-side of the mouth-moulding and is narrow. The axe has a four-runner casting technology, the four runner-stubs spaced approximately 90 degrees apart around the four sides of the mouth. The exterior and interior outlines of the mouth are sub-rectangular in plan. Three prominent, longitudinal and near parallel ribs descend from the mouth moulding on each face, while the face edges are slightly curved, rather than angular. The lower break edge, in plan, indicates there was a misalignment in the placing of the internal mould-piece relative to the outer mould pair during casting, with one face-wall being notably thicker than the other. On the non-loop side of the axe, near the break edge and in the area of particular wall thinning, there is a crack or split in the metal, which meanders upwards onto one of the faces. This suggests that the axe may have failed and broken during use. The casting seams are prominent but blunt, suggesting rapid hammering of the excess after casting. The axe has a grey-green patina and there are small localised encrustations of green and blue corrosion products on the faces and mouth moulding. South Wales Type socketed axe - fragment (small find number 6) Dimensions: Surviving length 60.8mm; width body below loop 37.7mm; external mouth dimensions 48.0mm (side to side) by 40.8mm (front to back); internal mouth dimensions 31.0mm (side to side) by 25.7mm (front to back); dimensions runner stubs (1) 8.5 by 2.8mm; height 0.7mm; (2) 8.0 by 2.6mm; height 0.5mm; (3) 8.5 by 4.0mm; height 1.0mm; (4) 8.1 by 2.8mm; height 0.5mm; width loop 4.1-5.2mm; surviving weight (prior to conservation) 179.2g. This is a mouth and upper body fragment of a bronze socketed axe with a prominent and out-splayed mouth moulding and a rectangular shaped body in cross-section. The upper sides are slightly concave and slightly divergent. The loop is narrow and low, emerging significantly below the underside of the mouth moulding. The axe has a four-runner casting technology, the four prominent runner-stubs spaced approximately 90 degrees apart around the four sides of the mouth. The exterior and interior outlines of the mouth are sub-rectangular shaped in plan. Three weakly defined and slightly divergent, longitudinal ribs descend from the mouth moulding on each face. The casting flashes down both sides are prominent but blunted, indicating that they were hammered or filed down when the axe was prepared for use. On one face, near the break edge, there is a concave distortion and narrowing of the socket aperture, suggesting that this axe may have been struck with a blunt tool before being buried in the ground although no clear impact scar is visible on the surface remaining. The axe surfaces have extensive patches of blue corrosion products over upper faces, sides and mouth, suggesting that this axe may have been burnt immediately before burial. The original surfaces of the axe have a grey-green patina. South Wales Variant Type socketed axe - complete (metal-detector find 2) Dimensions: Length 80.9mm; blade width 49.2mm; width body below loop 37.2mm; external mouth dimensions 46.2mm (side to side) by 40.1mm (front to back); internal mouth dimensions 28.5mm (side to side) by 23.8mm (front to back); dimensions runner stubs (1) 8.8 by 5.2mm; height 0.5mm; (2) 8.6 by 5.9mm; height 0.5mm; (3) 10.5 by 5.7mm; height 0.8mm; (4) 7.5 by 4.5mm; height 0.2mm; width loop 4.8-5.6mm; depth of socket approx. 62.0mm; weight (prior to conservation) 255.2g. This is a complete and small bronze socketed axe with a prominent out-splayed mouth moulding and a rectangular-shaped body in cross-section. The axe has slightly straight and divergent sides, which splay outwards markedly near the blade edge. The loop descends from the underside of the mouth moulding and is narrow. The axe has a four-runner casting technology, the four runner-stubs spaced approximately 90 degrees apart around the four sides of the mouth. The exterior and interior outlines of the mouth are sub-rectangular shaped in plan. Five very prominent, longitudinal and ribs descend from the mouth moulding on each face, extending a little over half way down the length of the axe faces. The central three ribs are parallel, while the outer ribs define and follow the face edges and are slightly divergent. The casting seams are visible though not prominent, suggesting hammering or filing as preparation of the axe. Striations on the blade-bevel, mostly running parallel with the blade-edge indicate that the axe was sharpened for use. Thick and prominent patches of blue corrosion products are evident on the faces and loop-side of the axe and suggest that the axe may have been burnt immediately before burial. It is possible that the flat topped surfaces on the thick corrosion products present on one face of the axe may once have attached to the flat faces of another artefact placed immediately above or below this axe in the hoard group. The original surfaces of this axe have a green patina. Ribbed socketed axe of South Wales Variant, with similarities to Type Sompting, Variant Roseberry Topping - complete (metal-detector find 4) Dimensions: Length 114.5mm; blade width 50.5mm; width body below loop 37.2mm; external mouth dimensions 47.5mm (side to side) by 45.4mm (front to back); internal mouth dimensions 32.1mm (side to side) by 30.5mm (front to back); depth of socket approx. 84.0mm; width loop 9.6-11.0mm; weight (prior to conservation) 400.0g. This is a complete, large and heavy bronze socketed axe of blocky but slender proportions, with a pronounced, curved and onset collar, and an angular rectangular cross-section. The sides are slightly concave and divergent, giving a slightly flared form and with slight, but even widening near the blade ends. A wide and thick loop descends from the underside of the mouth moulding. The external and internal outlines of the mouth are sub-square in plan and the axe has a deep front to back mouth. There are no clear runner stubs or scars evident around the mouth top. Five longitudinal and very pronounced ribs descend from the underside of the mouth moulding on each face, extending down two thirds of the length of the faces. The central three ribs are near parallel, while the outer ribs define and follow the face edges and are slightly divergent. On one face, there is a linear projecting ridge, between two ribs on the lower loop side, suggesting a flaw in the surface of the mould, from which the axe was cast. In side view, one of the faces has a marked 'bulge' or convex curvature half way down the face, suggesting an oddly shaped mould-half. The casting seams down each side of the axe are prominent but blunted, suggesting the seams were rapidly hammered down as the axe was prepared for use. On the blade bevel, there are striations parallel with the blade edge, indicating the axe was prepared for use. There are areas of concreted corrosion products on the sides and faces of the axe, of both green and blue colour, suggesting that the axe may have been burnt immediately before being buried. On one blade facet and on the lower loop side there are areas of concretion with markedly smooth upper surfaces, suggesting that this axe may have been placed immediately beside, and above or below other artefacts within the hoard group. The original surfaces of the axe have a grey-green patina. Croxton Type socketed axe - fragment (small find number 8) Dimensions: Surviving length 52.7mm; width body below loop 35.7mm; external mouth dimensions 40.7 mm (side to side) by 36.6mm (front to back); internal mouth dimensions 30.5mm (side to side) by 25.1mm (front to back); width loop 6.8-7.8mm; surviving weight (prior to conservation) 114.8g. This is a mouth and upper body fragment of a bronze socketed axe with a deep and onset collar and a sub-rectangular shaped body in cross- section. The upper sides are straight and slightly divergent. The loop is relatively high and wide, descending from within the lower part of the mouth moulding. The mouth moulding is slightly concave and everted in side profile, with no thickening or globularity evident near the mouth. The mouth top is flat but slightly angled with a raised inner edge and the exterior and interior outlines of the mouth are sub-rectangular shaped in plan. No runner scars or stubs are visible on the mouth. On one face, three longitudinal, narrow and strongly convergent ribs are visible, descending from the lower margin of the collar. These are poorly spaced at their origin, with one rib on the loop-side much more widely spaced away from the other two, descending from far over onto the non-loop side. On the reverse side, the ribs are largely obscured by surface corrosion products, though the upper section of one convergent rib on the loop-side is visible. The casting seams are visible down each side of the axe, but have been carefully filed down. One side and mouth of the axe is heavily encrusted with blue corrosion products, suggesting the axe was burnt immediately before burial. The original surfaces of the axe have a grey-green patina. Slender socketed axe - largely complete, two conjoining fragments (small find numbers 2 - small mouth fragment, and 5 - near complete axe) Dimensions of largely complete axe (small find 5) : length 114.1mm; blade width 46.6mm; width body below loop 19.7mm; external front to back mouth dimensions (distorted) 36.0mm; internal front to back mouth dimensions (distorted) 29.2mm; thickness top of mouth 3.0-3.5mm; width loop 4.7-5.3mm; depth of socket (approx.) 62.0mm; surviving weight (prior to conservation) 171.4g. Dimensions small mouth fragment (small find 2): surviving length mouth top to base 13.1mm; surviving width of mouth top 13.0mm; mouth thickness at top 2.9-3.5mm; surviving weight (prior to conservation) 1.1g. Combined weight (prior to conservation) 172.5g. This is an unusual, largely complete and slender, bronze socketed axe, with a tear and distortion down the non-loop side, from the mouth and along the casting seam. The axe has an everted mouth with a trumpet form and a deep onset collar. The mouth is damaged and distorted, but appears to have been near circular in external plan, though slightly sub-rectangular in its internal shape, and the mouth looks to have once had a deep front-to-back mouth. The mouth dimensions cannot now be accurately measured due to later damage and distortion. A low-set and slender loop, with a markedly rectangular shaped bar, descends from beneath the collar. The upper socket is straight-sided the sides converging slightly. Half way down the axe, there is a distinct step and change of angle in the side profile, where the lower blade widens on both sides to give a step-waist effect. The slender lower blade has concave sides, widening to give a flaring blade form. This appears to be a composite socketed axe, where a socket has been cast on to a re-worked Winged Axe (or just possibly a Late Palstave). The upper face margins of the socket are defined by distinct single linear grooves ending in line with a square-ended ledge-stop across each mid-face. This is located 8-9mm below the point of the widening step visible on each side, thereby creating an overlapping join between the winged-axe blade-end and the cast on socket. The casting seams are prominent, but flattened indicating rapid filing or hammering down and the seams on the socket and blade end are in exact alignment. The socket and mouth was split down its non-loop side along the casting seam, suggesting an outward pushing force, causing a split and distortion. Towards the base of the side split are lateral tears extending round to each face. A small mouth fragment from the non-loop side has conjoins with both mouth breaks, indicating that the axe is complete, but damaged. The original surfaces of the axe have a grey-green patina, though with areas of thick blue concretions on upper faces, one lower blade and side and inside the socket, suggesting the axe was burnt immediately before burial. At the base of the tapering sub-rectangular shaped socket, there is a green corroded concretion down one side. Slender faceted axe of Type Meldreth, Variant Westow / Class D - complete (metal-detector find 5) Dimensions: Length 107.7mm; surviving blade width 44.8mm; width body below loop 27.3mm; external mouth dimensions 32.7mm (side to side) by 31.6mm (front to back); internal mouth dimensions 23.4mm (side to side) by 23.0mm (front to back); dimensions of probable runner stub 6.7 by 3.5mm; height 0.7mm; dimensions of probable runner scar 6.0 by 3.0mm; depth 1.0mm; depth of socket approx. 73.0mm; width loop 5.2-5.6mm; weight (prior to conservation) 204.5g. This is a complete and slender bronze socketed axe with six facets and a deep, double mouth moulding. The sides are straight and slightly divergent with pronounced splaying and recurving at the blade-ends. The low and slender loop descends from the underside of the mouth moulding. The upper margin of the mouth moulding is defined by two curved horizontal ridges separated by a narrow groove and likewise, the lower margin also has a pair of curved horizontal ridges separated by a narrow groove. The two pairs of ridges are themselves separated by a wider, slightly recessed and concave band, making for a complex and unusual mouth moulding in combination. The external and internal outlines of the mouth are circular in plan shape. On one face side of the mouth top, there is a noticeable projection and on the opposing side, at 180 degrees to this, there is a corresponding scar, suggesting the existence of one runner-stub and one runner-scar and the use of a two-runner casting technology. The facet edges on the axe have rounded edges. The casting seams down each side are prominent but blunted, suggesting they were only rapidly hammered or filed when prepared for use. On the blade bevel there are striations running both parallel and at right angles to the blade edge, indicating that the blade was prepared for use. The faces, sides and mouth moulding of the axe are covered with blue corrosion products, suggesting that the axe was burnt immediately before burial. On one upper face, an area of blue corrosion product has a markedly flat top surface, which may once have attached to the flat face of another artefact placed immediately above or below this axe in the hoard group. On the blade end, the original surfaces have a green patina, while on the upper faces and mouth, the original surfaces have a grey-green patina. Small plain socketed axe similar to Type Portree / Eogan Class 2A - complete (metal-detector find 7) Dimensions: Length 74.3mm; blade width 47.8mm; width body below loop 32.3mm; external mouth dimensions 39.3mm (side to side) by 32.4mm (front to back); internal mouth dimensions 30.1mm (side to side) by 25.3mm (front to back); depth of socket approx. 59.0mm; width loop 5.3-6.0mm; weight (prior to conservation ) 150.5g. This is a complete small, plain socketed axe of bronze, with a relatively broad body. The axe has a sub-rectangular sectioned body and mouth. The axe has a deep onset collar, which is flaring or trumpet shaped in profile. A low set and narrow loop emerges from the underside of the collar. The sides of the axe are slightly concave and diverge slightly, with marked expansion and recurving of the blade edge. There are no runner scars or stubs evident around the mouth top. The casting seams down each side of the axe are visible, but have been hammered or filed down before use. On the upper blade faces, there are blunt hammer mark depressions, indicating the expanded blade was worked before use. Striations running parallel with the blade-edge also indicate the blade was sharpened for use. The axe has a grey-green patina, with thick blue and green surface concretions evident in patches on the collar and blade surfaces. The blue concretions suggest that the axe may have been burnt immediately before being buried. On one blade bevel, there is a particularly thick area of blue surface concretion, with a markedly smooth and flat upper surface, suggesting this axe may have been placed immediately beside and above or below other artefacts in the hoard group. Curved socket wall, undiagnostic - small fragment (small find number 1) Dimensions: max. surviving length 11.0mm; max. surviving width 6.1mm; thickness 1.3mm; surviving weight 0.3g. This is a small bronze curved socket wall fragment of undiagnostic form. Although probably once part of one of the artefacts in the hoard, no conjoin may now be discerned, the breaks being sub-rounded and not fresh looking. The curvature of the fragment is consistent with a socket wall. The original surfaces of the fragment have a grey-green patina, thought the breaks have powdery light green edges.

NMGW-34C32C: HOARD
Descriptions Socketed axe fragment Dimensions: surviving length 24.5mm; surviving width 50.8mm; width at break 42.0mm; thickness at break 12mm; weight 54.8g. This is the lower blade and cutting edge of a socketed axe, broken across the internal socket aperture in antiquity. The cutting edge is worn and damaged so the original edge no longer survives, but curved shape and the curved expanding nature of the sides suggest it may have originally possessed slightly flared tips. The incomplete nature of this axe means it cannot be definitely assigned a type. The break has occurred at the point that the socket opening began, though only about 3mm of the socket wall survives above this. This is nonetheless sufficient to demonstrate that the axe was cast with a misaligned core, as indicated by the differential thickness of the socket walls on each face (5.4mm and 2.4mm); this may have influenced the breakage. There is a slightly bowing inwards on the face with the thinner socket wall, which may represent an impact blow. The fragment is heavily pitted with green corrosion, though retains a patchy bronze patina particularly around the edges. Socketed axe or palstave fragment Dimensions: surviving length 21.8mm; surviving width 44.2mm; thickness 10.4-14mm; weight 59.6g. This is a thick copper alloy fragment, roughly sub-rectangular in plan and elliptical in section, tapering in side profile to one edge. The object has broken across both the long edges in antiquity, but the shorter sides appear to be largely original. The overall form is suggestive of the lower blade of an axe, which is supported by the remains of a casting seam on one side, though the fragment lacks any diagnostic features that might allow it to be assigned to a specific type. In the thicker break there are possible faint remnants of a socket aperture, though this feature is not conclusive. Alternatively, the thick nature of the fragment could infer a palstave. The fragment is covered by a combination of smooth silvery patina and green corrosion pitting. There are also patches of bronze patina particularly around the edges. Jet - one runner Dimensions: top surface length 26.0mm; top surface width 21.5mm; maximum height 36.5mm; weight 48.0g. This is a roughly oval-shaped conical jet with a thick single runner extending from the pouring reservoir. The upper surface is rough and uneven, representing the dross created by metal as it cools while the runner is smooth. The upper surface is largely level, but the sides around the reservoir are slightly raised; this is a natural result of the cooling process. There is no distinction in the transition between the reservoir and the runner, suggesting the metal was poured into a mould with a wide conical opening. The runner tapers to a thick point with slightly concave sides from the reservoir. The jet is pitted with green corrosion, though largely retains a bronze patina. Incomplete jet Dimensions: top surface length 22.8mm; top surface width 19.9mm; maximum height 16.8mm; weight 21.5g. This is the pouring reservoir of a broadly oval jet, with a rough, uneven upper surface, representing metal dross, and a dip in the metal towards the centre. The reservoir narrows with slightly convex sides towards the runner, creating an overall 'bowl' shape, indicating the shape of the mould opening. However, the jet has broken at the transition from the reservoir to the runner(s). It is thus unclear whether this would form one or two runners. The jet is covered in a rough grey patina, intermitted with patches of bright green corrosion or bronze disease. Probable rapier fragment Dimensions: surviving length 49.6mm; hilt width 24.1mm; hilt thickness 5.2mm; butt width 15.8; butt thickness 4.4mm; width at break 14.3mm; thickness at break 4.2mm; weight 27.0g. This is a small copper alloy fragment of a probable hilt from a blade, broken across the upper blade. The fragment is quite worn, making diagnostic features difficult to ascertain. However, the fragment shows signs of rounded asymmetrical hilt shoulders that taper down to a narrow blade with a biconvex section, which is characteristic of a rapier. Additionally, above the shoulders the fragment tapers inwards to two possible notches before projecting to a rounded butt. It is thus likely this piece once belonged to a rapier. The object has broken across the upper blade in antiquity and the break is now worn. There are no associated marks or casting flaws. The fragment is worn and pitted with green corrosion, though retains a patchy bronze patina particularly around the edges.

NMGW-47D2BB: HOARD
1. Gold penannular bar bracelet fragment - Type 4B Dimensions: surviving length 25.7mm; bar width 5.7mm; bar thickness 4mm; head width 9.8mm; head thickness 8.3mm; weight 7.36g. This is a terminal fragment of a gold bar bracelet with a D-shape section. The bar expands abruptly to a solid, outwardly expanding flat terminal, also with a D-section. On the flat terminal face there is a slight penannular shaped hollow 0.5-1.0mm wide running around the sides and outer margins of the terminal. This is inset parallel with and approximately 0.5mm from the outer edge of the terminal face. The bar has been deliberately broken pre-deposition with a 'pinched' break, suggesting it was chiselled or cut, rather than bent and snapped. There is also one chisel mark on the flat face of the bar, which is close to the break and likely represents a failed impact mark. There are numerous and pronounced dents and impressed tool marks on the surface of the bracelet, which appear to be ancient, linked either with the forming of the bracelet or representing deliberate damage to the bracelet immediately prior to burial of the hoard. 2. Copper alloy pin head or bracelet terminal fragment Dimensions: surviving length 20.2mm; shaft diameter (below head) 4.8 x 5.2mm; shaft diameter (at break) 3.6 x 3.2mm; surviving head depth 11.5mm; surviving head width 10.2mm; weight 2.33g. This is a fragment of a circular-section bar of bronze that expands at one end to an incomplete terminal or head. The head/terminal is concave with a convex underside and was probably originally circular. Below the head/terminal the shaft is appears to have been decorated with at least three horizontal ribs, which are now very worn and shallow, and separated by at least two shallow grooves. The shaft appears to taper slightly, but degradation to the surface makes this difficult to discern. Fragmentation has occurred around the circumference of the head/terminal so no original edge survives, and the object has broken across the bar/shaft in prehistory. This breakage is coupled with damage to the surface of the bronze, which is consistently patinated. The object is covered in an uneven brown patina that is delaminated in patches, particularly around the edges. 3. Copper alloy penannular bracelet terminal fragment (possibly once part of bracelet fragment 4) Dimensions: surviving curved length 35.2mm; shaft diameter (at break) 3.4 x 2.7mm; surviving head diameter 9.3x8.1mm; weight 3.23g. This is a fragment of a bracelet with a circular-section bar, gently expanding to a roughly oval terminal. The terminal is incomplete, and there is a prominent lateral ridge down the otherwise flat terminal. This ridge may be casting flash. The overall piece is curved, indicating it once formed part of a bracelet. As this fragment was found associated with possible bracelet fragment No. 4, below, it is possible that these fragments were once part of the same single bracelet, although no conjoin can now be established, as the break points on both fragments are worn and eroded. There are small patches of an uneven brown patina surviving, particularly around the terminal, but much of the original surface has delaminated, revealing green corrosion. 4. Copper alloy incomplete possible bracelet (possibly once part of bracelet fragment 3) Dimensions: bent length 45mm; maximum bar diameter 4.3x5mm; min. bar diameter 3.6x1.8mm; weight 7.6g. This is a bronze bar, bent into a rough U-shape, with a rounded section, now heavily eroded so as to be inconsistent in diameter and section shape along the length. Where original surfaces survive, there is an angular, slightly projecting casting flash evident on both interior and exterior sides of the hoop. Both ends are broken, though one expands slightly, which might indicate this was approaching a terminal end. At one point, the bar has been deliberately and differentially bent out of shape, compressing the surviving ends out of shape and towards each other. At the point of bending, the bar is thin and compressed. The breakages at each end are worn and abraded. As this fragment was found associated with possible bracelet fragment No. 3, above, it is possible that these fragments were once part of the same single bracelet, although no conjoin can now be established. There are small patches of an uneven brown patina surviving, but much of the original surface has delaminated, revealing green corrosion. 5. Copper alloy socketed axe - Slender faceted axe of Type Meldreth, Variant Aylsham / Class D Dimensions: maximum surviving length 91.2mm; maximum width cutting edge 51.1mm; external socket diameter (width x depth) 31.5 x 28.2mm; internal socket diameter (width x depth) 22.8 x 20.6mm; depth of collar 16.2mm; width of body below loop 27.2mm; depth of socket 62.6mm; weight 110.8g. This is a near complete copper alloy socketed axe with an oval shaped socket mouth and a slender upper body that flares to a broad cutting edge. The body is roughly hexagonal in section, with two narrow and not particularly defined facets down each face margin. The socket mouth is flat and the collar is plain and flared. The base of the collar is defined by a prominent raised horizontal rib moulding, flanked by a shallow, poorly formed groove above and below. On the lower side, there is a second and poorly defined rib moulding, showing as a parallel raised ridge, beneath which the narrow facets originate. The rib moulding is straight on one face, but curved and irregular on the opposite face. The loop emerges below the collar and is of modest width. The faces of the axe are undecorated, with the exception of the facets, defined by grooves on each side of each face, starting from below the collar and following the shape of the axe. These grooves are shallow and poorly formed, stopping as the blade is expanding; the longest extends for 42.6mm. The sides of the axe diverge greatly towards the cutting edge, creating a broad edge. The original cutting edge no longer survives and has fragmented unevenly, but was probably originally straight. One face of the axe has been worked to approximately 4.5mm above the surviving edge, though the opposite face shows limited signs of preparation. The blade appears to have been hammered out on the worked face, so the shape of the lower blade is asymmetrical; one half is almost crinoline in form, while the other simply flares out. This could be the result of hammering or a fault in the mould. There are numerous short horizontal striation marks across the worked face of the lower blade, which likely relate to sharpening or working activities, and in sections there are also vertical striations. The opposite face has a few macroscopic horizontal striations. The molten bronze appears to have been cast in around the interior of the socket mouth, with two slightly raised lumps on the mouth identifiable as possible runner stumps. The casting seams down either side of the axe survive as raised, blunt ridges, but seem to have been hammered down. The slightly off-centre line of these seams indicates the axe was cast in slightly mismatched mould halves. On the no-loop side, there is a linear groove running beside the casting seam, suggesting an imperfection in the shaping of the mould. There are also three holes in the upper body and collar of the axe, which are casting defects where the metal has not filled the mould completely. An oval hole (7.7 x 5.4mm) is present in the flared section of the collar on the opposite side of the axe to the side loop. On the opposite face of the axe are two linearly aligned oval holes, one in the gap by the loop (c.4.5 x 7.7mm), and one about 5mm above it (4.1 x 6mm). The axe is largely covered in an even dark brown patina, mottled with tan and orange patches. The socket mouth has suffered some minor material loss, which shows a small patch of green corrosion product forming, as does the fragmentary cutting edge. 6. 7. and 8. Copper alloy socketed axe fragments - Type Croxton (conjoining fragments) Dimensions: surviving length of No.6 54.9mm; surviving length of No.7 42.3mm; surviving length of No.8 24.8mm; external socket width 48.5mm; internal socket width 38.5mm; maximum collar depth 12.7mm; width of body below loop 38.2mm; width of No.7 18.8mm; width of No.8 24.4mm; weight No.6 76.7g; weight No.7 11.3g; weight No.8 9.2g; combined weight 97.1g. These are three refitting fragments of an incomplete upper body of a ribbed socketed axe. The larger fragment (No.6) consists of one face of the upper body of a socketed axe, including the socket and collar, side loop, and upper part of the body bearing three vertical ribs. The second fragment (No.7) is much smaller and refits on the non-loop side, bearing part of the opposite face with two of the three ribs. The third fragment (No.8) is a small part of the socket mouth and moulding on the loop side, that forms an imperfect but probable refit with No. 6 and with very closely similar characteristics (e.g. the form and width of the collar, the same patina and unworn break edges), so that it can be concluded it was once part of the same axe. The area of refit between Nos. 6 and 8 indicates that there was some material loss during the breakage (e.g. a small section of metal) which would explain why these two fragments do not refit perfectly. The axe has split vertically down the socket, as well as across the body about 16.4mm below the side loop. The socket end (visible on fragments 6 & 8) is defined by a flat-topped mouth, with a wide and plain onset collar with straight and slightly everted sides. Three parallel lateral raised ribs extend from the base of the collar (fragment 6) and terminate below the point of breakage, though do not converge. Two of these have worn down or damaged. The surviving socket indicates it was originally sub-rectangular with rounded corners and the body was broadly hexagonal, with angular face edges. A narrow loop descends from the base of the collar, with the external casting seam on the loop placed off centre. Prominent raised casting seams are present on both sides of the axe fragment, though are blunt, suggesting they have been hammered down. Fragment No.7 represents the corner of the upper body of the axe and part of the face with two lateral raised ribs. Fragment No.8 represents the corner of a flat-topped socket mouth, with a deep onset collar moulding of identical proportions to No.6. The possible remains of a worn runner stump are visible on the mouth of fragment No. 8. This fragment has broken unevenly along three sides. All fragments are largely covered in a dark brown patina, but this has delaminated in patches around the socket collar and along the ribs, leaving tan and pale green corrosion. All of the breakages along the sides, socket and body are soil covered, but not significantly eroded and retaining localised angularities along the breaks, suggesting that the breaks occurred while buried, rather than during retrieval. 9. Probable small face wall fragment of a ribbed socketed axe (probably part of Croxton Type socketed axe No. 6-8) Dimensions: length 16.1mm; width 9.0mm; thickness 2.1mm; weight 1.27g. This is a small, thin fragment of bronze, broken along all edges in antiquity. On one face, adjacent to a break line, there is a straight linear ridge, consistent with a decorative rib from the face of a ribbed socketed axe. The wall thickness of 2.1mm evident on this fragment is also consistent with the range of wall thicknesses seen on bronze socketed axes. One corner of this bronze fragment has been distorted, suggesting impact damage at some point, either in antiquity or more recent times. There is a small patch of dark brown patina surviving on both faces at one end, though the original surface has delaminated from the rest of the object revealing pale green corrosion. 10. Copper alloy spearhead fragment - probably Group 11 Dimensions: surviving length 47.7mm; width at breakage 22.3mm; depth at breakage (across midrib) 7mm; thickness at tip 6.2mm; weight 14.5g. This is a tip fragment of a socketed spearhead, broken unevenly in antiquity. It has a low, rounded midrib, and thick narrow blade wings, creating a pointed ovate section. The edge is abraded, making it difficult to determine the original form of the blade, but the slender nature of the tip indicates it may have been flame-shaped. The surviving tip is thick and blunt. The spearhead seems to have broken pre-deposition across the upper blade, below the internal socket aperture. There is still material embedded in the socket, making it unclear how much further the socket extends. The break is uneven as one blade wing survives more than the other. The fragment is largely covered in an even dark brown patina, with patches of surface delamination, particularly on the midrib, revealing green corrosion. 11. Copper alloy blade fragment - probable sword Dimensions: surviving length 76.7mm; width at breaks 19.6 and 28.7mm; thickness at breaks 5.6 and 7.5mm; weight 66.3g. This is a narrow fragment of a blade, broken at both ends. The blade tapers to one end, suggesting it is from the lower blade, towards the tip. It has a curved midrib, creating a biconvex section. The blade edges are abraded and there are no signs of bevels. The breaks are consistently patinated and rough, suggesting the breakages occurred shortly before deposition. The breaks have occurred largely straight across the blade and show no signs of casting flaws, inclusions or porosity. The narrower end has a very slight transverse bend (c.3/4 degrees) associated with the break, though there are no other associated marks. The fragment is largely covered in an uneven dark brown patina, with patches of surface delamination, revealing pale brown degradation. 12. Copper alloy casting jet - four runner form Dimensions: top surface length 43.8mm; top surface width 21.4mm; maximum height 32.8mm; depth of pouring reservoir 17.5mm; weight 74.7g. This is an oval-shaped jet with four runners, offset from the centre of the pouring reservoir. The reservoir is quite deep and has a rough, uneven upper surface. The underside of one end tapers in with straight sides towards the runners, while the other has more upright and straight sides leading down, shaped by the top of the mould. There is also a small bronze protrusion at the tapering end of the reservoir, while four runners extend from the base. These runners occur as two sets of two. Two are short (c.11mm) and rounded, with a slight split between them. The second pair are longer (17.7mm) and flatter, diverging more greatly, tapering from thick, broad protrusions to narrow stumps. The jet is covered in an uneven brown patina that is delaminated in patches, particularly around the edges, revealing green corrosion. 13. Copper alloy casting jet - two runner form Dimensions: top surface length 27.7mm; top surface width 21mm; maximum height 32.9mm; depth of pouring reservoir 14.1mm; weight 53.5g. This a semi-rectangular shaped jet in plan with two runners. The upper surface, of rectangular shape, is straight at the short ends, but tapers slightly in along the longer sides, shaped by the top of the mould. One runner is shorter (7.8mm) with an oval-section. The other runner is broad (17.3mm) and long (19mm) with a D-shaped section. The jet is covered in an uneven brown patina that is delaminated in patches, particularly around the edges, revealing green corrosion. 14. Copper alloy annular ring Dimensions: external diameter 30 x 29.1mm; internal diameter 22 x 22.4mm; bar diameter 3.8 - 4.0mm; weight 4.8g. This is a complete circular, annular bronze ring with a circular section. The ring is largely covered in a dark brown patina, but the surface has delaminated in patches revealing pale green corrosion. 15. Copper alloy complex circular object - possible vehicle wheel axle fitting or turning cap Dimensions: diameter 52.3mm; height 30mm; height of cylinder c.21mm; internal diameter 25mm; thickness (of base) 9mm; weight 123.7g. This is a cast, circular and hollow cylindrical object with a thick outer face and a circular perforation through the centre, with an inset projecting cylinder on the inner face. The margins of the disc, around both external diameter and internal perforation are bevelled, to give a presentable finish. The outer face is thick, heavy and wide, while the walls of the narrower internal cylinder are thinner. Part of the cylinder has broken away on one side. The cylinder tapers in at the centre of the body, before expanding again to a biconical moulding. There is a cast oval perforation through the narrow cylinder wall, while there is an aligning and corresponding curved groove across the underside of the outer disc. This appears to have once held a pin in place, to attach the casting to a larger composite object. The underside surface of the outer disc has diagonally aligned and parallel file or tool marks adjacent to the outer margins, while towards the interior the surface is covered with concentric linear striations, hinting at modern machine finishing. The object is covered in a dark green patina. This object was included in the report and for analysis (see below) as a precautionary measure, as superficially reminiscent of known chariot or cart fittings of Late Bronze Age and Iron Age date. 16. Copper alloy casting waste - possibly slag Dimensions: length 34.2mm; width 29.0mm; maximum thickness 17.0mm; min thickness 3.0mm; weight 15.4g. This is a small, rough piece of casting waste, probably slag, with an uneven surface, caused by the cooling of the metal. The piece is irregularly-shaped and thicker at one end than the other. This piece is covered in green corrosion. This slag fragment was included in the report and for analysis (see below) as a precautionary measure, as consistent in general characteristics with bronze slag and casting waste associated elsewhere with Late Bronze Age hoards.

NMGW-8173CF: HOARD
Ribbed socketed axe fragment, probable South Wales type Dimensions: Maximum surviving length 48.6mm; maximum surviving width at mouth 40.9mm; thickness of mouth 5.3-7.2mm; width of upper loop 4.0mm; dimensions runner-stubs (1) near loop 8.3 by 2.9mm; height 0.1mm; (2) face 6.6 by 2.9mm; height 0.1mm; surviving weight 39.4g. This is an upper face and partial mouth fragment of a ribbed bronze socketed axe. The axe has a collar, which in profile is vertical rather than everted, with a slightly convex shape and slight rounding at the upper and lower edge margins. A narrow upper loop-stub is present, which is high-set and descends from the collar. The mouth is wide and flat, with two runner-stubs evident beside the loop-stub and at the centre of the axe face. The external and internal plan shape of the mouth was once sub-rectangular with rounded corners. Two poorly defined decorative ribs may be seen on this small fragment, descending from the collar down the upper face of the axe and near parallel with each other. The axe fragment has been bent and distorted in antiquity, probably through hammering and bending to break the axe up. The mouth corner has been bent slightly inwards, making the internal angle around 70 degrees, rather than the expected 90 degrees. On the non-loop side of the mouth, there is bending near the break, giving the mouth and collar a concave outer surface. Near the break across the face, there is also distortion of the wall profile, giving the external face a concave profile and this was probably created through hammer impact. On the loop-side of the face there is a flattened impact facet, which has partly obscured one of the decorative ribs, although it is not certain as to whether this was damage caused in antiquity or during the recent retrieval of the axe from the ground. The axe fragment has a dark grey-green patina, with mouth top and break-edges showing areas of light-green and powdery surfaces. On the non-loop side, the collar break-edge shows a small area of unstable cracking within an area of light green and powdery corrosion deposit. Ribbed socketed axe fragment, probable South Wales type Dimensions: Maximum surviving length 76.0mm; maximum surviving width at mouth 34.2mm; thickness of mouth 5.6-6.7mm; dimensions runner stub - face 8.5 by 5.0mm; height 0.1mm; surviving weight 43.1g. This is an upper face, partial mouth and side fragment on the non-loop side of a ribbed bronze socketed axe. The axe has a narrow, well-defined collar, which in profile is straight and vertical rather than everted. The mouth was once near flat-topped, but has become distorted and slightly angled by later damage. The traces of two runner stubs may be detected, a complete one near the centre of a face side and a very small remnant stub trace on the non-loop side, just evident as a remaining slight protuberance on the mouth surface near the break. The external and internal plan of the mouth of the axe was once sub-rectangular with rounded corners. Two well defined decorative ribs may be seen on this small axe fragment descending from the collar down the upper face of the axe. The diagonal break across the face has removed all but the upper short section of the central rib, however the surviving side rib is straight, suggesting these two ribs were straight and parallel. The axe fragment has been bent and distorted in antiquity, probably through hammering while heated, to break the axe up. In plan, the mouth corner angle is around 120 degrees, rather than the expected 90 degrees and there is also a hammer impact mark on the collar, causing the mouth top to invert and distort. Along the diagonal face break, there is outward bending of the axe wall along the break margin and it is likely that the axe side has been distorted, as evidenced by a concave and splaying side-profile. On the interior wall surface, on the lower face, there is a localised tear in the metal, extending 5mm up the face. The break surfaces are markedly irregular, their patination indicating the axe was broken in antiquity. The axe surfaces have a dark grey-green patination. There are small localised areas of light-green and powdery corrosion products along breaks. At the tapering lower face and side tip of the fragment, there is an area of visible and unstable cracking within an area of light green and powdery corrosion deposit. Plain socketed axe fragment Dimensions: Maximum surviving length 49.1mm; maximum surviving width at mouth 28.5mm; maximum surviving width at lower loop insertion 37.2mm; thickness of mouth 5.1-7.1mm; width of lower loop 5.0mm; surviving weight 39.2g. This is an upper face, side and partial mouth fragment of a plain bronze socketed axe. The axe has a narrow everted mouth moulding, defined on its lower margin by a wide concave shaped and inset moulding. A lower loop-stub is present on the axe side, indicating a narrow loop, the break having removed the upper stub. The mouth was once near flat-topped, but has become distorted through later damage. There are no runner-stubs or scars evident on this partial mouth fragment. The external and internal plan of the mouth of the axe was once sub-rectangular with rounded corners. The face of the axe is plain. Part of the casting seam down the upper loop side survives, indicating the seam was hammered or filed down as the axe was prepared for use. The axe fragment has been bent and distorted in antiquity, probably through hammering and bending to break the axe up. In plan, the mouth corner is around 120 degrees rather than the 90 degrees expected, while near the break on the non-loop mouth, the mouth top has been distorted inwards, possibly through a hammer blow. On the lower face side, there is pronounced denting of the axe surface, giving a marked concavity in the face surface. A localised point of impact with a blunt ended tool with a round head may be observed, while the even patination indicates this occurred in antiquity. The break surfaces are markedly irregular in places. The axe fragment has a dark grey-green patination. Around the mouth top and along break-edges there are areas of light-green and powdery corrosion deposits. Cast copper-alloy pot or cauldron leg fragment Dimensions: Maximum width 38.2mm; maximum surviving length 31.5mm; maximum surviving length of inner faceted 17.3mm; surface maximum thickness 20.5mm; surviving weight 70.1g. This is a wedge-shaped and tapering bronze artefact fragment, with one flat side, one convex faceted side and two break surfaces, one upper and one lower. The upper part of this object is both widest and thickest, the object tapering and thinning towards it foot. The front face is shaped flat, while the reverse has a narrow flattened top with a side facet on each side, giving a raised angular convex profile. The break along the upper surface has a diagonal downward angle, making the inner faceted face markedly narrower than the front and flat face. The surfaces are all heavily worn and corroded with a light-green and powdery patina, to the extent that the facets on the reverse surface are now poorly defined. The lower break is irregular while the upper break is particularly uneven and corroded, indicating the breaks occurred in antiquity. In one small area along the lower break, there is an area of exposed bronze metal, which has been recently scraped or filed.

NMGW-9A3A33: HOARD
Descriptions Type Meldreth, Variant Aylsham faceted axe (Class D) - socket mouth and loop fragment Dimensions: Maximum surviving length 44.6mm; maximum surviving width at mouth 34.5mm; depth of collar to upper moulding margin 17.6mm; width of loop 5.3-5.5mm; surviving weight (prior to conservation) 20.9g. This is a partial mouth, upper face and loop-side fragment of a bronze slender socketed axe. The axe has a deep and trumpet shaped collar, whose lower margins are defined by three horizontal grooves, with a combined maximum width of approximately 4mm. The mouth top is flat, but the original shape of the mouth in plan is now unknown, due to distortion and bending of the fragment. The loop is slender and its upper arm descends from within the lower collar zone. The upper surviving face-edge on the loop-side has been emphasised by a vertical rib descending from the grooved collar lower margin. A facet is also visible on the upper face, running in near parallel with the ribbed face-edge, the facet edge also descending from the grooved collar margin. The axe fragment has been severely bent out of shape in the upper collar area, possibly in antiquity and prior to the burial of the artefact. The artefact has a brown patina and the break-edges look to be ancient. The axe fragment has suffered a modern glancing scrape along the upstanding and ribbed face-edge and on the collar, revealing areas of green patina and surface shine, where the original surfaces have been damaged. It is likely that this surface damage occurred during the recent discovery and retrieval of the socketed axe by the finder, or by through impact with agricultural machinery, when the axe was disturbed and dispersed from its original burial context. Small ribbed socketed axe (undiagnostic to type) - blade fragment Dimensions: maximum surviving length 27.4mm; width at upper break 36.6mm; blade width 42.8mm; max. surviving depth of socket approx. 11mm; surviving weight (prior to conservation) 40.6g. This is a blade-end fragment of a small bronze socketed axe, with just the base of the socket present and surviving. Near the blade, the sides flare out with concave curves to provide a modestly expanded blade edge. The ends of ribbed decoration is evident on both faces, four ribs present on one face, and one, possibly two ribs surviving on the opposite face. The ribs extend far down the face of the axe, their ends being between 12-18mm from the blade edge. Prominent casting seams are evident down each side, however appear to have been rapidly hammered down. Striations parallel with the blade edge suggest it was prepared for use after casting. The socket mould part was misaligned during casting, resulting in an extremely thin face wall on one side (0.7mm thick) and a thickened wall on the other (3.8-4.3mm thick). The axe fragment has a brown surface patina. There are localised patches near the blade edge where original surfaces have not survived and these have a green patina. Identification & Discussion One of the artefact fragments (Cat. 1, above) may be identified as a Type Meldreth, Variant Aylsham or Class D slender faceted axe. The deep and trumpet shaped collar, slender form and facet on the surviving upper face are all diagnostic of Class D / Type Meldreth axes, while the lower horizontal grooved moulding typifies the Type Aylsham Variant (Schmidt & Burgess 1981, 204-7; Needham 1990, 41-3; Gwilt et al 2005, 37-8). Type Meldreth axes are generally regarded as of British type, although they do occur in Ireland and France (O' Connor 1980, 166-7; Needham 1990, 43; Eogan 2000, 53-62, Cats. 296-392). Nearly all of the known hoard associations containing these axes are securely of Late Bronze Age date and belonging to the Ewart Park phase between 1000-800 BC (e.g. Needham 1990, 43; Eogan 2000, 61), although a few examples have been found in slightly earlier Late Bronze Age hoards dating to 1150-1000 BC (Schmidt & Burgess 1981, 210-1; Needham 1990, 43; Eogan 2000, 61). In Wales, approaching 40 examples of slender faceted axes of Meldreth or Class D type are now known, being most common across south-east Wales (e.g. Savory 1980, 120-2, Cats. 278 & 282; Gwilt 2004; Northover unpublished, 257-8, 267-9 & Cats. 583-610). Examples of these axes have been found in recently reported hoards from Rossett Community (Wrexham), Llanfrynach Community (Powys), Grosmont Community (Monmouthshire) and Llanharan Community (Rhondda Cynon Taf), all belonging to the Ewart Park phase of the Late Bronze Age (Gwilt et al 2005; 2016; 2018; Knight et al 2017). The second socketed axe blade fragment (Cat. 2, above) belonged to a small ribbed socketed axe, however this blade end fragment is not diagnostic to precise type. Various forms of ribbed axes are common components of hoards from south-east Wales and belonging to the Ewart Park phase of the Late Bronze Age (1000-800 BC). For example, ribbed axes of South Wales Type and their Variant forms are a frequent and dominating element within Ewart Park hoards of Late Bronze Age date across south-east Wales (e.g. McNeil 1973, Fig. 9; Moore 1978; Savory 1980, 49, 120-2; Needham 1981; Gwilt 2004). Here, over 40 hoards now contain at least 150 examples, making it the core area within Britain for their burial within hoards. In addition, ribbed socketed axes, variously known as Southern English/Welby Type ribbed axes, Yorkshire Type axes, Croxton Type axes, Breiddin Type axes and Llanarth Type axes have been found beside South Wales type axes in around a dozen known hoards of Ewart Park date from south-east Wales (e.g. Storrie 1887; Metcalf & Lambert 1979; Savory 1980, 120-1, Cats. 273, 280, 281; Gwilt 2004, 132-4, Appendix 1.1, 1.3, 1.10; Gwilt & Lodwick 2005; 2006; 2013; Lodwick & Gwilt 2007; Gwilt 2008; Northover unpublished, Hoards 74, 79, 85, 124). Therefore, this presence is entirely consistent with a Late Bronze Age hoard association from this region. The two reported artefacts were discovered approximately 80m apart and within the same field. Given their contemporary Late Bronze Age date, probably within the Ewart Park phase and dating to 1000-800 BC, it is probable that these two artefacts were once part of a directly associated hoard group and buried in the ground at the same time. It is probable that the ancient hoard group was disturbed and dispersed during recent agricultural activity, such as ploughing, harrowing or during earth movement events in the field. A preliminary search of the Heritage Environment Record (HER) for the area (via www.archwilio.org.uk) revealed no Bronze Age features or sites in the adjacent fields. Some prehistoric activity is known to the east on Mynydd Llangors and Cefn Moel, in the form of hut settlements, a putative burnt mound and burial chamber and occasional flint tool finds. It is potentially significant that the landscape location selected for the deposition of this small hoard was in the vicinity of Cwm Nantyfelin stream. This watercourse has its origins in multiple springs draining off the slopes of Cefn Moel, located 1-2km to the east-north-east. It flows westwards and converges with Afon Llynfi, 0.5-1km to the west, before draining into Llangors Lake to the north. This specific watery landscape locality is likely to have been deliberately selected for the deposition of the hoard as a gift to the gods (Gwilt 2004, 121; Gwilt et al 2013, 11). This pattern is repeated with the siting of a number of Late Bronze Age hoards across south-east Wales, adding strength to this observation.

NMGW-9883F6: MOULD
Middle Bronze Age bronze mould for casting palstaves of Group III, Low Flanged Type of Taunton Metalworking Industry and probably dated to c. 1400 - 1200BC The mould is represented by one valve of the pair, with a fragment missing from its base (blade end) (with a length of 197mm and a weight of 510.8g). The mouth (with a thickness of 14mm) is flat on its top surface and is damaged on one side. The exterior of the mould was circular-sectioned at its apex (with a diameter of 43.0mm) becoming hexagonal-sectioned at the neck, which has near straight and parallel sides as far as the position of the loop, where the sides have a rounded swelling, pronounced on the loop side but also present, although subtle on the unlooped side (reaching a maximum width of 54.8mm). The front of the mould has a prominent central groove along the neck (with a maximum depth of 9mm) and corresponding with the septum between the flanges. The mould half reaches a maximum thickness (of 24mm) at the position of the stop. The lower part of the exterior was also hexagonally-sectioned, with straight sides diverging to the base. The basal edge has largely been lost (with a surviving maximum width of 75mm) but appears to have had a gentle curved edge and has a bevel from the face to the edge (9mm thick). The blade part of the exterior was decorated with three divergent ribs, which extended to the basal edge. The surviving part of the basal edge, above the bevel is also enhanced with a rib as is the top of the side bevels. There is a chevron moulding on one side, corresponding with position of the loop. The interior of the mould has a rounded channel at the apex as a reservoir for the molten bronze (11mm diameter and 26mm deep) feeding into the butt of the palstave. The flat top, where the two mould halves meet is of variable width (from 8.2mm ay the butt and the blade tips and 14.5mm below the loop) and has four locating sockets, to engage with tenons from the missing mould valve. The sockets are of lentoid form (18mm long, 5mm wide and 3mm deep) and with a pair located flanking the butt and a pair beneath the top of the blade. The palstave negative has gently convex sides to the upper part (with a maximum width above the stop of 24.5mm) and the flanges appear to gradually deepen, reaching their maximum height at the stop (where the mould has a depth of 14.4mm). The loop (22mm long, 11 wide, with a mould depth of 5mm and where the palstave has a width of 19mm) is positioned immediately below the stop at its lower end. The stop has a slight curvature. The sides of the blade are curved and divergent to the blade tips, one of which is missing (with a maximum surviving width of 59mm, and the mould has a depth of 2.3mm at the blade edge).The sides of the blade are perpendicular to the blade face, which appear to be moderately flat across its length and width but gradually becomes shallower. There is the suggestion of a groove running along the edge of the blade, perhaps indicating a subtle rib running along the palstave blade edge. The palstave blade would have been decorated with midrib (with a length of 65mm), beginning at the stop. There is an oval casting flaw depression (7mm x 5mm and 1.6mm deep) on the blade, slightly above one of the blade tips. The interior and exterior faces of the mould have differing corrosion deposits or patinas, the exterior face has a pale brown corrosion deposit which has a tendency to flake off, revealing a pale, 'olive-green' patina. The interior surface has the same or similar brown corrosion over one side and the jet reservoir but elsewhere has a darker-green to black patina. Most of the scratches and striations inside the mould appear to cut through the patina and are likely to be more recent. There is a crack extending from the break on the blade to the side edge, consolidated at Amgueddfa Cymru prior to recording. Palstave moulds are commonly broken across their base or basal corners and Adams (pers. Comm.) has speculated about the possibility of deliberate damage across this area of the mould but suggests that the base is more likely to be a weaker area more susceptible to damage. The mould would appear to have cast palstaves of Group III, Low Flanged (broad blade) type with a midrib, possibly of Type Sleaford or Type Harlech. The suggested grooves along the sides of the blade may suggest flange extensions, characteristic of Type Sleaford (Schmidt & Burgess, 1981, p133) . Sleaford palstaves are seen as beginning early in the life of broad blade palstaves with an uncertain longevity (ibid.). Broad Blade palstaves are traditionally dated to the Taunton phase of the Middle Bronze Age in Britain, corresponding to Needham's (1996) Period 5, dated to c. 1500 - 1150BC. Only one other bronze palstave mould find is know from Wales, recovered from Deansfield near Bangor, Gwynedd, which comprised two mould pairs for a looped and unlooped palstave of Middle Bronze Age date. Webley and Adams' (2016) study lists eleven palstave mould finds recorded from Britain, including two locations with associated sets of mould pairs (Deansfield and Hempnall, Norfolk) and nine of which include both valves. Five of the palstave mould finds (from four separate finds) are looped and of Middle Bronze Age date, recovered from London, Deansfield (Gwynedd), two pairs from Hepmall (Norfolk),) and South Wiltshire. Of these finds, only the London mould valve was not decorated on the exterior. An additional palstave mould was recovered from Marton in Shropshire but with no detail recorded. Webley and Adams (2016, p. 324) noted that Later Prehistoric mould finds were absent in South Wales at that time. There has been little recorded Middle Bronze Age activity in the area around the findspot and the suggestion of contemporary metalworking is a significant new addition to our understanding of the Bronze Age of the area.

NMGW-AF1FCC: UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT
Copper alloy mount or fitting of uncertain function and date, probably of Late Bronze Age or Iron Age date and possibly a scabbard chape. The possible cast mount is complete (with a length of 23.5mm, a height of 22.9mm and a weight of 18.0g). The mount is of bulbous bi-lobed form (21.5mm wide and 13.1mm thick) with a curving point projecting from each lobe. At the centre is a shallow rounded groove, widest at the base. Both lobes are decorated with prominent ribbing defined by grooves. The lobes terminate in gently curving points of rounded D-shaped section, slightly flattened on their interiors. The points are not decorated and the interior, near the centre is less finished than the rest of the mount. At the centre is an irregular, sub-circular depression or hollowing (6.6mm wide, 7.6long and 4.2mm deep). The interior is not finished and would not have been seen. The surface has a dark-brown patina with orange brown residue or corrosion surviving in the deeper grooves. The object, often referred to as a 'moustache' is recognised object form but poorly understood in terms of its function and date. The object form is quite consistent, being bi-lobed and rounded, often with ribbed decoration and with projecting prongs. An example of the type was found with the Salisbury Hoard and indicates a Bronze or Iron Age date although the style would suggest a Late Bronze to Iron Age date. It has been suggested that the mount may have been used on Iron Age weapons and it seems possible that the pronged form may be consistent with its use as a scabbard chape, although this remains a conjectural identification.

NMGW-B18276: KNIFE
Bronze Age knife or razor probably of Late Bronze Age date The knife or razor is of crescent form and appears to be near-complete but is perhaps missing a tang (with a length of 51.3mm, a height of 40.1mm and a weight of 43.9g). The blade edge is concave with a deep-arched back. The blade tips at both ends may have been elongated, as suggested shallowing to the curve at the back. One tip has a small semi-circular notch (3.3mm diameter), possibly the remnants of a rivet attachment hole and if correct, may suggest a slight tang on that side. There is an irregular long notch (12.5m long and 3.3mm deep) on the top edge, just below the apex and may also be the result of hafting. The blade is thickest at the centre (with a maximum thickness of 4.4mm) and thins at a blade facet on both edges and on both faces. The blade facet has a consistent length (of 7.4mm) along the edge. The surface is more corroded on one face and is dark-green brown with pale. The opposite face has a dark-green patina with a few striations evident running along the blade, possibly from sharpening. The bronze blade is difficult to closely parallel with British archaeological finds but is perhaps best paralleled with Late Bronze Age Hog backed or triangular knives or Racloirs. The blade edge on these examples is usually comparatively straight rather than concave and perhaps suggests a specialised function. The possible rivet indent on one end and damage to the apex, perhaps suggest a tanged knife with handle on one end but covering the top of the blade.

NMGW-C9E5A3Z: HOARD
A hoard of five Late Bronze Age axeheads with no other artefact types reported Axe 1 South Wales (Stogursey) variant Type Found c.0.6m below surface with blade to the south The axe is near-complete, with some damage to the blade edge (with a length of 105.3mm and a weight of 326.1g). The sub-rectangular mouth (50.8mm x 44.6mm) is flat-topped, slightly bevelled inwards. Remnant stubs of four casting runners are discernible on the mouth, indicating a four-runner casting technology. The socket is sub-rectangular at the mouth (36.9mm x 29.5mm and 80.8mm deep), with sides gradually converging to its base. The mouth has a single moulding (7mm long) sloping to the face (5-6mm high). The loop springs from the base of the moulding and is of irregular D-shaped section (32.7mm long, 6.5mm wide, 5mm thick; with internal dimensions of 6.7mm long and 6.7mm high). The sides are very gently concave before diverging at the blade to produce a moderately expanded blade edge (59.1mm wide), with some damage to one of the blade tips and the blade edge. The sides have a slight bevel to the casting seam at the centre, producing a sub-rectangular to hexagonal body section. Both casting seams are clearly discernible and have been fettled, probably by hammering. The faces are decorated with near-parallel ribs; one face has five ribs, while the other has three ribs with the edges enhanced with a rib each. Both faces are slightly convex across their widths. The faces and gradually converge and have a weak blade facet (26mm from the blade edge). The surface has a dark-brown patina, partially preserved and sharpening striations are evident running along the blade on both faces. Axe 2 probably Type Welby Found c.3cm below axe 1 with blade to the east The axe is complete (with a length of 97.8mm and a weight of 267.1g). The sub-oval mouth (44.9mm x 41.7mm) is flat-topped, slightly bevelled outwards. Only one casting stub is now evident with the casting seams on the sides but is likely to have been two-runner casting technology. The socket is sub-oval at the mouth (34.0mm x 30.5mm and 74.7mm deep), with sides gradually converging to its base. There is a distinct dollar (16mm long), which is concave across its length and bounded by a horizontal moulding at its base. The casting flashes on the collar appear unfinished (with a height of up to 3.7mm); below the collar, the flashes have undergone more fettling from hammering. The sides are concave and are expanded at the blade (to give a blade width of 51.5mm) to produce a moderately rounded blade edge. The casting seams are not central but deeper to one side. The loop springs from the base of the collar and is of sub-triangular section (28mm long, 7.6mm wide, 4.4mm thick; with internal dimensions of 4.7mm long and 7.0mm high). The ribs also descend from the base of the collar; each face has three-ribs, which are convergent on one face and near-parallel on the other but are angled and are not parallel with the sides. The body section is sub-rectangular with convex faces and sides. The faces are also convex across their lengths. Weak blade facets are evident (18mm from the blade edge). The surface has a dark-brown patina, partially preserved and some striations are evident below the patina, running perpendicular to the blade but are not consistent and may not be the result of sharpening. Axe 3 South Wales (Stogursey) variant Type Found touching axe 4 The axe is complete (with a length of 89.0mm and a weight of 263.5g). The sub-rectangular mouth (48.5mm x 42.9mm) is flat-topped and has remnant stubs of four casting runners, indicating a four-runner casting technology. The socket is sub-rectangular at the mouth (34.8mm x 27.7mm and 70.8mm deep), with sides gradually converging to its base. The mouth has a single moulding (7mm long) sloping to the face (4-6mm high). The loop springs from just beneath the base of the moulding and is of irregular oval section (32.7mm long, 6.5mm wide, 5mm thick; with internal dimensions of 6.7mm long and 6.7mm high). The sides are very gently concave before diverging at the blade to produce a moderately expanded blade edge (59.1mm wide), with some damage to one of the blade tips and the blade edge. The sides have a slight bevel to the casting seam at the centre, producing a sub-rectangular to hexagonal body section. Both casting seams are clearly discernible and have been fettled, probably by hammering. The faces are decorated with near-parallel ribs; one face has five ribs, while the other has three ribs with the edges enhanced with a rib each. Both faces are slightly convex across their widths. The faces gradually converge and have a weak blade facet (26mm from the blade edge). The surface has a dark-brown patina, partially preserved and sharpening striations are evident running along the blade on both faces. Axe 4 Type Found touching axe 3 The axe is complete (with a length of 91.2mm and a weight of 246.8g). The socket is sub-rectangular at the mouth (44.5mm x 37.1mm and 64.2mm deep), with concave sides gradually converging to its base. Traces of three, of the four runner stubs are evident on the mouth. The axe has a collar moulding (16mm long) with a slight concavity along its length. The loop springs from just above the base of the moulding and is of irregular triangular section (26mm long, 6.5mm wide, 6mm thick; with internal dimensions of 12.3mm long and 5.3mm high). The sides are concave, before diverging more sharply at the blade and produce a moderately expanded blade edge (53.5mm wide) and with moderate curve to the blade edge. The sides have prominent and high casting seams (up to 4.5mm high), suggesting minimal finishing and fettling. Either side of the casting seam, the sides are slightly convex across their widths, producing a sub-rectangular body section. Both faces are decorated with three ribs, descending from the base of the collar moulding. One face has three fine converging ribs, which are comparatively long and continue onto the blade (55m long, ending 21mm from the blade edge). The other face appears to have had wider ribs and which are parallel to each other. Both faces are convex across their widths and lengths. The faces gradually converge and have no discernible blade facet. Although the surface survives well on one face, there are no discernible sharpening striations on the blade. The surface has a dark-brown patina, partially preserved with green corrosion and forming a raised ridge on one face, suggesting the point of contact with axe 3. Axe 5 Type Breiddin The axe is complete (with a length of 96.9mm and a weight of 212.8g). The socket is sub-rectangular at the mouth (39.4mm x 32.2mm and 64.0mm deep), with straight sides gradually converging to its base. Three possible runner stubs are discernible on the mouth but are not certain. The axe has a collar moulding (14mm long) with a slight concavity along its length. The loop springs from just above the base of the moulding and is of irregular lozenge section (24mm long, 6.5mm wide, 4mm thick; with internal dimensions of 12.0mm long and 5.4mm high). The sides are gently concave, before diverging more sharply at the blade and produce a moderately expanded blade edge (45.8mm wide) which is distinctly straight. The sides have prominent casting seams, with some, neat finishing and fettling and seemingly deliberately leaving the seam as a regular moulding. Either side of the casting seam, the sides are slightly convex across their widths, producing a sub-rectangular body section, which is more comparatively angular. Both faces are decorated with three parallel ribs, descending from the base of the collar moulding (36mm - 40mm long). Both faces are gently convex across both their widths and lengths. The faces gradually converge and have no discernible blade facet. The surface has a dark-brown patina, with patches of surface loss on the both blades. There are a few striations running along the blade but not enough to convincingly suggest sharpening.

NMGW-E96F08: CHISEL
Bronze Age tanged chisel of Late Bronze Age date, probably of Wilburton or Ewart Park metalworking industry, corresponding with Needham’s (1996) Periods 6-7, dated to c. 1150 – 750BC The cast chisel is near-complete with a slightly distorted tang (with a length of 50.8mm and a weight of 15.9g). The tang (32.6mm long) is square to rectangular sectioned gradually narrowing to the end (6mm square at the collar and 3.0mm x 1.4mm at the end). There is a perpendicular step to the collar (2mm deep) of sub-oval form (11.1mm long and 9.3mm wide) and narrows below the flanged shoulder (with a minimum width of 7.8mm). The sides of the blade are curved and divergent to the slightly damaged blade tips and the blade edge is near-straight, curved at the ends (giving a blade width of 20.5mm). The original blade edge has been lost with no definite evidence for differential wear across the blade edge. The blade faces are near-flat and thin gradually towards the edge (with a thickness of 7mm below the shoulder and 0.8mm above the edge) and with no evidence for blade facets. There are striations beneath the patina on both faces, running both along the blade and up the blade. The surface is pitted with a mid-green patina and areas of surface loss. Tanged and collared chisels typically date from the Late Bronze Age to Earliest Iron Age. An example dating to the Wilburton/Wallington phase is known from Doncaster, Yorkshire (Burgess 1968, 19, fig 7,2; Burgess, Coombs and Davies, 1972, 217), though the many may be dated to the Ewart Park phase (c.950-700 BC) and into the subsequent Llyn Fawr period (c.700-600 BC). Tanged and collared chisels have a broad distribution across northern France, Britain and Ireland (see Coffyn et al. 1981, 202-203, Carte 7), though there are relatively few examples from western England and Wales. A very similar example with a thick collar and triangular blade can be seen in the large Ewart Park phase Nottingham Hill hoard, Gloucestershire (Gingell 1974, 308, fig 4,22), as well as a single find from Leigh Woods, Bristol (MacGregor 1987, 109, 11.65). Another example was found at Brogyntyn, Shropshire (Savory 1980, No 288.3) associated with a socketed gouge and a fragmentary Hallstatt 'C' sword.

NMGW-609095: PALSTAVE
Looped palstave of Gr.III (Low-flanged, broad-bladed) type (following Schmidt and Burgess 1981). It dates broadly to the Middle Bronze Age and more specifically to the Taunton/early Penard phases (1400-1200 BC) (Needham et al. 1997). This is a complete palstave with leaf-shaped flanges that rise from the septum below the butt to about the height of the stop. It has a long slender butt, with a straight end and a thick septum (c.10mm). In plan, the flanges form a straight, rectangular stop ridge and taper in very slightly toward the butt end. A thick side loop is positioned on one side overlapping the stop ridge. The blade is broad and crinoline in shape, with a curved cutting edge and faint signs of a bevelled edge. The bevelling and curvature of the cutting edge indicates it was worked, which is supported by the slightly asymmetrical form of the edge. This may be the resulting of casting, uneven working or resharpening. There are no macroscopic sharpening or grinding striations visible. Both faces are adorned with a raised midrib, extending from below the stop about halfway down the blade (44.6mm long); it is more pronounced on one face than the other. There is a lateral flattened ridge down each side of the palstave, which indicates the remains of the casting flash which has been ground and hammered down, though it is particularly prominent around the side loop. Furthermore, there is a shallow shrinkage hollow in the septum at the stop on one face, which is a common flaw for palstaves, caused as the metal cools after casting. The palstave is covered in an even, consistent pale brown patina preserving the original surface. Active pale green corrosion is visible in small patches, particularly around the edges and fresh bronze can be seen on one side of the cutting edge indicating post-recovery damage. Patches of dark blue corrosion product can be seen on the septum on one face. Dimensions: Length: 167mm; Blade width 65.1mm; Butt width: 18.3mm; Stop breadth: 35.3mm; Stop width: 22.7mm; Flange breadth: 33.1mm; Flange height: 10mm; Weight: 503.4g.

NMGW-0B9997: HOARD
Early Bronze Age hoard of two incomplete flanged axes and one spearhead. 1. and 2. Class 5Db Long-flanged axe (2 conjoining fragments) Dimensions: surviving length blade fragment 1 - 71.9mm; surviving length butt fragment 2 - 28.2mm; combined total length approx.108.8mm; blade width (fragment 1) - 47.9mm; butt width fragment 2 - 21.0mm; maximum thickness at flanges (fragment 1 ) - 17.5mm; maximum height of flanges (fragment 1) - 3.0mm; weight fragment 1 - 154.1g; fragment 2 - 28.3g; combined weight 182.4g. These are two conjoining fragments of a complete, slender, bronze flanged axe with cast flanges. The sides of the axe are straight and near parallel, although there is a subtle impression of a curved and waisted effect, created by the curvature of the sides and inward curving effect of the flanges. The sides curve out suddenly to an expanded blade with a crescentic cutting edge. The butt shows some curvature, although with sub-angular corners, rather than truly arched form. Approximately 54mm from the butt end, there is a median bevel across both faces. The flanges rise approximately 3mm above the septum on each face. The sides of the axe are evenly curved and undecorated. Striations running parallel with the blade edge on the blade bevels indicate that the axes was sharpened for use. The break surfaces on the two fragments are soil covered and do not appear to be recent. The overall patina is dark green, although with extensive mottled patches of lighter blue-green and pitting evident on all faces and along edges. 3. Long flanged axe butt fragment (Class 5) Dimensions: surviving length 62.0mm; butt width 19.8mm; maximum thickness at flanges 13.4mm; maximum surviving height of flanges approx. 1.5mm; width at break 24.3mm; weight 79.7g. This is a butt and mid-section of a slender bronze flanged axe with cast flanges. The sides are straight but slightly divergent. The butt is high arched and with a pinched tapering form in side view. The flanges are worn and rise a maximum of 1.5mm above the septum. The sides are curved and undecorated, although one side has slight angularity suggesting uneven hammering. Approximately 47.5mm from the butt, there is a median bevel across both faces. Across the break, the axe reveals an asymmetry in cross-section, with one side and flanges narrower than the other. On one side, the thickness, including flanges, is 13.4mm and the septum is 9.7mm thick, while on the other, the thickness including flanges is 12.0mm and the thickness of the septum is 9.1mm. Some of this asymmetry, most marked near the break, may have been created by the forcible twisting and breaking of the axe, causing localised deformation of the metal. The break surface is soil covered and the break was made in antiquity. The axe has a dark grey-green patination, with areas of mottled pitting with lighter blue-green corroded surfaces. 4. Type 2A Decorated Early Pegged and Socketed Spearhead Dimensions: length 196.0mm; maximum width blade 33.8mm; external diameter socket 22.8mm (side to side) by 22.1mm top to bottom; maximum blade thickness (base) 13.2mm; depth of socket approx.. 82.5mm; diameter peg holes (1) 6.8mm (side to side) by 4.7mm (top to bottom); (2) 7.2mm (side to side) by 4.4mm (top to bottom); weight 179.9g This is a complete bronze spearhead with a triangular shaped blade, tapering near the point. The blade has a narrow and prominent lozenge midrib and the blade is enclosed by a raised bevel, with deep blade channels and a V-shaped raised base. The base of the blade edges merge with the oval-shaped socket with shallow concave curves. The socket retains angularity down both sides, in line with the blade edges, only becoming indistinct near the mouth. The base of the socket shaft extends only to the base of the blade and the blade is solid cast. Near the socket mouth (5-7mm from the mouth edge), are tow oval shaped peg-holes, each with recessed external borders. The socket of the spearhead has been decorated on both sides, although it is better preserved on one face and indistinct on the other. At the top and beneath the V-shaped blade base, an incised V-shaped pair of parallel lines, approximately 2.5m apart, is infilled with short parallel lines. Beneath this, a banded decorative schema is aligned at right angles to the axis of the spear and parallel with the socket mouth edge. The first decorative band is a single zone of infilled chevrons, enclosed by two incised lines approximately 3mm apart. Between this and the next zone of decoration is a plain band, bordered by a second double band of decoration, 5mm wide and comprising three parallel incised lines, each infilled with angled and parallel lines all of the same alignment. Following a further plain band, is a third, single zone of infilled chevrons, defined by two lines. The fourth and final banded decoration, comprises two linear incised bands, with a herringbone infilled pattern of parallel lines. At the lower margin, bordered by the socket mouth edge, a short stretch of shorter incised, and angled dash marks defines the edge. The upper band of decoration abuts the lower margins of each peg-hole, although it is not possible to say whether the decoration was applied before or after the peg-holes were shaped. There are striations visible on the blade bevel, running parallel to the blade edge in places, suggesting sharpening for use. On one face, one of the lateral blade channels has been markedly deepened with an angular striation, possibly created in antiquity during preparation of the blade edges. On one upper socket face, there is a rectangular shaped punched depression set into the face. Localised deformation above and below this, suggests this may have been deliberate and forcible damage, either during use, or immediately before deposition. There is a split in the wall of the socket mouth on one side. One or two scratches and scrapes appear to have been made during the recent past, during ploughing or retrieval from the soil. The surfaces of the spearhead are extensively pitted and the spearhead has a dark grey-green patination.

NMGW-70E941: HOARD
Late Bronze Age hoard of two spearheads and five socketed axes. 1. Plain Pegged spearhead, with lanceolate blade Dimensions: surviving length 146.3mm; maximum surviving blade width 44.7mm; surviving blade length 115.7mm; maximum surviving external diameter of socket 26.5mm (side to side) by 26.2mm (top to bottom); maximum surviving internal diameter of socket 21.2mm (side to side) by 21.1mm (top to bottom); surviving depth of socket approx. 93.0mm; diameter of peg-holes approx. 5.8mm; surviving weight 142.6g. Lanceolate shaped pegged spearhead with incomplete socket below peg-holes. The blade has a pronounced central rib, which tapers markedly at the lower blade, rather than tapering evenly along the blade. The socket is slightly sub-angular at top, base and sides, giving a socket cross-section which is not perfectly circular and has very slight angles. The blade has bevelled edges and at the widest point of the blade, the wing to bevel outline appears to have a slight change of angle, from a continuous convex curve, however there is no break in the slightly convex curve of the upper blade. The spearhead is of medium length, with blade wings of modest width, but marked thickness. The casting seam on the socket is visible but has been carefully filed or hammered down. The peg-holes appear to be near circular, although only part of their diameters survive, as the socket and mouth end has been broken away across the peg-holes. On the blade wings and bevels, striations parallel with the rib and blade edges are evident, suggesting sharpening and preparing for use. The spearhead appears slightly bent in side-section, suggesting impact during use or retrieval from the ground. The artefact has a grey-green patina, with pale powdery green, tip, edges and at the socket break. On the lower blade surfaces there are patches of green and blue concretions. 2. Plain Pegged spearhead fragment, with lanceolate blade Dimensions: surviving length 134.8mm; maximum surviving blade width 40.5mm; surviving blade length 134.8mm; surviving internal diameter of midrib aperture at base of blade 16.1mm (side to side) by 14.7mm (top to bottom); surviving depth of socket approx. 84.0mm; surviving weight 113.8g. Lanceolate shaped pegged spearhead blade, with tip and socket missing. The blade has a pronounced central rib, which tapers suddenly at the lower blade, rather than tapering evenly along the blade. The mid-rib aperture at the base of the blade is slightly oval, widest from side to side. Traces of blade bevels can be seen towards the base of the blade, however most have not survived. The spearhead was once of long and narrow proportions, longer than the other spearhead. Marked linear striations can be observed at the base margins of the mid-rib, and there are also less marked striations on the blade wings, with an alignment parallel to the mid-rib and blade edges. The spearhead has a green patina, with areas on light green powdery surface along blade-edges and breaks. Both blade surfaces have areas of copper carbonate concretions adhering. 3. South Wales Variant type socketed axe Dimensions: surviving length 100.8mm; surviving blade width 39.5mm; width below loop 39.5mm; surviving external mouth dimensions 49.6 by 38.2mm; internal mouth dimensions 31.7 by 28.6mm; depth of socket approx. 82.0mm; surviving weight 191.8g. A near complete slender axe, with one face heavily damaged and missing original surfaces and unstable and heavily eroded blade edge and mouth. The axe has a prominent mouth moulding, from which a narrow loop descends. Three parallel ribs descend from the mouth moulding on each face, continuing down four-fifths of the remaining length of the blade, almost to the blade facet. The ribs are prominent but discontinuous, suggesting the mould pieces used to cast the axe were old. The face edges have also been raised, to give the effect of a five ribbed axe. The axe is rectangular in section, but slender, the sides of the axe parallel down to the damaged blade edge. The mouth is rectangular in shape and heavily eroded, making runner stubs difficult to discern, however one raised area, opposite the loop side, suggests a runner stub. The socket is misaligned with the exterior of the axe, with a small hole on one lower blade face indicating a differential thinning in wall thickness in places. The casting seams down both sides are prominent, but slightly blunted by hammering and the excess flashing within the loop was never trimmed, perhaps hinting that the axe may never have been used before being buried. Original surfaces have a green-brown patina, while eroded surfaces are light green, unstable and powdery. The axe is in poor state, showing laminating and cracking of original surfaces remaining. On the interior surface of the socket, there is an area of blue corrosion surface. 4. South Wales type socketed axe Dimensions: surviving length 92.6mm; surviving blade width 44.1mm; width below loop 37.1mm; external mouth dimensions 50.5 by 39.5mm; internal mouth dimensions 31.1 by 28.0mm; dimensions projecting runner stub (1) 9.7 by 5.4mm; height 1.0mm; dimensions runner scars (2) 8.6 by 4.1mm; (3) 6.7 by 4.1mm; depth of socket approx. 68.0mm; surviving weight 209.0g. A near complete axe with broken loop with concave, diverging sides, flaring towards the blade end. The axe has a prominent mouth moulding from which the narrow loop descends. Three converging ribs descend from the moulding on each face, extending down two thirds of the surviving blade. These are ill-defined, but continuous ribs, hinting that the mould pieces used to cast this axe were old. The axe is sub rectangular in section, though the upper face edges are sub-rounded. The casting seams down each side are prominent, having only received cursory hammering preparation, while the flash beneath the loop was never trimmed, suggesting the axe may never have been used before being buried. The heavy mouth is sub-oval in external plan, while the internal aperture is sub-rectangular. One runner stub and two runner scars are evident around the mouth, indicating a four-runner casting technology. Along the surviving blade facet on both sides, there are striations running parallel with the blade edge, suggesting some preparation of the blade took place. Across the mid to lower end of one face, a structural crack is evident, running parallel with mouth and blade edge and continuing as far as the mid-point casting seam. This appears to have been a failure in the casting process, relating to one half of the mould. A further crack descends from the mouth down the same face, but this may have been damage caused since burial. On the reverse side, there are two small surface pits, suggesting air bubbles trapped within the original casting. The original surfaces of the axe have a grey-green patina, while the blade edge, parts of the mouth, loop break and small areas of faces have powdery light-green eroded surfaces. 5. Ribbed socketed axe fragment Dimensions: surviving length 97.1mm; surviving blade width 48.2mm; width below loop 38.9mm; internal mouth dimensions at break approx. 32.6 by 27.3mm; depth of socket approx. 70.0mm; surviving weight 172.6g. Large axe fragment missing mouth and loop. The sides are concave, flaring outwards slightly towards the blade end. The axe has a markedly rounded body, with an oval shaped cross-section and rounded face edges. Near the break, there is evidence of a flared mouth-moulding, but this is subtle and faint, rather than prominent. Three well-defined and near parallel ribs descend from the moulding down both faces of the blades, extending down three-quarters of the length of the surviving blade. Between these ribs there are feint and smooth ridges and grooves in the surfaces, aligned parallel with the ribs. These indicate probable shaping irregularities in the walls of the mould halves used to cast this axe. The casting seams down each side are visible, but have been hammered down and on one side, hammer facets can be observed along the surface. On one side, where original surface survives, striations can been seen on the blade facet running parallel with the blade edge, suggesting the blade was prepared. The original surfaces of the axe have a green-brown patina, while the upper face, upper break and blade edges have powdery light-green eroded surfaces. In the lower socket, there are green surface carbonate concretions on one side. 6. Ribbed socketed axe fragment - probable South Wales type Dimensions: surviving length 88.1mm; surviving blade width 43.8mm; width below loop 38.6mm; depth of socket approx. 70.0mm; surviving weight 130.7g. Large fragment of a ribbed socketed axe, missing one side, mouth and loop. The axe has straight and slightly divergent sides, with slight expanding at the blade end. The axe has a blocky and rectangular shaped body in cross-section, and angled face edges, with a prominent out-splayed mouth moulding. Three convergent ribs descend from the underside of the prominent mouth moulding on the surviving face, and extending down three quarters of the surviving length of the blade. On the opposite face, the ends of three ribs can be seen just below the break point. The casting seams are visible down both sides of the axe, through were hammered down, while a lower loop stub survives on one side. Slight denting to the blade surface, just below the break on one side hints at the possibility that this axe may have been broken through hammering prior to burial and the break edges here are non-eroded and soil covered. Large parts of the face have a black surface patina, possibly deliberately coloured and applied by the makers. The lower blade has a grey-green patina, while the blade edge and parts of the mouth have powdery light-green eroded surfaces. On the mouth, one small area of break shows exposed and fresh bronze, suggesting the mouth was clipped and accidentally broken by the finder during its retrieval. 7. South Wales type socketed axe Dimensions: surviving length 91.3mm; surviving blade width 40.3mm; width below loop 40.1mm; surviving external mouth dimensions 52.3 by (36.5)mm; surviving internal mouth dimensions 35.3 by (25.4mm); dimensions projecting runner stubs (1) 9.7 by 4.8mm; height 1.0mm; (2) 9.2 by 4.7mm; height 0.5mm; depth of socket approx. 56.0mm; surviving weight 227.9g. Near complete socketed axe, missing part of mouth and original blade edge, with slightly divergent but straight sides and a rectangular shaped cross-section. The axe has a prominent mouth moulding, from which a narrow loop descends. Three near parallel ribs descend from the mouth moulding on each face. On one face, the ribs are short, extending less than half the length of the surviving blade, while on the other, the ribs are slightly placed at an angle to the side faces and are longer, descending down two-thirds of the surviving length of the blade. The ribs are not well-defined, suggested that the mould parts used to cast this axe were old. The heavy mouth has an oval-shaped exterior edge, while the interior aperture is sub-rectangular with rounded edges. Two runner stubs survive at 90 degrees to each other, indicating this axe was cast with a four-runner casting technology. The casting seams are prominent down both sides of the axe, but were briefly hammered down to remove sharp edges. On one side, there are angled striations on the lower blade surface, but these were probably created after burial, rather than being evidence for preparation of the axe for use. The original surfaces have a grey-green patina, while there are areas of powdery light-green surface around the mouth, along the blade edge and in eroded patches on one lower blade face.

NMGW-860652: HOARD
Late Bronze Age hoard comprising 12 complete and fragmentary socketed axes. 1. South Wales type socketed axe Dimensions: length 109.5mm; surviving blade width 51.3mm; width below loop 43.0mm; external mouth dimensions 58.8 by 46.5mm; internal mouth dimensions 34.5 by 26.0mm; dimensions of runner stubs (1) 10.6 by 7.3mm; height 0.2mm; (2) 11.7 by 8.1mm; height 1.0mm; (3) 9.3 by 5.5mm; height 0.2mm; dimensions of runner scar (4) 8.6 by unknown; depth of socket approx. 75.0mm; surviving weight 439.5g. This is a virtually complete, heavy and long socketed axe with a blocky rectangular shaped cross-section. The sides are slightly divergent and with slight concave curves and little expansion and recurving at the blade end. The axe has a prominent and out-splayed mouth moulding, with a high and narrow loop descending from the underside. Three near parallel ribs descend from the moulding on each face, extending approximately down two-thirds of the face. On one face, the ribs are discontinuous and less well defined, suggesting one of the mould pieces used for casting the axe was old. The face edges are sub-angular. The mouth is heavy and wide topped, with a sub-rectangular shaped external shape and a sub-rectangular internal aperture with rounded corners. Three filed runner stubs and a runner scar are evident around the mouth, each located 90 degrees apart, indicating the axe was cast using a four-runner technology. The casting seams down each side are prominent, but have been rapidly hammered to remove sharp edges. The two mould halves are very slightly misaligned, creating a slight offset between the two halves, and making the width below the loop slightly wider than originally planned. Towards the blade end on the non-loop side, there is an excess of projecting metal, indicating a slight casting flaw, which would not have impacted on the functioning of the axe as a tool. There are small circular pits on the surfaces of the axe, probably created as bubbles within the bronze as it was cast. There are linear striations running along the blade bevel, parallel with the blade edge, indicating the axe was sharpened for use. One blade-edge side has been damaged and removed, however the rest of the blade edge has survived reasonably well. Most original surfaces of the axe have survived and the axe has a brown patina. There are small areas of lighter green and eroded surfaces, around the mouth along the ribs, on one upper side, along the outer loop and along parts of the blade edge and break. 2. Croxton type socketed axe Dimensions: length 108.8mm; blade width 46.5mm; width below loop 36.6mm; surviving external mouth dimensions (43.5mm) by (35.3mm); surviving internal mouth dimensions (32.7mm) by (26.6mm); depth of collar 14.2mm; depth of socket approx. 64.0mm; surviving weight 302.4g. This is a near complete, slender socketed axe with approximately one third of the mouth missing. The sides have slightly concave curves, with slight widening and flaring at the blade end. The axe has a wide and flat onset collar, the collar slightly everted, but the mouth does not flare nor have a projecting or bulbous top. A narrow loop descends from the lower collar band. Three near parallel ribs descend from the underside of the collar, extending down approximately two thirds of the length of the faces. The face edges are sub-angular, however the faces and sides have marked convex curvature to them, giving an overall rounded effect to the axe, with its sub-oval cross-section. The mouth is narrow with oval shaped in both external shape and internal aperture and there is no evidence of runner stubs or scars. Casting seams are evident down both sides, but not prominent and there is suggestion that they have been rapidly hammered down. On one upper face and side, there are large rounded depressions in the surface crated by air bubbles during the casting process, however these are minor flaws and would not impact upon the use of the axe. On the blade facets, there are parallel striations running parallel with the blade edge, indicating that the axe was sharpened in preparation for use. The break around the mouth and collar has a number of deep pits along it, suggesting that there may have been localised weakness here created by bubbling in the casting process. The original blade-edge is mostly present, with small nicks along its extent. The axe retains virtually all of its original surfaces and has a brown patina. On breaks and nicks, there are small areas of green and light green patina. 3. Croxton type socketed axe, with Yorkshire type affinities Dimensions: surviving length 79.0mm; surviving blade width 44.5mm; width below loop 33.7mm; external mouth dimensions 37.9 by 33.3mm; internal mouth dimensions 29.3 by 24.3mm; depth of collar 10.8mm; depth of socket approx. 65.0mm; surviving weight 203.4g. This is a small and complete socketed axe with a rectangular-shaped cross-section, with straight and slightly divergent sides, expanding and recurving near the blade end. The axe has a wide and flat onset collar, the collar slightly everted, but the mouth does not flare nor have a projecting or bulbous top. A wide loop emerges from the underside of the collar. Three widely-spaced and slightly converging ribs descend from the collar, extending down approximately three-quarters of the length of the faces. The ribs are well-defined, the outer ones located close to the face edges, which are sub-angular. The upper origins of the ribs extend slightly into the lower collar. The casting seams are visible down each side but have been moderately worked down, either by file or hammer. The external mouth shape is sub-rectangular as is the internal aperture and the mouth is thin, with no evidence of runner stubs, or runner scars. On the upper blade bevels, there are linear striations running parallel with the blade-edge, indicating the axe was sharpened and prepared for use. There are areas of erosion and loss on one lower face, around the blade edge and in patches around the mouth and these areas have a green to light green patina. Overall, the original surfaces have a brown patina. 4. Plain socketed axe Dimensions: length 78.0mm; surviving blade width 35.9mm; width below loop 28.8mm; external mouth dimensions 35.7 by 32.5mm; internal mouth dimensions 25.9 by 24.1mm; depth of socket approx. 63.0mm; surviving weight 107.3g. This is a complete plain socketed axe of small size and slender proportions. The sides are slightly concave in shape, flaring outwards at the blade end. The mouth is flared, or slightly trumpet-shaped with slight bulbous thickening around the mouth. There is a wide and high-placed loop. The axe has a rectangular shaped body with sub-angular face edges. The mouth is sub-rectangular in both external shape and internal aperture and thin, with no evidence of runner-stubs or runner scars. The casting seams are visible and thin, but were carefully flattened either by filing or hammering. On the blade bevels, there are linear striations running parallel with the blade edge, indicating the axe was sharpened and prepared for use. Most original surfaces survive and have a brown patina, although small eroded green patches are visible around the mouth, on the loop, sides and along the eroded blade-edge. 5-6. Croxton type socketed axe & collar/upper face fragment Dimensions: length 133.9mm; surviving blade width 59.0mm; width below loop 44.8mm; surviving external mouth dimensions (46.1mm side to side); internal mouth dimensions (35.3mm side to side); depth of collar 18.8mm; depth of socket approx. 95.0mm; surviving weight main axe 382.4g; surviving combined weight of axe and fragment 391.5g. Dimensions of small fragment: surviving length 37.1mm; surviving width approx. 26.5mm; surviving weight 9.1g. This is a large socketed axe of slender proportions with approximately one-third of the mouth, collar and upper face missing. There is a small collar, upper face and side fragment, which probably broke off the main body of the axe during retrieval from the ground, but which conjoins and fits to the main axe. The axe has near straight but divergent sides, the loop side splaying and flaring differentially near the blade end, to give an unusual assymetric blade profile. The axe has a wide onset collar, with a slight concave curvature, to give a very slight flare of the mouth, but with no pronounced bulbous thickening around the mouth top. A low set loop descends from the underside of the collar. The sides of the axe are angled inwards from the central seams, rather than straight and the sub-angular face edges accentuate narrow faces and a concave flaring form. In cross-section, the axe is hexagonal in shape. The casting seams are visible, but were filed or hammered down. The mouth looks once to have been deep from front to back, to give a sub-square external shape and internal aperture, with rounded corners. The mouth top is thin with no evidence of runner-stubs or runner-scars. The blade is near straight, rather than curved. On the blade bevels there are linear striations running parallel with the blade-edge, indicating that the blade was sharpened for use. On the upper non-loop side, the axe has been damaged with a straight ended tool, which has removed an area of original surface and created a linear impact scar. At the margins, these damaged surfaces are light green, but near the impact mark, bronze metal has been exposed. A second dent and impact mark is evident on the broken face of the axe, which also removed two of the lower ribs. There are light green eroded patches on the blade sides, on one side and around the break edges. Cavities along the break edges and on one upper side suggest that air bubbles got into the axe as it was cast. Original surfaces have a brown patination, while one face has areas of a brown, compacted, soil/bronze concretion deposit still adhering to the surface. The small collar, side and face fragment exhibits a wide onset collar of similar depth and profile to the main axe, with one upper rib and sub-angular face edge showing. The fragment has broken just beneath the mouth, so no original mouth top survives. This fragment has a brown patina over original surfaces, while the break edges are a green to light green colour. This fragment shows a reasonable fit with the main axe, indicating it is part of the same axe. On the main axe, newly exposed bronze metal can be seen where the fragment fits to the main body, providing evidence that the break occurred during recent retrieval of the axe, rather than in antiquity. 7. Probable South Wales type socketed axe Dimensions: surviving length 88.1mm; surviving blade width 44.8mm; width at point below loop 35.7mm; surviving external mouth dimensions - front to back 41.8mm; internal mouth dimensions - front to back 29.5mm; depth of socket approx. 63.0mm; surviving weight 182.9g. This is a socketed axe of slender proportions, missing one-quarter of its mouth, loop and upper loop side. The sides are slightly divergent with slight expansion and recurving at the blade end. The axe has a prominent, somewhat bulbous and narrow mouth moulding with a poorly shaped but rounded mouth top. Descending from the mouth moulding on each face are three, near parallel, poorly aligned and executed ribs, which descend approximately three-quarters of the length of the axe faces. The axe has a rectangular cross-section and face edges are sub-angular but slightly rounded. The axe has a relatively deep front-back mouth, with sub-rectangular external shape and internal aperture with rounded corners. Around the mouth top, there are three rounded and poorly defined projections located at 90 degrees to each other. While the dimensions of these cannot be accurately measured, it indicates the existence of runner stubs, and suggests the axe was cast using a four-runner casting technology. The casting seams down each side are wide and visible, but have been hammered down after casting. The wall thickness in the area of the break is very thin, suggesting imperfections in the alignment of the moulds during casting, resulting in thinning and weaknesses here in the axe. This weakness appears to have led to a break here, whether in antiquity or the more recent past. On the surviving areas of blade bevels, linear striations can be seen running parallel with the blade-edge, indicating this axe was sharpened for use. On one face, recent linear scratches may be seen running between the ribs, suggesting recent damage, perhaps attempts to reveal the colour of the metal beneath. Original surfaces have a brown patination. The lower face surfaces are fragile and showing signs of lamination, revealing eroded sub-surfaces of brown and green colour. On one side, the mouth has been clipped probably during retrieval, revealing bronze metal and light green powdery surfaces. There are further light green powdery patches on the mouth, upper side and along the eroded blade edge. 8. South Wales Variant socketed axe Dimensions: combined surviving length 102.1mm; surviving blade width 51.1mm; width below loop 41.7mm; external mouth dimensions 49.0mm by (38.6mm); internal mouth dimensions - side to side 33.6mm (front to back not measurable); depth of mouth moulding/collar 11.8mm; depth of socket approx. 79.0mm; surviving weight 228.8g. This is a ribbed socketed axe with a flaring blade, which is missing an area of one upper face and one-quarter of its mouth. The blade has also been broken across one corner. The axe has sides with concave curves, flaring outwards evenly towards the blade end. The axe has a deep and flat, but prominent everted mouth moulding / onset collar which is 11.8mm deep, and a relatively low set, but narrow loop, which emerges from the underside of this deep moulding or collar. Descending from the underside of this deep moulding, three near parallel and continuous ribs extend approximately two -thirds to three-quarters of the length of the faces. On one side, the ribs are slightly shorter, but parallel, while on the other, they are longer and curve to converge slightly towards the blade end. The flat-topped mouth has both sub-rectangular external shape and internal aperture and there is no evidence of runner-stubs or -scars around its top. The casting seams have been partially filed or hammered down. The break edges on the upper face of the axe show the wall to be very thin in this area, suggesting a casting flaw, leading to breakage here. As the break edges are fresh, the break appears to have happened recently during retrieval of the axe from the ground. On the blade bevels, linear striations can be seen running parallel with the blade-edge, indicating that the axe was sharpened after casting for use. The break to the blade corner is soil covered, suggesting the break occurred some time ago, rather than during recent retrieval from the ground. The faces of the axe are pitted with small eroded depressions, suggesting differential erosion while in the ground. The original surfaces have a brown patination. The upper break and blade-edge have lighter green eroded surfaces. 9-11. Llanarth type / Southern English B4 ribbed socketed axe Dimensions: combined surviving length approx. 105.9mm; surviving length of large fragment 88.8mm; surviving blade width 42.2mm; width below loop 31.6mm; depth of socket approx. 73.0mm; combined surviving weight 155.4g; surviving weight of large fragment 140.1g. Dimensions of mouth and moulding fragment: surviving length 23.9mm; surviving width 30.7mm; depth of double moulding 15.0mm; surviving weight 12.3g. Dimensions of small moulding fragment: surviving length 25.5mm; surviving width 16.2mm; surviving weight 3.0g. These are three conjoining fragments of a narrow and slender axe, which is missing three-quarters of its mouth, moulding and its loop. The sides are slightly divergent and with concave curves, flaring slightly at the blade end. The axe has a flaring and trumpet-shaped mouth with a concave form, the mouth slightly thickened, but not prominently bulbous or protruding. There is a lower ribbed moulding, however this double mouth moulding does not stand proud of the upper blade, so does not form a clear collar. The partial mouth fragment looks to have been possibly sub-oval in shape, although this cannot be established with certainty from the fragment remaining. No runner stubs or scars are evident on the surviving mouth top. The axe has a rectangular cross-section with angular to sub-angular face edges, although the faces have a slight convex curve to them, giving a slightly rounded face appearance. The casting seams are visible, but have been hammered or filed down. The breaks on all fragments look fresh, including some areas of exposed bronze metal, suggesting the axe was broken when it was removed from the ground and suggesting that fragments of the mouth remain in the find-spot locality. The surviving original surfaces of the axe have a brown patination, while areas along the breaks, around the mouth, on one upper face and along the blade-edge have light green and powdery eroded surfaces. 12. Ribbed socketed axe - small mouth fragment Dimensions: surviving length 19.0mm; surviving width 36.5mm; surviving weight 8.0g. This is a small mouth and upper face and side fragment of a socketed axe, the surviving mouth representing approximately one-quarter of the original complete mouth. The axe has a prominent and bulbous narrow mouth moulding with a rounded mouth top. Descending from this moulding a single rib is visible running down the upper face of the axe. The external shape and internal aperture of the axe appears to be sub-rectangular, with rounded edges. No runner-stubs or runner-scars are visible along the surviving mouth top. The break edges are fresh, suggesting that this axe was broken during its recent retrieval from the ground. As this fragment cannot be joined to any other of the axes, this must represent a ninth socketed axe, further fragments of which probably remain at the find-spot locality. The original surfaces of the axe have a brown patination, while areas of the break edge and upper face have light-green eroded surfaces. Other Finds A Roman bell-shaped stud, a modern socket or cap fragment containing wood remains and a copper lump were all reported with the hoard, but stylistic properties, complimented by metallurgical analysis, means they cannot be deemed associated with the find.

NMGW-AFDAE8: HOARD
Late Bronze Age hoard of two socketed axes and one spearhead. 1. South Wales type socketed axe Dimensions: length (including runner stub) 101.8mm; length (excluding runner stub (99.6mm); blade width 45.3mm; width below loop 39.4mm; external mouth dimensions 49.6 by 47.5mm; internal mouth dimensions 31.0 by 30.3mm; dimensions of runner stubs (1) 8.6 by 3.4mm; height 0.3mm; (2) 9.9 by 3.9mm; height 1.2mm; (3) 8.8 by 4.0mm; height 2.2mm; (4) 8.2 by 4.6mm; height 0.1mm; depth of socket approx. 72.0mm; weight 370.8g. This is a complete socketed axe of slender proportions, however with a blocky rectangular, tending towards square, shaped cross-section. The sides are slightly divergent and near straight, but with a very slight concave curve and there is virtually no expansion at the blade end. The axe has a prominent out-splayed mouth moulding with a narrow loop descending from its underside. Three near parallel ribs descend from the moulding on each face, extending a little over half way down each face. These ribs are prominent, but discontinuous towards the base on one face, suggesting imperfections in flow and casting, or a mould-half which was old when used. The axe has a near square body cross-section with extremely angular and crisp face-edges. The axe has a deep front-back mouth, almost square, and the mouth top is heavy and wide. The external shape and internal aperture of the mouth are virtually sub-square with rounded corners. Four projecting runner-stubs, two very prominent and untrimmed, are present around the mouth, each 90 degrees apart, indicating the use of a four-runner casting technology. The casting seams down each side are sharp and prominent and were never hammered or filed down after casting. The faces of the axe, have very slight and indistinct, rounded and shallow hollows across them and down to near the blade edge, indicating that this axe retained the contours of its mould and was never hammered or worked up for use. On one lower central face, there is a larger circular depression with rougher surfaces. This is not an impact scar and appears to be a minor casting flaw or imperfection in the mould. There are linear striations visible on the non-worked or hammered blade margins, running parallel with the blade edge. This suggests cursory preparation of the axe, which was never used as a tool before it was buried. The original surfaces of the axe have survived exceptionally well and have a brown patination. Small patches of eroded surface are evident on the sides, around the mouth and on the blade edge, and these have a grey-green patina. 2. Yorkshire type socketed axe Dimensions: length 69.6mm; blade width 40.2mm; width below loop 27.8mm; external mouth dimensions 32.6 by 30.7mm; internal mouth dimensions 23.1 by 23.0mm; depth of socket approx. 53.0mm; weight 97.9g. This is a small and complete socketed axe with a flared blade. The sides of the axe are divergent and with concave curved form, expanding more markedly near the blade edge. The axe has a double mouth moulding with a flared trumpet form and thickened mouth top. On each face, three wide-spaced, well-defined and short ribs descend from the lower mouth moulding. The ribs are slightly divergent and extend less than one third of the length of each face. A wide loop emerges from the lower mouth moulding. The axe has a sub-rectangular cross section and the face edges are rounded, while the mouth is deep and square with rounded corners. On the inner mouth is a narrow line of projecting excess metal from the casting, though the edges are rounded, possibly rapidly hammered or filed down. Casting seams are narrow but prominent down each side, with little effort to hammer or file these down. In side view, it is apparent that one mould-half was deeper than the other, as the casting seam is off the centre line. One upper face has a shallow depression across its surface, suggesting a slight imperfection in the shaping of the mould. Along the blade bevels there are surface striations running parallel with the blade edge, while slightly higher up the blade faces are striations running at ninety degrees to the axis of the blade edge. These suggest the axe was prepared for use. Original surfaces are well preserved on this axe, with a brown patination. There are small patches and pits of eroded surface on the lower faces and along the blade edge, which have a green patina. 3. Plain Pegged Spearhead, with lanceolate leaf-shaped blade Dimensions: surviving length 104.3mm; surviving length of blade approx. 87.0mm; surviving maximum blade width 44.6mm; external diameter of socket at break (side to side) 25.8mm; surviving length of socket below blade 14.8mm; distance peg-hole below blade approx. 11.5mm; surviving depth of socket approx.73.0mm; surviving weight 49.9g. A Plain Pegged spearhead with a lanceolate leaf-shaped blade, broken across the socket near the line of the peg-hole. The midrib has a slight rounded ridge along its central length on both faces, giving its cross-section a sub-lozengic shape at the break. The midrib tapers slightly near the lower blade, giving slightly concave edges. The blade edges are eroded and no blade bevels can now be seen. The blade surfaces have many longitudinal striations parallel with the line of the midrib, suggesting the blade was prepared and sharpened in prehistory. Three-quarters of the break edges on the socket are soil covered, suggesting a break in antiquity, however there is also a fresh break on one side where the wall is thinnest, indicating a recent break during retrieval of the artefact from the ground. On each side at the break, the upper sides of the peg-holes are visible, suggesting they once had a diameter of 4-5mm. In side view, the blade is slightly bent, hinting that the spear may either have been damaged in use or forcibly bent and perhaps broken, before burial. On one upper midrib face, there is a corroded hole through the wall into the socket interior, where the midrib wall was particularly thin. Original surfaces have a brown patina. The tip, blade edges and part of the socket break have green corroded surfaces, as does the corroded hole in the upper midrib wall.

NMGW-1C435C: HOARD
Late Bronze Age hoard comprising five socketed axes and one axe fragment. 1. South Wales type socketed axe Dimensions: surviving length 101.5mm; surviving blade width 51.1mm; width below loop 42.9mm; external mouth dimensions 51.0 by 41.9mm; internal mouth dimensions 33.0 by 27.1mm; dimensions of runner stubs 8.6 by 4.5mm; height 1.0mm; (2) 8.2 by 4.9mm; height 0.5mm; (3) 7.5 by 3.7mm; height 0.5mm; (4) 9.0 by 3.5mm; height 0.2mm; depth of socket approx. 83.0mm; surviving weight 278.7g. A near complete socketed axe with a broken loop, of blocky rectangular form, with straight and slightly divergent sides and little expansion and recurving visible towards the blade end. The axe has a prominent but narrow mouth moulding, with a high and narrow loop descending from the underside. Three well-defined and parallel ribs descend from the moulding on each face, extending down approximately three-quarters of the blade. The axe is rectangular in section with angular face edges. The casting seams are visible down each side, but have been hammered or filed down with reasonable care, although the flash within the loop is slightly more prominent and less worked down. The mouth is sub-rectangular in shape and internal aperture. Four runner stubs are evident around the mouth, indicating a four-runner casting technology. The axe has a brown patina and most original surfaces survive. The blade edge is highly damaged, revealing lighter green surfaces. There are small areas of eroded lighter green surfaces along the face edges and around the mouth. 2. South Wales type socketed axe Dimensions: surviving length 101.1mm; surviving blade width 55.4mm; width below loop 40.9mm; external mouth dimensions 51.2mm by 40.6mm; internal mouth dimensions 34.3mm by 28.6mm; dimensions of runner stubs (1) 11.3 by 5.4mm; height 1.5mm; (2) 11.4 by 5.0mm; height 1.0mm; (3) 10.7 by 4.6mm; height 0.5mm; (4) 10.6 by 4.4mm; height 0.5mm; depth of socket approx. 76.0mm; surviving weight 274.7g. This is a complete socketed axe with slightly concave and divergent sides, with significant expansion and recurving at the blade end. The axe has a prominent and slightly bulbous mouth moulding, with a high placed and relatively wide loop descending from its underside. Three well-defined and convergent ribs descend from the moulding on each face, extending down approximately two-thirds of the length of the faces. On one face, the outer rib, furthest from the loop side is more markedly angled and convergent, suggesting an imperfection in the shaping of this mould piece. The axe is rectangular in cross-section with angled face edges. The casting seams down each side are prominent, but have been hammered to remove sharp edges. The mouth is sub-oval in external shape, with a sub-rectangular shaped internal aperture, with rounded corners. Four runner stubs are evident around the mouth, indicating a four-runner casting technology. One upper face has a shallow depressed area, suggesting an irregularity in the shaping of the mould-piece used for casting the axe. Along the blade bevel, the presence of linear surface striations parallel with the axis of the blade indicate that the blade of the axes was prepared and sharpened. The axe has a grey-green patina over most surfaces. On the upper faces, there are patches of black patination, suggesting that the axe may have been deliberately coloured through a patination process, after casting. The blade edge is heavily worn, with light green and fragile powdery surfaces. 3. South Wales Variant type socketed axe Dimensions: surviving length 115.7mm; surviving blade width 55.3mm; width below loop 45.8mm; surviving external mouth dimensions (45.4mm) by 48.1mm; surviving internal mouth dimensions (37.3mm) by 32.7mm; dimensions of runner stubs (1) 7.6 by 3.3mm; height approx. 0.2mm; (2) 7.5 by 3.7mm; height approx. 0.2mm; depth of socket approx. 73.0mm.; surviving weight 376.7g. This is a near complete socketed axe with a damaged mouth. This is a large socketed axe with an angular hexagonal cross-section, with slightly divergent and concave shaped sides. The axe has a prominent but narrow mouth moulding, with a high placed and narrow loop descending from its underside. Three very prominent and wide ribs descend from the moulding on each face and are convergent. Unusually, the central rib is significantly longer than the two lateral ribs, the former extending down three-quarters of the length of the face and the latter only extending half the length of the blade. The face edges are angled and significantly narrower than the sides and the edges have been deliberately raised, giving the overall effect similar to a faceted axe. The axe has a deep front back mouth axis, the mouth being square in external outline and with a sub-rectangular internal aperture, with curved edges. One half of the mouth top has been broken, the break looking fresh in places, suggesting breakage during removal from the ground. Two runner-stubs are visible around the mouth, located at 180 degrees to each other, but there is insufficient of the mouth surviving to tell whether or not there were originally four runners. The sides of the axe are significantly angled, coming to their widest point at the central casting seam. While the join is prominent and angled, there is little excess and it appears that the flashes may have been hammered flat in places. There are linear striations along the blade facets and parallel with the blade edge, indicating that the axe was sharpened for use. Most of the original surfaces have survived and the axe has a grey-green patina. The mouth edges and blade edge are eroded, with light green and fragile powdery surfaces. There are also small patches of eroded lighter green surface on the faces and external loop edge. The casting seams down the sides of the axe are visible, but were hammered or filed down carefully after casting. 4. Class B - Southern English ribbed axe Dimensions: surviving length 72.1mm; surviving blade width 39.3mm; width below loop 30.6mm; external mouth dimensions 34.0mm by 32.9mm; internal mouth dimensions 26.4 by 25.2mm; depth of socket approx. 61.0mm; surviving weight 101.7g. This is a complete small ribbed axe, with divergent and concave shaped sides, expanding towards the blade end. The axe has a flared trumpet shaped mouth, but with no evidence of a collar or collar-moulding. Five parallel ribs descend from the under-side of the flaring mouth, extending for a little under half of the total length of the axe face. The two outer ribs define the face edges of the axe. The axe has a rectangular shaped cross-section and the face edges are sub-angular. The loop is low-set, its upper arm descending some distance below the upper origin of the face ribs. The axe has a deep front back mouth axis, being sub-square in both external shape and internal aperture, with curved edges. No runner-stubs or scars are evident around the mouth. On one blade bevel, the remains of striations running parallel with the blade edge are visible, indicating that the axe was sharpened as preparation for use. One face of the axe has been heavily brushed, probably by the finder after discovery of the axe, as indicated by deep striations and the loss of original surfaces on one face. On the reverse and better preserved face, and on the loop side, patches of black patina are evident, suggesting the axe was deliberately coloured black after casting. The axe has an overall light green patina with fragile and powdery surfaces. The blade edge is heavily eroded and fragile, while the top of the mouth is also lighter green and powdery. 5. Slender faceted axe of Type Meldreth / Class D Dimensions: surviving length 117.2mm; surviving blade width 43.1mm; width below loop 27.1mm; surviving external mouth dimensions 27.1mm (front to back); surviving internal mouth dimensions 23.2mm (front to back); max. collar width 28.5mm; depth of socket approx. 85.0mm.; surviving weight 148.0g. This is a near complete, slender and faceted axe, with damaged mouth, missing loop and broken blade edge. The sides are divergent and with a concave curve, widening at the blade end. The axe has a flared or trumpet-shaped mouth, with a wide collar and a low-set and narrow loop, emerging below the collar. The collar is unusually wide with a convex, evenly curved and wide mid zone moulding defined to either side by evenly curved depressions running parallel with the central moulding. The collar is onset, with a step down to the top of the blade faces, but with a raised, flat-topped and wide moulding (2.5mm) defining the lower collar margin. The facets are narrow and the edges are sub-angular, the axe having a total of eight facets (three on each face and one on each side). The side casting seams are visible, however were hammered or filed, except beneath the loop, where a projecting flash is still visible. Approximately half of the mouth of the axe is missing and the break appears eroded, rather than new. The external outline and internal aperture of the mouth are oval in shape. Running down the upper face on one side, linear striations are evident, running parallel with the long axis of the axe. These appear to have been created in antiquity, since they are within the patinated surface. On the upper blade bevel, there are linear striations running parallel with the original blade edge, indicating the axe blade was sharpened ready for use. Most original surfaces of the axe survive and the artefact has a grey-green patina. The blade edge has mostly been removed through breakage. On one corner, the break looks new, exposing core metal, while much of the length of the broken blade has light green and powdery surfaces. One area of lower blade and side is also eroded with similar light green and powdery surfaces, while the loop breaks and parts of the mouth and mouth breaks are also light green and powdery. Within the socket, there are two projecting lumps of green carbonate concretion, about one third of the way down the inner socket wall. 6. Mouth fragment of slender faceted axe of Type Meldreth / Class D Dimensions: maximum surviving length 41.6mm; collar width 11.0mm; surviving weight 15.9g. This is a small mouth side fragment of a slender faceted axe, with two broken loop stubs evident. The axe had a modestly flaring mouth, with a medium depth onset collar. It is not clear whether the lower collar margin had a projecting collar moulding, or whether the collar was a simple band, with a concave profile and a step margin onto the upper faces. The narrow loop projected from the underside of the collar. Down the side, a casting seam is visible and appears not to have been trimmed or hammered across the collar. On one side, a narrow facet can be seen extending from the collar down the upper face of the axe and it is likely that this axe once had eight facets (three on each face, with one on each side). On the exterior surface, there are patches of black patination on the collar and within the loop and the interior socket surface is markedly blackened. The rest of the exterior surface has a grey-green patina, with small arear of light green and powdery surface visible on the loop stubs, on the mouth top and in places along the breaks.

NMGW-1D36B5: HOARD
Early Bronze Age hoard comprising one flat axe and one axe-chisel. 1. Flat axe - Type Barton Stacey (Class 3D) Dimensions: maximum length 156.0mm; width of butt 34.2mm; blade width 98.1mm; maximum thickness 9.2mm; weight 475.2g. This is a complete flat axe in good condition, with original surfaces surviving over the majority of the axe. The axe is narrow-butted and wide-bladed and has a lenticular profile. The sides of the axe are gently concave, expanding modestly from the butt to the blade end. There is slight triple faceting visible down the sides of the axe, indicating that these were hammered after casting. Hammering of the side facets has led to the face-edges becoming crisp and very slightly raised in places, however this is not deliberate and visible enough to constitute true low hammered flanges. The butt of the axe is curved with a low to medium arch. There is no central stop bevel on the faces of the axe. The broad cutting edge has a shallow blade bevel, approximately 7mm in depth. Striations are evident on the lower face and blade bevel, running parallel with the long-axis of the axe, indicating the blade was prepared for use. There is differential patination evident on the axe, one face being green and the other being dark-grey green. Along one side of the dark-grey green face, there is an elongate strip of mottled surface matching the size and dimensions of the axe-chisel. This provides evidence that the axe and axe-chisel were carefully placed together, one immediately on top of the other. A localised area of black patination extends across half of the blade bevel on the reverse axe face with green patination. On the butt end of the face with green patination, a modern diagonal scrape is also evident, revealing a small area of fresh bronze metal. A second less deep diagonal scratch is also evident on the same face at the lower blade end. This is likely to have occurred during recent removal of the axe from the ground by the finder. In places along the face-edges and blade-edge original surfaces have been lost, revealing grey-green areas of sub-surface. In places along face-edges, there is also localised surface cracking evident on original surfaces, indicating these areas to be fragile and unstable. 2. Axe-chisel (Class 3) Dimensions: maximum length 110.6mm; width of butt 14.8mm; blade width 44.6mm; maximum thickness 6.1mm; weight 84.4g. This is a complete slender axe-chisel in good condition, with original surfaces surviving over the majority of the artefact. The axe-chisel is narrow butted and lenticular in profile. The sides of the axe-chisel are gently concave, expanding modestly from the butt to the blade end. The butt of the axe-chisel is curved with a low arch. There is no central stop bevel on the axe-chisel faces. On the lower face, near the blade edge surface striations are evident, generally aligned parallel with the artefact long axis and suggesting it was prepared for use. The axe-chisel has a mottled and variable coloured patina, ranging from green, grey-green to green-brown. One face has appreciable surface concretions, which are black and brown in colour and this would appear to have been the surface which was laid directly against the flat axe (above). Along one upper side towards the butt end, there is a linear groove or scratch, which has exposed fresh bronze metal and this appears to be recent. There is a circular scar on one upper face, near the face-edge, which appears to have been created by being recently knocked, to remove an area of fragile original surface. Near the butt end and at the blade margins, there are small areas where original surfaces have been lost, revealing grey green areas of powdery sub-surface.

NMGW-DABBEA: ADZE
Middle Bronze Age bronze tool, probably an adze of Acton Park 2 or Taunton Metalworking Industries of Needham's (1996) Period 5 and probably dating to c. 1500 - 1300BC. The axe is near-complete with peripheral damage but is heavily corroded and with a fragmentary butt (with a length of 164mm and a weight of 157.8g). The fractured butt has a rounded point and is thin (6mm wide and 2mm thick) but has suffered some erosion. The sides are moderately straight and divergent to the side protrusions or trunnions (giving the tool a width of 30.5mm). The corroded trunnions are rounded and of oval form (11mm long, 7mm wide and 3.0mm high). Below the trunnions, the sides of the blade are also straight and gently divergent before curving more sharply at the blade edge, although the blade tips are lost (with a surviving blade width of 34.5mm). The surface corrosion has mostly eradicated any casting seams, although there is the suggestion of a fettled seam on one side near the trunnion but no suggestion of a loop. The faces are of differing form, one is flanged, the other is ribbed and of chisel-like form. The flanged face has a median bevel (87mm from the blade where the adze has a thickness of 11.7mm) and short flanges, spanning the bevel (25mm long and 3.6mm high giving a maximum overall depth of 15.6mm). The blade is without any ribs and is flat across both its length and width and with no discernible blade facet. The other face is without flanges and the slightly domed curvature appears to incorporate the trunnions. There is the suggestion of a transverse moulding, running between the trunnions. The face has a prominent midrib, beginning well above the trunnions (35mm from the butt) and continuing along the blade (ending 26mm from the blade edge). The face is convex across its width but flat across its length, with no discernible blade facet. The surface is heavily-corroded and pitted. Remnants of the surface with a dark-green patina is preserved, largely on the septum of the flanged side. The tool is unusual and difficult to closely parallel. The side trunnions and ribbed face can be broadly paralleled with 'Trunnion Tools', while the flanged face is best paralleled with flanged axes, perhaps closer to slender axes of Later Short-Flanged type. The tool may have been hafted with the handle abutting the flanged face and with binding over the ribbed face, rather than within a split handle, in the way flanged axes were secured. The method of hafting may imply the blade would be perpendicular to the axe direction suggesting the tool functioned as an adze. The tool may share similarities in form with 'palstave adzes', as published by Evans (1881, p. 85, gigs 70-1) and with recent examples recorded with PAS from Gisburn, Lancashire , Swithland, Leicestershire , Crosby Ravensworth, Cumbria , Brokenborough, Wiltshire and Tanworth-in-Arden, Warwickshire . It is tempting to see this example as a 'flanged-adze' predecessor of the palstave adze. Trunnion Tools have a long-lived production, spanning the Arreton Tradition at the end of the Early Bronze Age and continue into the Late Bronze Age (c. 1700- 800BC). If the flanged face is referencing and contemporary with axes of Later Short-Flanged type it is possible to suggest a date spanning Later Acton Park or Taunton metalworking, dating to perhaps c. 1500 - 1300BC.

NMGW-DBE3D3: RAPIER
Middle to Late Bronze Age bronze rapier of Group IV and possibly of Type Appleby, variant Lakenheath (as defined by Burgess & Gerloff 1981, p. 74-6) but possibly with a reworked butt and of Penard metalworking Industry The rapier is near-complete, with some damage to the shoulders and butt (with an overall length of 328mm and a weight of 94.3g). The butt end is arched and rounded (with a width of 20.3mm and a thickness of 1.6mm) with two side notches to accommodate rivets beneath (with a depth of 3.5mm and 2.8mm, giving a minimum width of 14.3mm at 10mm beneath the top of the butt). The shoulders are weak and poorly defined, with the butt widening very gradually and linearly to the shoulders (to reach a maximum width of 24.0mm, 27mm beneath the top of the butt, where the blade has a thickness of 4.1mm). The blade has a gentle curve beneath the shoulders to narrow slightly (to a width of 20mm). Below which, the blade is moderately straight and gradually convergent to the before narrowing more sharply at the tip. The blade has a flattened central section (8mm wide at the butt) which gradually narrows to a ridge at the tip. The blade edge is largely preserved and does not appear to have any contemporary nicks or blade edge damage. The upper half of the edge appears slightly wasted, possibly through use or sharpening. There are no sharpening striations now evident on the edge. The surface has a brown to black patina with some sandy encrustation, mostly on the lower half. The blade profile would suggest a Group IV blade, the reduced butt may suggest Type Appleby and the rounded butt and rivet notches, would further refine the type to Variant Lakenheath, although illustrated examples with notches by Burgess and Gerloff (ibid.) are reworked. The poor definition of the shoulders together with the flat mid-section continuing above the notches may also indicate that the butt has been reworked. Very few Group IV rapiers had been recorded from Wales (from the 1981) study but a Type Appleby rapier was recovered from the Maentwrog Hoard (Gwynedd) with two other Group IV rapiers (Type Cutts, Variant Hampton Court and a blade with notched butt) and a basal looped spearhead. Burgess and Gerloff (1981, p 106) note that Group IV blades (without 'archaic' butts do not tend to be associated with Taunton metalwork and appear to start in Early Penard and Wallington, suggesting a date of c. 1300 - 1100BC.

NMGW-F4A584: DAGGER
Early Bronze Age leaf-shaped, short tanged flint dagger of c. 2250 - 2000BC date The dagger is of 'Beaker Type' and is complete and comparatively small (with a length of 113.2mm, a maximum width of 40.2mm and a weight of 41.0g). The butt (with a length of 38mm) is of pointed V-shaped form. The form of the butt was likely to have been determined by a patch of rough cortex running along one edge of the butt and subsequently mirrored on the opposite side. The sides diverge (for a length of 28mm) before rounded notches on both sides (where the dagger has a width of 30.3mm) formed by pressure flaking from both faces. The base of the blade also has a further pair of notches but shallower than the lower notches. Between the notches is a lug (8mm long, 2.7mm high and giving the dagger a width of 39.9mm and a thickness of 9.5mm), the edge of which is noticeably worn and polished through wear. The edge within the notches is blunted but is not as worn as the ends of the lugs. The wear within the notches is likely to have resulted from the binding for hafting, whereas the polished ends of lugs may have resulted from wear from a sheath or possibly from repeated handling. The blade is leaf-shaped (75mm long) with convex sides. The dagger has no discernible plano-convex profile and one of the faces is comparatively flat, presumably the ventral surface of the flake, while the other, dorsal surface is convex across its width. The dagger reaches its maximum thickness (of 9.7mm) near the junction, at the top of the butt. The dagger has been expertly pressure-flaked and is heavily-worked on the edges of both faces and has probably undergone some resharpening. The bifacial working on the faces of the blade is noticeably finer than on the butt. There is also a marked difference between the patination on the blade and on the butt. The blade patination is pale grey and semi-translucent while dark grey on the butt, probably a result of the dagger handle and possibly its decay. The flint is of good quality and glossy with few inclusions and together with the pale grey cortex suggest that the flint is likely to have originated in chalkland deposits. The dagger corresponds to Frieman's (2014) 'Short-Tanged British daggers' and her study lists nearly 400 confirmed and possible flint daggers from Britain and Ireland, with a distribution largely centred around South-Eastern England. The Swansea dagger may be seen as a western outlier to the distribution, together with the four other known examples recorded from Wales. Daggers are generally understood to have been deposited with burials, often of Beaker tradition of the Early Bronze Age although a significant number have been deposited in other contexts, particularly wet contexts and this was likely to be true for the Swansea dagger. It is possible that the dagger's deposition was related to trackways eroding out of peat shelves exposed across Swansea Bay. Of particular interest is a trackway exposed in 2009 at Brynmill, less than 500m from the findspot of the dagger (Sherman 2011, p 9-11) and radiocarbon dated to 2140 - 1930 Cal BC (to 2 sigma; Beata 257022) and therefore broadly contemporary with the dagger. Although the trackway is not orientated towards the findspot of the dagger. Frieman (2014) lists 53 daggers from wet contexts, generally in rivers and bogs in Eastern England and suggests that daggers on the peripheries of the distribution are more likely to have originated from a funerary context, including two of the Welsh daggers. Fine flint daggers can be seen as a significant part of the package related to status and cultural identity within increasingly competitive societies at the end of the 3rd millennium BC. Frieman argues that British flint daggers may be related to a personal or social attempt to connect with ancestral continental Beaker identities, as societies became increasingly regionalised, while also having an important function in reinforcing shared value-systems. The Swansea dagger deposited in a wetland context but also in a coastal 'transitional' location which appears to continue to act as a depositional focus for metalwork later in the Middle and Late Bronze age may be seen as significant and has the potential to contribute to these wider debates.

NMGW-5B950C: SPEARHEAD
Middle to Late Bronze Age socketed spearhead of Acton Park to Ewart Park metalworking phase, c. 1550 – 800BC The cast spearhead is incomplete, missing the base of the socket and the basal parts of both blades (with a surviving length of 103.3mm and a weight, including sediment in the socket of 78.0g). At the break the spearhead is sub-circular sectioned (with a maximum diameter of 16.4mm) and the internal socket is sub-circular to oval (10mm x 11.5mm). The socket is considerably thicker on one side (5.0mm thick compared to 0.8mm) causing a weakness in the socket wall and probably resulting in the break. There is no evidence that the socket has broken through perforations for attachment. The damaged blades are present at the break across the socket (giving a surviving width of 19.5mm). The blades are largely damaged and truncated, surviving on one side (with a length of 51.6mm and a thickness of 1.6mm) and has a moderate convex curve to the tip. The blade edge is evident over short areas but has largely been lost. The socket is conical, gradually narrowing to the tip (where it has a diameter of 3mm). Striations are evident where the surface survives, running along the socket and adjacent blade. The surface is heavily-corroded and pitted with a dark-brown patina and some patches of green corrosion. The fragmentary condition of the spearhead where the diagnostic features have been lost, makes typological identification indeterminate. Socketed spearheads begin in Arreton phase towards the end of The Early Bronze Age and continue to the Ewart Park Phase of the Late Bronze Age. The form of the spearhead probably suggests that it is unlikely to be from the types found in the Arreton phase and is likely to date from Acton Park to Ewart Park, dated to c. 1550 – 800BC.

NMGW-5CA325: PALSTAVE
Early to Middle Bronze Age bronze palstave of Group II, Early Midribbed type, and of Type Chepstow as defined by Schmidt & Burgess (1981, p. 125-7)[1] and of Acton Park metalworking Industry corresponding to Needham’s (1996)[2] Period 4 and probably dated to c. 1600 – 1400BC The palstave is near-complete, with minor damage to the blade edge and some surface loss (with an overall length of 166mm and a weight of 361.8g). The butt (with a width of 22.8mm and a thickness of 3.2mm) is straight and perpendicular to the sides. The sides are straight and slightly widening to a point below the stop (with a width at the stop of 32.4mm, where the stops have a height of 24.5mm) before prominent side mouldings or ‘nicked sides’ (giving a width of 36.5mm). The sides are gently curved along the blade, before flaring out to the blade tips, producing an expanded and rounded blade edge, slightly damaged at the blade tips (with a blade width of 77.1mm and a blade depth of 22mm). The casting seams are barely evident on both sides and have been neatly finished, particularly on the sides of the blade. The flanges rise from the beneath the butt (17mm beneath) and have a gentle curve reaching their apexes above the stop (20mm above where the flanges have a height of 34.6mm and a thickness of 24.4mm at the stop). The septum is near-straight and slightly rounded across its width (33mm long and 18 – 19mm wide). The stops have a slight curve across their widths, are vertical sided (with a stop height of 8.4mm - 8.8mm and are raised above the faces (with a height of 4mm-5mm and a thickness of 5mm). A single rib extends from the stop on each blade face (for a length of 44mm and 49mm). The faces are slightly hollowed each side of the rib to suggest raised blade edges. There is a subtle rounded blade facet evident on both faces (19mm - 20mm from the blade edge). No obvious sharpening striations are discernible on the blade. The surface has begun to laminate at the blade edge and is damaged on one flange, otherwise the surface has a mid to dark-red brown patina. The palstave is of Early Midribbed Type and its broad form with subtle ‘flange extensions’ and prominent nicked sides, all indicate Type Chepstow, which corresponds to Acton Park metalworking and can be dated to c. 1600 – 1400BC. [1] Schmidt, P.K. & Burgess, C. 1981; The Axes of Scotland and Northern Ireland, Praähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung IX, 7. Band 7 [2] Needham, S. 1996; Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age, Acta Archaeologica 67, p. 121-140

NMGW-693B4A: PALSTAVE
Middle Bronze Age bronze palstave of Group III, Low Flanged, Broad Blade form and possibly of Sleaford variant type, as defined by Schmidt & Burgess (1981, p136)[1]. The palstave is near-complete, missing the part of the loop and with peripheral damage and is comparatively small (at 127.6mm and with a weight of 243.0g). The butt is damaged but was likely to have been moderately straight (with a width of 21.6mm and a thickness of 6.3mm). The sides from the butt to the stop are near-parallel, gently convex (with a maximum width of 23.8mm). The loop is damaged and extends either side of the stop (with a length of 25.3mm, an internal length of 7mm, a surviving height of 8.7mm and a width of 7.1mm). The septum is rounded and the stops are comparatively flat across both their depths and lengths (with a width of 17.0mm and where the axe has a thickness of 27.7mm). The flanges have a larger degree of damage on one face (with a surviving maximum depth of 25mm and a maximum height of 10.3mm). The flanges are curved and end before the butt, reaching their maximum height before the stop. The casting seams are clearly discernible on both sides and have been finished by hammering. There is the suggestion of subtle nick or ridge at the top of the blade sides and the sides are curved, diverging more sharply towards the blade edge. There is faceting across the thicknesses of the blade. The blade edge has been lost, which was moderately curved and slightly expanded (with a blade width of 44.4mm). The faces are decorated with a trident motif and the edges of the faces are ridged. The midrib and ridged edges both continue as far as the blade facet, producing two concave panels on the faces. The surface has a dark-green patina with areas of bright green corrosion. The surface has recently been coated in oil. The palstave is suggested as being of Type Sleaford because of the characteristic panels created between the midrib and flange extensions, this example may be seen as a variant because of the trident decoration. Sleaford palstaves are seen as beginning early in the life of broad blade palstaves with an uncertain longevity (ibid.). Broad Blade palstaves are traditionally dated to the Taunton phase of the Middle Bronze Age in Britain, corresponding to Needham's (1996)[2] Period 5, dated to 1500 - 1150BC. [1] Schmidt, P.K. & Burgess, C. 1981; The Axes of Scotland and Northern Ireland, Praähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung IX, 7. Band 7 [2] Needham, S. 1996; Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age , Acta Archaeologica 67, p. 121-140

NMGW-6B14F5: PALSTAVE
Early - Middle Bronze Age Group I palstave of Primary Shield Pattern Palstave form and of Acton Park Type (Schmidt & Burgess, 1981, p 117-125)[1] The palstave is near-complete, with some peripheral damage to the blade, butt and flanges (with a length of 172mm and a weight of 445.3g). The butt (with a width of 21.8mm) is now corroded and of uncertain form. The flanges begin a little before the butt and were comparatively high (now damaged on one face), rising to their maximum height just behind the stop (with a maximum surviving height of 35.5mm). One of the flanges has an indentation, probably the result of a casting flaw. The septum (with a thickness of 7.3mm) is gently concave. The sides are straight and near-parallel, slightly divergent as far as the stop (where the palstave has a width of 25.8mm). The stops are near-straight and flat (with a height above the septum of (12.7mm and 12.2mm). The casting seams are discernible on the sides where the surface survives and have been neatly finished. To the front of the stops, the sides are concave and gradually increase in divergence to the blade. The blade is moderately expanded and the blade tips have been damaged (giving the blade a surviving width of 64.4mm). Both faces are decorated with the characteristic 'shield-pattern' (31mm long) defined by a depression and without a moulding. The faces are flat across their widths and most of the length, before curving to the blade but without a discernible blade facet. The surface has a dark brown patina with areas of dark-green surface loss. The palstave may be seen as significant being of Acton Park type and found 2100m South East from[m1] the eponymous hoard (Savory 1980, no. 262, p 116)[2]. Acton Park palstaves are dated to 'Acton Park 1' with a suggested date in the 16th century BC (Needham 1996, p 133)[3], within Needham's (ibid.) Period 4. [1] Schmidt, P.K. & Burgess, C. 1981; The Axes of Scotland and Northern Ireland, Praähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung IX, 7. Band 7 [2] Savory, H.; 1980; A Guide Catalogue of the Bronze Age Collections; National Museum of Wales [3] Needham, S. 1996; Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age , Acta Archaeologica 67, p. 121-140 [m1]In published report replace with 'near'

NMGW-FBA618: FLAT AXEHEAD
Early Bronze Age bronze blade fragment from a flat axe of uncertain type The axe is represented by a blade fragment, broken across both its length and width (with a surviving length of 49.0mm, a surviving width of 44.8mm, a maximum surviving thickness of 6.2mm and a weight of 51.5g). The unbroken side is straight (for a length of 12mm) and is rounded across its thickness (with a maximum thickness of 4.5mm). The surviving blade tip is rounded and somewhat distorted, after which the surviving part of the blade edge is comparatively straight (42.9mm wide). Neither face has a discernible blade facet. One face is convex over its length, while the other is comparatively flat. All of the breakages occurred in antiquity and the fractures extend around the break. The damage on the axe may be consistent with deliberate damage. The surface has a dark-green patina. The fragmentary nature of the axe makes typological identification difficult. The fragment shows no evidence of developed features and it is possible that the axe belongs to the earlier part of the sequence of tin-bronze axes, possibly of Type Migdale or Type Aylesford (Schmidt & Burgess, 1981)[1]. Axes of this date belong to Metalwork Assemblages III - IV, dated to c. 2200 - 1800BC. [1] Schmidt, P.K. & Burgess, C. 1981; The Axes of Scotland and Northern Ireland, Praähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung IX, 7. Band 7

NMGW-FC4B96: PALSTAVE
Bronze Age bronze butt fragment from an axe of uncertain type but of Developed Axe or Palstave form The axe is represented by a butt fragment only, broken at one end (with a surviving length of 23.7mm and a weight of 18.4g). The butt end is rounded and thins to an edge (with a width of 20.5mm and a thickness of 0.8mm). The sides are straight and slightly divergent to the break (with a maximum width of 24.1mm and a thickness of 7.5mm). The sides are convex across their thicknesses with no surviving evidence of the casting seams. The flanges begin at the butt and are slightly convex along the short length to the break (giving the axe a maximum surviving depth of 11.0mm with a height above the septum of 2.0mm). There is an angled step on the break which may possibly suggest a cut. The surface has a dark-green brown patina with some pitting and areas of bright green corrosion. The fragmentary nature of the axe makes typological identification difficult. The butt form would be consistent with Developed flat axes, From Type Aylesford (Schmidt & Burgess, 1981)[1] from the Early Bronze Age through to Late Palstaves, of Ewart Park Metalworking in the Late Bronze Age. [1] Schmidt, P.K. & Burgess, C. 1981; The Axes of Scotland and Northern Ireland, Praähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung IX, 7. Band 7

NMGW-FE5523: BLADE
Bronze Age sword blade fragment of uncertain type, probably of Late Bronze Age date, possibly of Wilburton or Ewart Park metalworking Industry of Needham's (1996)[1] Periods 4-5, dated to c. 1150 - 750BC. The sword is fragmentary, represented by a blade fragment, broken at both ends in antiquity (with a surviving length of 22.3mm and a weight of 16.7g). The blade has a midrib (11mm wide and giving a maximum thickness of 8.0mm), flanked on each side by a concave section to the blade edge. The blade edges have been lost but the beginnings of the blade edge facets are evident on both sides (giving the blade a maximum surviving width of 30.0mm). The short blade fragment is flat across its length with no evidence of bending prior to breaking but there are battering scars on the midrib on both faces. The surface has a dark brown patina, preserved over much of the fragment with areas of bright green corrosion The fragmentary nature of the blade, lacking diagnostic features makes typological identification difficult. Although swords have origins in the later part of the Middle Bronze Age of Taunton and Penard Metalworking Industries, occurrences of the types are comparatively unusual and leaf-shaped swords of Late Bronze Age date tend to be more commonly recovered. [1] Needham, S. 1996; Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age , Acta Archaeologica 67, p. 121-140

NMGW-0D2364: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Late Bronze Age socketed axe fragment of uncertain type The axe fragment is a mouth fragment, probably from the unlooped side (with a surviving length of 35.4mm, a surviving width of 28.6mm, a surviving depth of 9.0mm and a weight of 19.0g). The top of the mouth (with a thickness of 5.4mm - 6.0mm) is corroded but a raised area is likely to represent the casting runner stub. The casting seam is evident running down the middle part of the side, from the runner stub and appears to have been prominent, possibly with minimal finishing. There is a weak collar discernible on the side (with a length of 16mm). Above the break, the casting seam is slightly raised and it is possible that it represents the remains of the top of a loop, although it would have been placed comparatively low in relation to the collar. The side fragment is near-straight, slightly concave. The interior of the axe is straight along its length and is curving to the faces on both ends (giving an internal width of approximately 20mm). The surface is heavily-corroded with a mid-brown patina. The fragmentary nature and lack of diagnostic features makes typological identification difficult. Socketed axes generally date from the Wilburton and Ewart Park phases of the Late Bronze Age (c. 1150 BC - 750BC) but may also be of the Llyn Fawr phase (c. 800 - 650BC).

NMGW-0F0ECA: CASTING WASTE
Copper alloy single-runner casting jet of uncertain date The casting jet comprises the reservoir and a single runner (with a height of 29.8mm and a weight of 20.9g). The reservoir is sub-oval (27.1mm x 21.8mm and 10.9mm deep). The top surface of the jet is as-cast, with a prominent bubble void at the side, near one end and the sides are smooth from the interior of the gate. The runner is of oval section, narrowing slightly towards the break (4.7mm x 3.7mm at the break, with a length of 16.4mm). The top part of the runner is more irregular, possibly suggesting a clay gate was employed. The casting jet has few diagnostic attributes and could date from the Middle Bronze Age onwards.

NMGW-7B0ADE: FLAT AXEHEAD
Early Bronze Age bronze Flat Axe, possibly of Type Migdale (Schmidt & Burgess, 1981, p 35-44)[1], of Metalworking Assemblage III, corresponding to Needham's (1996)[2] Period 2 -3 and probably dating to c. 2,200 - 1,900BC. The axe is incomplete, missing the butt and with peripheral damage (with a surviving length of 103.3mm and a weight of 264.2g). The break at the butt occurred in antiquity and there is the suggestion of bending towards one of the faces, prior to breaking. The axe is of rectangular section at the break (with a width of 26.4mm and a thickness of 8.3mm), which is flat and at a slight angle to the sides. The sides curve gently towards the blade for most of the length before curving more sharply at the blade. The blade tips are eroded (giving the blade a width of 60.8mm) and the blade edge is comparatively straight, now appearing to be angled although the original blade edge does not survive. The axe has a consistent rectangular section with no surviving evidence for developed features. Both faces are gently convex across their lengths before thinning at the blade. Analysis to ascertain the elemental composition of the axe and was carried out[3] using a CamScan MaXim 2040 analytical scanning electron microscope (SEM), with an Oxford Instruments Inca energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX). The results show the metal composition is a tin-bronze alloy (with mean readings of copper: 87.08% and tin: 12.27%), with a significant trace of antimony (with a mean reading of 1.25%) and nickel (with a mean reading of 0.24%), but no arsenic. The lack of arsenic as an impurity makes the alloy difficult to fit into Northover's (1980, p 229-243 )[4] Early Bronze Age metal groups but the comparatively high levels of Nickel may suggest that the alloy is closer to his 'G' metal. The highly-corroded and incomplete state of the axe makes typological identification difficult. However, the lack of any surviving developed features and the simple, curved-sided form to the axe are suggestive of Type Migdale dating to c. 2,200 - 1,900BC. [1] Schmidt, P.K. & Burgess, C. 1981; The Axes of Scotland and Northern Ireland, Praähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung IX, 7. Band 7 [2] Needham, S. 1996; Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age , Acta Archaeologica 67, p. 121-140 [3] By Mary Davis; Senior Conservator, Amgueddfa Cymru [4] Northover, J.P.; 1980; The Analysis Of Welsh Bronze Age Metalwork; Appendix in H.N. Savory, A Guide Collection of the Bronze Age Collections; National Museum of Wales

NMGW-901FF1: FLAT AXEHEAD
Early Bronze Age Developed flat axe, probably of Type Bandon, as defined Schmidt & Burgess (1981, pp 65-7)[1] and dating to c. 1,900 - 1,700BC The axe is near-complete with some peripheral damage (with a surviving length of 101.3mm and a weight of 128.4g). The butt is now rounded (with a width of 20.6mm). The sides are straight and near-parallel as far as the median bevel (where the axe has a width of 23.9mm), after which the axe sides are concave and sharply divergent to the eroded blade tips. The blade was originally likely to have been comparatively widely expanded (with a maximum surviving blade width of 50.7mm) The sides are heavily corroded and are convex across their thicknesses'. The flanges survive on both faces (with a surviving height of 1mm). There is a clear straight medial bevel (giving the axe a maximum thickness of 9.7mm, without the flanges and 11.8mm with), surviving on one of the faces (positioned 38.5mm from the butt, 62mm from the blade). The blade face is corroded but appears to have had a facet corresponding to the position where the sides expanded sharply (20mm from the blade edge). The original blade edge is lost but some surface survives on the blade, preserving sharpening striations running along the blade. The surface has a dark-green to brown patina with no trace of applied decoration. The peripheral damage to the axe makes typological identification uncertain. The clear median bevel, straight sides behind the bevel and expanded blade edge suggest comparatively 'Developed' features on the axe, suggesting Type Bandon (following Schmidt and Burgess 1981) or a probable Class 4 (following Needham 1983; forthcoming), dating to Periods 3-4 of the Early Bronze Age (c.1950-1500 BC) (Needham 1996). Class 4 axes straddle the boundary between Periods 2 and 3, but this axe can be confidently assigned to Period 3, probably falling within the late Aylesford to Willerby metalworking phases (c.1950-1750 BC) (Needham et al. 1997). [1]Schmidt, P.K. & Burgess, C. 1981; The Axes of Scotland and Northern Ireland, Prähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung IX, 7. Band 7 [2]Needham, S. 1996; Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age , Acta Archaeologica 67.

NMGW-1BA516: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Late Bronze Age socketed axe of South Wales (Stogursey) Type and of Ewart Park Metalworking Industry of Needham's (1997) Period 7, dated to c. 950 - 750BC The socketed axe is complete (with a length of 100.6mm and a weight of 277.1g). The top of the mouth is flat (with external dimensions of 54.5mm x 41.7mm and internal dimensions of 33.6mm x 27.8mm) and the remnants of the four casting stubs are evident, positioned near the inner edge of the mouth. The socket is sub-rectangular and appears to retain some sediment (at a depth of 66mm). Beneath the mouth the collar is short (7mm - 8mm) and bevelled to the faces, somewhat rounded in areas. The arched loop (37mm long 12mm high externally and 16.9mm x 6.5mm internally) springs from the base of the collar moulding and is of D-shaped section (5mm wide and 4mm thick). The sides are near-straight, very gently concave (with a minimum body width of 41.7mm) before diverging a little more sharply at the blade. The casting seam is evident on both faces and is now corroded but was raised and carefully finished. The sides are bevelled towards the seam, producing a sub-hexagonal body profile. The blade edge has a slight expansion (with a blade width of 48.0mm) and is moderately rounded. Both faces are straight along their lengths before a subtle but discernible blade facet (27mm from the blade edge) and have a slight convexity across their widths. Both faces are decorated with three ribs, which are near-parallel on one face but convergent on the other. The ribs (52mm - 61mm long) descend from the collar moulding and end before the blade facet. Much of the surface has been lost on the blade but a fragment of original surface survives showing sharpening striations running along the blade. The surface has a variable patina of pale to dark-green with peripheral surface loss and active pale-green corrosion.

NMGW-320611: KNIFE
Bronze Age bronze double-edged tanged and riveted knife of Middle to Late Bronze Age date The cast knife blade is fragmentary by the tang and top of the blade (with a surviving length of 85.0mm and weight of 14.2g). The tang (48mm long) is narrowest and thinnest at the butt (10.6mm wide and 0.9mm thick) which has a slight indent at the centre. Below the butt is a sub-circular perforation (4.0mm – 4.3mm diameter positioned 5.3mm below the butt). The sides of the tang are straight and gently divergent towards the top of the blade (reaching a width and thickness of 14.9mm and 2.8mm respectively). Both tang faces are convex across their widths, producing a sub-rectangular section. The knife widens to the blade at the shoulders, where the knife has a maximum width (of 18.8mm), below which it narrows (for 20mm) before the blade edges appear to have been near-parallel sided (with a minimum width at the break of 8.9mm and a thickness of 1.5mm). The blade has a mid-ridge at the break, producing a lozengic section. Towards the top of the blade, the mid-ridge bifurcates to form a triangular panel, corresponding with the widening of the blade edge to the shoulders. The blade edge is damaged but blade facets are partially preserved on both sides. There is no clear evidence for blade damage that is contemporary with the use of the blade. The blade and tang now have a gentle bend across their length. The surface has numerous linear striations beneath the patina, running across both tang faces (at an angle of 20° – 40° to the vertical axis of the tang) resulting from coarse finishing. The blade have coarse, irregular striations running along the top of the blade and the suggestion of finer striations running off the blade edges. There is a possible punched mark at the top of the mid-ridge and a corresponding dent at the same position on the opposite face, suggesting that the blade was punched while resting on edge. The surface has a dark-green to black patina with a white deposit on the tang, concentrated around the perforation. Tanged and riveted knives are recovered in a variety of forms from the Middle Bronze Age onwards, though western British examples are not common. Studies (Pearce (1983), Knight et al. (2015) and Rowlands (1976, Pl.35)) illustrates two shouldered tanged knives with single rivet holes from Southern Britain, one from the River Thames, Berkshire, and another from Horningsea, Cambridgeshire. Rowlands considers tanged and riveted knives as belonging to the later Middle Bronze Age (Penard phase c.1275-1150BC). Comparable examples have been closely linked with Late Bronze Age material. Examples are present in the Grays Thurrock hoard, Essex (Turner 2010, No.02/134), and the Reach Fen hoard, Cambridgeshire (Smith 1956, GB.17 3(3) No.43), both of which are part of the Carp's Tongue complex in the Ewart Park phase (1000-800BC). In Wales a tanged knife, without a perforation was recovered in the Rossett Hoard, in association with a socketed axe and gold bracelet fragments.

NMGW-32BB69: CASTING WASTE
Copper alloy casting jet probably of Middle to Late Bronze Age date The casting jet is of two-runner type and is likely to be complete, after removing from the tool or weapon (with an overall length of 36.0mm and a weight of 91.4g). The upper face of the jet is sub-oval (37.8mm x 23.9mm) and has an undulating surface, as cast. The sides of the jet are divergent (to 12mm below the surface) before becoming more parallel sided (15.4mm thick). One of the runners is significantly larger than the other (18mm x 12mm compared to 9mm x 5mm) but both are similar lengths before being cut (14mm long). The surface is corroded with a pale-green corrosion. The two-runner jet is comparatively substantial, perhaps suggesting its use in casting a larger object, perhaps an axe or sword.

Middle to Late Bronze Age bronze palstave fragment of indeterminate type The cast looped palstave fragment has lost the blade, butt and loop and is represented by the stop fragment (with a surviving length of 46.6mm and a weight of 106.4g). The sides of the palstave are straight for their short lengths, either side of the breaks. The butt end is sub-rectangular sectioned at the break (17.8mm x 12.2mm), slightly concave across the width of the septum and has lost the flanges. One side has a prominent raised stub (giving a maximum surviving width of 26.4mm) from the remains of the loop. The stops are truncated slightly (with a height above the septum of 5 -6mm and a thickness of 24.0mm) and are straight and vertical. The top of the stops are bevelled to the blade, which is of sub-rectangular section at the break (20.9mm x 15.4mm), with convex faces, across their widths. There is the suggestion of ribs at the top of the blade faces but now lost to corrosion. Both breaks occurred in antiquity and the position of the breaks may suggest deliberate damage to the palstave. The surface is worn and corroded with a dark-green patina and areas of pale-green corrosion. The fragmentary state of the palstave makes typological identification indeterminate but the slender form with a loop would suggest Low Flanged. Transitional or Late Palstaves of Taunton, Penard, Wilburton-Wallington or Ewart Park metalworking, dated to c. 1400 – 750BC.

NMGW-449E7D: AXEHEAD
Blade fragment from a Bronze Age axehead of uncertain type, probably of Early Bronze Age date, c. 2000 – 1500BC The cast axehead is fragmentary, represented by the blade and is comparatively small (with a surviving length of 32.3mm and a weight of 18.2g).The body is rectangular-sectioned at the break (with a width of 17.8mm and a thickness of 5.1mm) and the sides are straight and moderately divergent, before diverging more sharply to the expanded blade edge, now worn (with a blade width of 26.6mm). The sides are heavily-corroded and pitted but there is the suggestion of a casting seam evident on both sides. The faces are largely flat, before converging to the blade edge with a discernible blade facet (7mm from the blade edge). There is a slight bend across the length of the blade, suggesting the axe was bent prior to breaking. The corroded and pitted surface has a dark-green patina with areas of bright-green surface loss. The small and corroded blade fragment is difficult to identify in relation to typological features. The form is perhaps best paralleled with Early Bronze Age flat axes or Developed axe types and the narrow straight sided form and with a blade facet is suggestive of Developed types. The diminutive size may suggest an ‘axe-chisel’. Flat and Developed axe types are associated with Metalworking Assemblages II – VI, corresponding with Needham’s (1996)[1] later Period 2 –to Period 4 but Developed types are of Periods 3-4, c. 2000 – 1500BC [1] Needham, S. 1996; Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age, Acta Archaeologica 67, p. 121-140

NMGW-44E6F1: SPEARHEAD
Copper alloy socketed fitting of uncertain function and date, possibly Bronze Age The fitting is cast and is fragmentary broken in antiquity at one end (with a surviving length of 39.5mm and a weight of 38.6g). The mouth is irregular and sub-circular (with an internal diameter of 15mm – 18mm and a maximum thickness of 3.2mm) before a bulbous collar (with a maximum diameter of 26.3mm). The fitting gradually narrows before being near-parallel sided, gently convergent to the break (with a diameter of 16mm – 177mm). Immediately beneath the break are integral lugs now truncated (8mm -9mm long, 4mm thick with a surviving height of 2.3mm). The lugs had a circular perforation, suggesting both may have been loops. The surface is heavily-corroded and pitted with a dark, olive-green patina and areas of pale-green surface loss. Where the surface survives, beneath the loops, there are irregular striations from finishing. The identification and date of the object is uncertain. The looped lugs on opposite sides of a socket is similar to socketed spearheads of Early to Middle Bronze Age date, of Davis’ (2012) Group 2 – 7 of Arreton, Acton Park and Taunton Metalworking, corresponding with Needham’s (1996)[1] Periods 4 -5, and dated to c. 1700 – 1200BC. However a bulbous mouth on a socketed spearhead would be very unusual and is difficult to parallel. Additionally, the narrow looped lugs with thin circular perforations would by unusual. [1] Needham, S. 1996; Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age, Acta Archaeologica 67, p. 121-140

NMGW-455AE4: DIRK
Butt fragment from a Bronze Age blade, possibly a rapier or dirk, and possibly dating to c. 1600 – 1300BC The blade is fragmentary, represented by the incomplete butt and top of the blade (with a surviving length of 61.5mm and a weight of 40.0g). The butt is of irregular trapezoidal form and is thinnest at the end (with a maximum width of 45.6mm and a minimum thickness of 2.3mm). There are no obvious rivet holes surviving on the butt although a slight recess near the centre of the top edge may possibly be the remnants of a rivet hole. A central ridge is evident just before the end of the butt and develops as a prominent mid-ridge on the top of the blade. The butt is asymmetric, with three edges on one side and two on the other, although the maximum width of the butt from the central ridge is consistent on both sides. The butt both narrows and thickens to the top of the blade (with a width of 31mm and a thickness of 4.9mm). The blade narrows further towards the break (to 24.0mm wide and 5.2mm thick). The prominent mid-ridge along the blade creates a lozengic blade section. The blade edges have been lost on both sides. There are a number of striations running at different angles off the edges of the butt that appear to be preserved beneath the patina and are discernible on both faces. The surface has a dark-brown patina with areas of grey-green surface loss and bright-green corrosion. The fragmentary state of the blade and loss of diagnostic features makes identification difficult. The trapezoidal butt form and prominent mid-ridge on the blade may tentatively suggest a Group II – III blade but the lack of rivet holes further complicates any identification. The butt is comparatively substantial, possibly suggesting a larger weapon, perhaps a Group III rapier ‘with damaged butt’. If the suggestion of a Group II – III blade is correct, then the weapon is likely to relate to Acton Park to Taunton metalworking, dating to c. 1600 – 1300BC.

NMGW-457F5C: FLAT AXEHEAD
Early Bronze Age bronze flat axe of uncertain type, probably an axe-blank perhaps related to Type Migdale, c. 2,100 -1900BC The cast flat axe is incomplete somewhat truncated and with considerable peripheral damage (with a maximum surviving length of 141.3mm and a weight of 356.0g) and has no developed features, comprising a sub-triangular bronze slab. The damaged butt is narrow and arched (with a width of 20mm and a thickness of 5.2mm). The sides are somewhat damaged but appear to be near-straight and divergent or gently concave, before widening more sharply near the blade (with a surviving blade edge width of 64.2mm and a thickness of 6.1mm) but not expanded. The straight blade does not have an edge and it is unclear whether the edge is truncated or was unworked. Both faces are flat (10.6mm 50mm from the blade end), although one face more so and suggests it was in contact with the mould during casting. The original surface has been lost and the surface is heavily-pitted and has a bright-green and light-brown corrosion. Damage at the sides (54mm) from the butt exposes a lamination running along the axe and evident from both sides and probably the result of the casting process. The axe has few diagnostic or developed features and has lost most of the edges, making any identification uncertain. The ‘as-cast’ face suggests that the axe is unworked and therefore may be interpreted as an axe blank. The general form with narrow butt and broad blade is perhaps closer to Migdale axe forms and suggests a contemporary date Visual analysis suggests the metal is a bronze, rather than copper but it has not been possible to scientifically test the alloy. If possible, analysis later may provide further evidence for the date of the axe.

NMGW-45CE91: PALSTAVE
Bronze Age bronze palstave of Group I, Primary Shield Pattern type as defined by Schmidt & Burgess (1981)[1] and of Acton Park 1 metalworking Industry corresponding to Needham’s (1996)[2] Period 4 and probably dated to c. 1600 – 1450BC The palstave is near-complete, missing the top of the flanges and with some surface damage (with an overall length of 157mm and a weight of 316.0g). The butt (with a width of 24.0mm and a thickness of 5.0mm) is straight and is slightly angled. The sides are straight and near-parallel to a point below the stop (with a width at the stop of 26.2mm, where the axe has a depth of 31.6mm). Below the stop (13mm below) both sides have a transverse rib or nicked-sides. The sides are moderately divergent beneath the nicks, producing a comparatively narrow and unexpanded blade edge (with a blade width of 52.0mm). The casting seams are evident on both sides but have been neatly finished. The flanges rise from the butt and have a straight top edge, the tops are now truncated but probably reached their maximum heights above the stop (16mm above the stop and with a maximum surviving height of 29.7mm). The septum is flat and is near-perpendicular to the flanges and stops (with heights of 11.4mm and 12.9mm). The stops have a slight curve across their width and are very slightly under-cut. The stops are also raised above the faces (with a height of 8.6mm and a thickness of 4.0mm - 6.8mm). The flanges extend onto the faces (for 20mm), before converging together as a shield moulding, enclosing a shallow depression. Both faces also have a midrib beginning below the stop and forming a trident decoration with the shield. The faces have a sub-rectangular section but slightly convex and with a midrib. There is no obvious blade facet on the unexpanded edge. The surface has a dark-brown patina, which has laminated to a mid-brown surface above a green-brown surface. This palstave does not closely correspond with the two subtypes proposed by Schmidt and Burgess (1981) but is closer to their Type Acton Park but is considerably smaller than most palstaves of the type and also has a trident decoration, rather than a shield. [1] Schmidt, P.K. & Burgess, C. 1981; The Axes of Scotland and Northern Ireland, Praähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung IX, 7. Band 7 [2] Needham, S. 1996; Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age, Acta Archaeologica 67, p. 121-140

NMGW-481C47: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Late Bronze Age socketed axe of South Wales (Stogursey) Type and of Ewart Park metalworking industry dated to c. 950 – 750BC The cast socketed axe is incomplete and damaged, missing the blade, an area of the mouth and is also perforation through one face (with a surviving length of 66.0 and a weight of 151.9g). The incomplete mouth is sub-rectangular to oval (48.5mm x 34.4mm (surviving)) and similarly the top of the socket is sub-rectangular (32.0mm x 26mm (incomplete)). The top of the mouth is moderately flat and has the suggestion of two, possibly three of the casting runner stubs, now corroded and worn. The mouth moulding is ‘lip-like’ and is short (5mm) and rounded. The loop springs from the base of the moulding (26mm long, 11.2mm high, 6.5mm wide) and is complete, enclosing a rounded D-shaped aperture (8.5mm x 6.1mm) with low casting flashes evident on the interior. The sides are near-straight for their surviving lengths, narrowing beneath the mouth before beginning to widen towards the missing blade, above the break (where the axe has a width of 40.0mm and depth of 13mm). The casting flashes are evident on both sides but are finished and rounded. The axe has broken above the socket base, leaving a slender oval aperture (24.0mm x 5.8mm) at the base. The sides of the axe are gently convex across the widths, giving the axe a near rectangular body section. The faces are straight and gradually convergent for the surviving lengths. Both faces are decorated with three parallel ribs and there is the suggestion that the face sides have also been enhanced to suggest ribs. Both faces were damaged during antiquity. A pointed implement has been used to punch through the upper part of one face and the missing part of the opposite face is likely to be a result of the same action. Additionally, it seems likely that the blade has been removed. The surface is heavily-worn and corroded with a mid-green patina and may have been heat-affected, as evidenced by the coarse and crystalline-like surface condition. There is the suggestion of a black patina, partially preserved, possibly tenorite. The damage on the axe appears to be deliberate, suggesting deliberate destructive treatment of the axe prior to deposition. Blade removal of the axe is unlikely to have occurred during normal use and experimental archaeology has indicated that an axe has to be heated to a high temperature to remove the blade, possibly resulting in the suggested heat-affected surface. The axe is of clear South Wales type but also has minor variations to the typical form, specifically the lipped mouth moulding, the suggestion of ribbed edges to the face and a more rectangular, rather than hexagonal body section.

NMGW-495E64: DIRK
Middle to Late Bronze Age bronze dirk with a Group IV blade of uncertain sub-type and of Penard metalworking industry dated to c. 1350 – 1000BC The dirk is incomplete missing the tip and with peripheral damage and is fragmentary, now in three fragments (with a combined surviving length of 186mm and a weight of 70.7g) in addition to the separate bronze rivet. The top edge of the butt is straight and has broken around one of the rivet holes (with a surviving width of 23.6mm and a thickness of 2.0mm). The surviving rivet hole is countersunk and circular (with a diameter of 5.7mm and a minimum distance between the rivet holes of 20.9mm) and an arc of approximately one-third from the damaged perforation is evident. The shoulders of the butt are eroded and damaged, now of uncertain form, one side is near-vertical and moderately straight, the other has the suggestion of widening before narrowing to the blade (with a maximum surviving width of 48.8mm where the butt has a thickness of 2.6mm), perhaps suggesting a butt of trapezoidal form. The top of the flattened midrib is evident at the base of butt, widest at its apex (at 34mm). The top of the midrib corresponds with a possible hilt mark, which appears straight and horizontal. There is also a straight horizontal mark on the opposite face but higher on the butt (14mm below the top edge, as opposed to 27mm). Both blade edges have been lost to erosion making the original form of the dirk uncertain. The flattened midrib is discernible along all of the surviving length and is widest at the top of the blade with straight convergent sides, becoming a narrow rib above the tip. The dirk reaches its maximum thickness (of 4.8mm) at its approximate mid-point, near the upper part of the central fragment. There is no decoration on the dirk. Striations are evident on the surface; there are deep vertical striations at the top of the butt, probably preserved from the finishing. Less prominent striations are evident running along the blade edge from sharpening. The surface has a dark-brown patina, with bright-green corrosion on damaged areas. The rivet is near-ncomplete (with a length of 14.4mm and a weight of 1.7g), missing one end and has a slight bend. The surviving head is of sub-oval form (7.2mm x 6.3mm) and the shaft is of near-square section (4mm square) but with faceted corners. The surface has a dark-green patina The erosion to the edges of the butt and blade makes typological identification uncertain, however the straight top edge of the butt, the two rivet holes, perhaps notched and the flattened mid-rib on the blade may suggest a Group IV blade, as defined by Burgess and Gerloff (1981, p. 62-112)[1]. The suggestion of a trapezoidal butt form, may suggest the butt was of ‘Archaic type’. Group IV blades are of Penard metalworking industry dated to c. 1350 – 1000BC [1] Burgess C.B. & Gerloff S., 1981; The Dirks and Rapiers of Great Britain and Ireland, Praähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung IV. Band 7.

NMGW-49B5F1: SWORD
Bronze Age blade, from a sword or rapier of Middle to Late Bronze Age date, c. 1300 – 700BC The blade is incomplete and fragmentary, now in three conjoining fragments (with a combined surviving length of 418mm and weights of 146.7g, 130.3g and 15.0g (292g combined)). The upper fragment has broken through a central rivet hole (of 3.6mm diameter, now 7mm from the damaged hilt top). The blade is thickest (at 10.0mm) across its hilt and appears to have been of rounded, sub-rectangular section. The hilt has lost both sides and therefore the ricasso and beginning of the blade are not evident. On one face there is a clear change of patination from a green-brown dull patina to a dark-brown ‘glossy’ patina. The difference is straight with an apparent step towards the blade edge and may represent a hilt mark. The variable patina is not evident on the other face. The blade is of lenticular section, with a rounded midsection but with a clear blade facet, where it survives on one short section (20mm long, 144mm below the top, where the blade has a width of 27mm and a thickness of 8.6mm). The blade form cannot be determined because of the loss of the blade edges on both sides but there is the impression that the sword narrows before widening again and perhaps, tentatively suggesting a leaf-shaped blade profile. The blade appears to be narrowing towards the lower section and may have been approaching the tip. Despite the considerable peripheral damage to the blade, much of the surface is well-preserved with sharpening striations evident, mostly running along the blade but also diagonally off the blade. There are no grooves evident along the blade. The hilt has deeper short grooves below the patina. The surface has a dark-brown patina with areas of brown surface loss and powdery, pale-green corrosion. The extensive peripheral erosion has removed nearly all the diagnostic features, making typological identification difficult. The comparatively substantial and thick blade would suggest a sword rather than a rapier. Additionally, the surviving rivet hole would further suggest a sword, the earliest sword types which have central rivet holes through the hilt are of Balintober Type, of Middle Bronze Age date and Penard metalworking, c. 1300 – 1150BC but the hilt arrangement continues through the Late Bronze Age, of Wilburton and Ewart Park metalworking, and is also present on Gündligen Swords of Earliest Iron Age date and Llyn Fawr metalworking (c. 800 – 600BC). The majority of swords recovered in both Wales and Britain are of Ewart Park Type (c. 950 – 800BC) and the surviving features are consistent with the type. The extent of the erosion and damage may suggest that the sword was complete when deposited.

NMGW-ED411B: CASTING WASTE
Three pieces of copper alloy casting debris found together of uncertain date The casting waste comprises a casting jet and two pieces of dross. The casting jet is of conical form (with a maximum diameter of 26.0mm, a length of 14.0mm and a weight of 28.5g) The underside of the jet has three runner stubs, now truncated but appear comparatively slender (with a diameter of 4mm). The upper surface is concave and undulating. The dross is irregular (weighing 19.1g and 16.0g) and one of the pieces is wedge-shaped and may be a fragment but has lost all the original surface. The surface has corroded pale-green with a dark-green patina surviving. The casting waste of undetermined age, possibly Bronze Age but may be more recent

NMGW-5DE788: SPEARHEAD
Bronze Age spearhead, probably of Late Bronze Age date The spearhead is fragmentary, represented by the top end but with the tip missing and has broken in antiquity (with a surviving length of 55.5mm and a weight of 42.3g). The spearhead has broken through the central circular socket (with an internal diameter of 11.1mm and a surviving depth of 19.6mm). The position of the socket is marked by a prominent, rounded midrib (with a width of 11mm, a height of 3mm and giving a maximum surrounding overall depth of 12.0mm). The midrib gradually narrows as it approaches the tip (with a width of 7mm at the break) but retains its height. The blade edges are lost but the surviving edges suggest they may have been straight and gradually convergent to the tip, producing a triangular form to the upper part of the spearhead. If the straight blade edge continued to the tip, some 49mm of the tip have been lost. The spear is solid at the upper break (with socket terminating 33mm below the break and with a width of 18mm and a thickness of 8.6mm). The blade edges had prominent facets, preserved over much of the blade. There is the suggestion of sharpening striations running along the blade, partially preserved on both faces. The surface is has a dark-green patina, possibly with tin surface enrichment in areas. The fragmentary condition of the spearhead makes typological identification difficult but the form is consistent with spearheads of Middle and Late Bronze Age date, c. 1500 – 700BC.

NMGW-C26E90: CHISEL
Middle to Late Bronze Age bronze tanged chisel, known as a trunnion tool, probably dating from 1500BC to 800BC The trunnion tool is near-complete, heavily corroded with peripheral erosion (with a length of 164mm and a weight of 119.4g). The butt is narrow, thin and rounded (with a width of 9mm and a thickness of 3.9mm). The sides are straight and gradually divergent to the two trunnions. The chisel is thickest at the position of the trunnions (63mm - 78mm from the butt, where it has a maximum thickness of 10.3mm). The trunnions are now of rounded form (giving a maximum width to the tool of 33.1mm, protruding by 2-4mm and are 15mm wide). The sides of the blade are also straight and divergent towards the blade edge, now eroded (with a surviving width of 21.5mm). The blade edge has been lost and the edge is damaged, longer on one side. One face of the tool is more convex across its length than the other and both faces are flat across their widths, becoming gently convex along the blade. The surface of the tool has largely been lost, with a pale, bright-green corrosion underlying a grey-brown corroded surface. There is one surviving patch of dark brown patina surviving on one face near the position of the trunnions. Trunnion tools are a long-lived form of chisel spanning from the Arreton tradition at the end of the Early Bronze Age (1700-1500BC) to the Late Bronze Age (1150-800BC) (Brailsford 1953, 34, Fig. 12[1]; Burgess & Cowen 1972, 169-74[2]). A number of trunnion tools have been recovered from along the northern Marches and in north-east Wales. Examples have been found in the Broxton (Cheshire), Ebnal (Shropshire) and the Meol Brace (Shropshire) hoards. The former was associated with two Group III low-flanged palstaves and a basal-looped spearhead dated to the Taunton period of the Middle Bronze Age (1400-1275BC) (Davey & Forster 1975 Cat. 66[3],; Longley 1987, 96-103[4]). The latter, associated with two transitional palstaves of the Penard phase. A rich hoard from Burton, Wrexham contained two palstaves of Transitional type along with a number of gold ornaments dating to the Penard phase of the Middle Bronze Age. (Gwilt, Lodwick & Davis 2004)[5]. Single finds of trunnion tools have also been made at Talerddig (Powys), Llandudno (Conwy) (Hemp 1925)[6] and Llangynog (Carmarthenshire)[7]. While some trunnion tools can date from the end of the early Bronze Age, most associated examples are recovered from hoards dated to the Middle Bronze Age. [1]Brailsford, J.W.; 1953, Later Prehistoric Antiquities of The British Isles, London: British Museum. [2] Burgess, C. & Cowen, J.D.; 1972, The Ebnal Hoard and Early Bronze Age Metal-working Traditions, In F. Lynch & C. burgess (eds.), Prehistoric Man in Wales and the West; Essays in honour of Lily F. Chitty, Bath: Adams & Dart, 167-81. [3] Davey, P.J. & Forster, E.; 1975, Bronze Age Metalwork from Lancashire and Cheshire, Liverpool: University of Liverpool Department of Prehistoric Archaeology. [4] Longley, D.M.T.; 1987, Prehistory: The Later Bronze Age c.1500-c. 700BC, In B.E. Harris (ed.), A History of the County of Chester; Volume I: Physique, Prehistory, Roman, Anglo-Saxon and Domesday, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 92-103. [5] Gwilt, A., Lodwick, M. & Davis, M.; 2004, Burton Wrexham: Middle Bronze Age hoard of gold ornaments and bronze tools with a pot; Treasure Annual Report 2004 [6] Hemp, W.J.; 1925, The Trunnion Celt in Britain, The Antiquaries Journal, 5, 51-4. [7] PAS Cymru reference: NMWPA 2012.40;

NMGW-C40459: PALSTAVE
Early to Middle Bronze Age bronze palstave of Group I, Primary Shield Pattern type as defined by Schmidt & Burgess (1981)[1] and of Acton Park metalworking Industry corresponding to Needham’s (1996)[2] Period 4 and probably dated to c. 1600 – 1400BC The palstave is near-complete, with some damage to the flanges (with an overall length of 138.3mm and a weight of 361.8g). The butt (with a width of 23.2mm and a thickness of 4.8mm) is near-straight lower at the centre. The sides are straight and near-parallel to a point below the stop (with a width at the stop of 15.8mm, where the stops have a height of 24.0mm and the flanges have a height of 27.9mm). The sides have a linear divergence along the blade, before flaring out to the blade tips, producing a moderately expanded and rounded blade edge (with a blade width of 55.0mm and a blade depth of 18mm). The casting seams are evident on both sides but have been neatly finished but there is no ridged or ‘nicked’ sides evident. The flanges rise from the butt and would have had a straight top edge but are now damaged, giving the suggestion of a rounded lozenge form to the sides of the axe. The flanges reached their maximum heights just above the stop (16mm above the stop and with a maximum surviving height of 32.8mm). The septum is gently rounded across its width but near-perpendicular to the flanges and stops (with a maximum flange heights of 13.1mm and a stop height of 7.8mm - 8.6mm). The stops have a slight curve across their widths and both stops extend above the faces (with a height of 4.2mm and a thickness of 5mm - 6mm).Because of a hollowing at the top of the blade the flanges have the impression of extending onto the faces. Both faces have hollowing beneath the stop, although appearing rounded, related to a ‘shield’ form on one face and more squared on the other. There is the suggestion of a weak midrib on one face, through the shield-shaped hollowing and extending onto the blade (with a length of 36mm). No rib is discernible on the other face. There is a clear rounded blade facet on both faces (20mm from the blade edge). The surface is heavily-pitted with much of the original surface lost and with a dark-brown patina. The surface is magnetic, suggesting deposition within iron rich deposits, possibly boggy. The palstave is of an early form and has a depression below the stop rather than a shield moulding. The suggestion of a subtle midrib may indicate similarities to ‘Early Midribbed palstaves’. Primary Shield Pattern and Early Midribbed palstaves are likely to both be of Acton Park metalworking, dated to c. 1600 – 1400BC. [1] Schmidt, P.K. & Burgess, C. 1981; The Axes of Scotland and Northern Ireland, Praähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung IX, 7. Band 7 [2] Needham, S. 1996; Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age, Acta Archaeologica 67, p. 121-140

NMGW-C48E3B: SPEARHEAD
Late Bronze Age socketed spearhead of uncertain type, possibly pegged or side-looped, probably of Wilburton Metalworking, dated to c. 1200 – 900BC The cast spearhead is fragmentary, missing the basal end and was comparatively large (with a surviving length of 141.0mm and a weight of 75.8g). The blade appears to have been of lozenge of kite-shaped form and has broken on one side near its base and on the other side near its widest point. The socket interior is evident at the break (with a maximum surviving depth of 114.6mm, ending 35mm from the tip) and there is also a blade edge facet discernible, suggesting the blade has broken at its start. There is no suggestion of a loop-hole, suggesting the spearhead was not of a Basal Looped type. The blade edge appears to widen with a linear edge (for 43mm, where the spearhead has a maximum surviving width of 42.5mm), the blade edge then has a near-linear convergence to the tip. The socket position is marked by the circular-sectioned midrib on the faces (with a thickness at the break of 1.0mm and a maximum depth through the midrib of 12.6mm), which gradually narrows and thins towards the tip. The blade wings thin slightly towards the edge (with a maximum thickness at the midrib of 5.0mm and a thickness before the edge facet of 3.4mm). The stepped blade bevel or blade facet is preserved along much of the surviving blade edge (with a maximum width of 5.7mm). Some of the damage to the blade edge may be contemporary with its use but much of the edge, particularly the shorter side is more recently damaged. The surface is somewhat pitted and corroded with a dark-brown patina. Linear striations running along the blade wings are preserved beneath the patina. There is a bend just above the widest point of the blade but a loss of patina and green corrosion at the bend may suggest that the damage occurred more recently. The absence of the socket makes typological identification uncertain and the lozenge or kite-shaped blade form is also a little unusual. The more commonly–recovered types consistent with the form of the fragmentary spearhead are pegged, of Davis’ generic Group 11 (2015)[1], or possibly of a side-looped type, Davis’ (ibid) Group 6, although the blade would seem to be too large for a Group 6 spearhead. Socketed Spearheads of Davis’ Generic Group 11 can be dated to the Wilburton phase of the Late Bronze Age, dated by Needham et al (1996)[2] to c. 1200 – 900BC. [1] Davis, R., 2015; The Early and Middle Bronze Age Spearheads of Britain, Praähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung V. Band 5. [2] Needham, S. 1996; Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age, Acta Archaeologica 67, p. 121-140

NMGW-C4D532: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Late Bronze Age bronze socketed axe fragment of indeterminate type and of Wilburton-Wallington, Ewart Park or Llyn Fawr metalworking industries dated to c. 1,150 – 600BC The fragmentary cast axe is represented by a blade fragment only (with a surviving length of 25.4mm, a maximum thickness of 11.5mm and a weight of 42.6g). At the top of the fragment is the base of the socket, now worn and corroded but probably of sub-rectangular form (29mm wide and with a maximum surviving depth of 2mm). Little of the either side of the axe survives (with a maximum surviving length of 18mm) but the short length are straight and divergent (producing a blade width of 44.9mm and a width of 40.8mm at the break). The blade edge is not expanded and has a gentle curve. (7.1mm deep). The surviving blade face fragments are convex across their widths and near-straight across their short surviving lengths with no evidence for ribs present on the fragment. The surface is pitted with a corroded dark-brown patina and areas of green corrosion. There are probable casting flaws at the break, which are likely to have weakened the axe. The fragmentary nature of the axe makes typological identification indeterminate. The presence of a socket base would imply a Late Bronze Age date for the axe, c. 1,150 – 600BC, probably of Wilburton-Wallington, Ewart Park or Llyn Fawr metalworking industries. The fragment is comparatively heavy, possibly suggesting a leaded bronze, consistent with late Bronze Age and particularly Ewart Park metalwork. The unexpanded and shallow blade form is consistent with Ewart Park axes of South Wales and similar types.

NMGW-C52206: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Late Bronze Age socketed axehead, probably of Ewart Park Metalworking and of Needham’s Period 7 The cast socketed axe is incomplete, broken in antiquity and is missing the upper part of the body, including the mouth and loop (with a surviving length of 45.5mm and a weight of 51.0g). The axe body is of sub-rectangular section at the break (with dimensions 28.9mm x 16.4mm). The socket is oval sectioned (22.3mm x 12.8mm and 8.5mm deep). The wall thickness is variable, considerably thicker on the sides (at 2.6mm) compared to the faces (at 0.9mm). The sides are straight and near-parallel, before expanding sharply to the slightly recurved blade tips (giving a blade width of 38.9mm) and producing a curved blade edge. The casting seams are evident on both sides but have ben neatly fettled. There are no discernible ribs on the either face. There is a point impact depression immediately below the break on one face and a rounded indent at the break on the other face. Both faces are moderately straight and convergent before converging more sharply at the blade but with no obvious blade facet. The surface is pitted and corroded with a dark-green patina. The missing mouth makes typological identification difficult. The comparatively small size of the axe suggests that it is not of South Wales type but the form is consistent with axes of Ewart Park metalworking, dated to c. 1000 – 750BC. The axe was reported with the socketed containing sediment which was removed at AC-NMW. At the base of the socket was loose organic fibrous deposits, possibly the remains of the wooden haft.

NMGW-C72646: FLANGED AXEHEAD
Bronze Age bronze Early Short-Flanged axe, possibly of Type Bannockburn as defined by Schmidt and Burgess (1981, p.76-7)[1] but of Acton Park 1 metalworking industry, straddling the end of the Early Bronze Age to beginning of the Middle Bronze Age; c. 1600 – 1400BC The axe is complete with minimal corrosion and is comparatively large (with a length of 184mm and a weight of 678.7g). The butt is straight (with a width of 16.2mm and a thickness of 2.3mm) and is slightly angled across its width. The sides are straight and gently divergent as far as the ‘nicked’ ridges, below the stop (with a width at the stop of 32.9mm, a width of 35.8mm above the nicks and a width of 40.0mm across the nicks). Below the nicked ridges, the sides are concave and divergent to produce a splayed blade edge (with a blade width of 81.7mm). The blade edge has an even rounded curve. The casting seams are barely discernible and have been neatly and carefully finished. Beneath the nicks on the sides of the blade are decorative hammer facets. The flanges are comparatively low, beginning at the butt and reaching their zenith just above the stop (with a maximum height of 25.2mm and a maximum height above the septum of 8.9mm) and continue onto the blade, ending at the position of the nicked ridges. The flanges are angled or bevelled inwards and converge slightly on the blade to incorporate the shield-pattern moulding. One of the flanges has an additional facet near its top edge not evident on the other three flanges. The septum (16mm long and 9mm wide) is flat and is near-perpendicular to the flanges and stop. There are hammered recesses and transverse ridges across the septum on both faces, immediately above the stop. The bar ledge stop is vertical (with a maximum height of 11.4mm above the septum and 7.3mm above the blade and is 3.3mm thick) and in side view, projects slightly above the flanges. The shield decoration is formed by a raised moulding and extends from the base of the flanges (with a length from the stop of 52mm). The blade is rectangular sectioned but the faces are gently convex across their widths. The blade faces are also convex across their lengths and convergent with no discernible blade facets. The blade appears to be more finished than are area within the shield, which shows hammer marks and casting flaws. Neither hammering facets nor sharpening striations are evident on the blade. The unpatinated surface has some pitting and some small patches of pale-green corrosion. The axe is of interesting form and should perhaps be considered as transitional between flanged axes and early palstaves. The long and low flanges extending into the shield pattern moulding, the faceted flanges and hammer-decoration on the nicked-sides are all features common to flanged axes. The axe form can be paralleled in an example recorded by Schmidt & Burgess (1981, p 77, pl. 55, no. 431) as Type Bannockburn. The prominent bar ledge stop however perhaps relates to primitive shield palstaves. Needham (1996, p 133)[2] and others have argued that there is considerable overlap for ‘final EBA and earliest MBA’ types and this axe form would appear to relate to this overlap of types. [1] Schmidt, P.K. & Burgess, C. 1981; The Axes of Scotland and Northern Ireland, Praähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung IX, 7. Band 7 [2] Needham, S. 1996; Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age, Acta Archaeologica 67, p. 121-140

NMGW-2E8EC1: AXEHEAD
Bronze Age bronze butt fragment from an axe of uncertain type but of Developed Axe or Palstave form The axe is represented by a butt fragment only, broken at one end (with a surviving length of 15.6mm and a weight of 8.4g). The butt end is comparatively straight with some damage and thins to a blunt edge (with a width of 19.0mm and a thickness of 1.5mm). The sides are straight and slightly divergent for their short lengths to the break (with a maximum width of 24.4mm and a thickness of 4.7mm). The sides are rounded and convex across their thicknesses with the suggestion of a finished casting seam on the corroded and pitted surface. The flanges begin just below the butt and are just emerging before the break (giving the axe a maximum surviving depth of 7.2mm with a height above the septum of 1.3mm). The break occurred in antiquity. The surface has a dark-green patina with patches of pitting and corrosion. The fragmentary nature of the axe makes typological identification difficult. The butt form would be consistent with slender-butted Developed flat axes, From Type Aylesford (Schmidt & Burgess, 1981) from the Early Bronze Age through to Late Palstaves, of Ewart Park Metalworking in the Late Bronze Age.

NMGW-084887: FLAT AXEHEAD
Early Bronze Age bronze flat axe, probably of Needham’s Class 4 and probably relating to axes of later Class 3 or earlier Class 4. The axehead is complete with a broadly lenticular profile but with subtle bevels and is comparatively small (with a length of 91.2mm and a weight of 152.4g). The thin butt has a gentle curve (with a width of 19.5mm and a thickness of 2.0mm). One side is near-straight, slightly convex and diverging gently towards the bade (with a width at the top of the blade of 29.5mm), before diverging sharply to the recurved blade edge (with a blade width of 44.0mm). The other side has a noticeable bulge below the butt, giving the axe an asymmetric appearance. The blade edge was crescentic, now asymmetric, perhaps slightly eroded or worn on one side. The sides are convex across their thicknesses’ but without faceting and without a practical flange, although there appears to be a lip or low flange from the side-working. Although the faces give the axe a lenticular long profile, two curving bevels present: the median bevel is subtle and is positioned comparatively low on the axe (54mm from the butt and where the axe has a maximum thickness of 11.9mm). A more pronounced blade facet is evident (23mm from the blade edge). There are irregular incised marks on the blade, below the patina but unlikely to sharpening striations. The surface has a dark-green patina with some bright green damage on one face. The presence of a subtle median bevel, blade facet and ‘lip’ flanges all suggest early developed features, probably indicating an axe early in the sequence of class 4 or the last of Class 3 axes of the Mile Cross Assemblage. The dimensions and ratios do not correlate directly with Needham’s subtypes, although are perhaps closest to 3G, Type Knapton but do not closely confirm to the type. The form broadly corresponds with Type Aylesford, as defined by Schmidt and Burgess’s (1981, p. 60)[1] as a ‘primitive’ developed flat axe. The form would suggest a date at the earlier part of Needham’s (1996)[2] Period 3, probably dating to c. 2050 – 1850BC. [1] Schmidt, P.K. & Burgess, C. 1981; The Axes of Scotland and Northern Ireland, Praähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung IX, 7. Band 7 [2] Needham, S. 1996; Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age, Acta Archaeologica 67, p. 121-140

NMGW-56BFDE: CHISEL
Bronze fragment, possibly of Bronze Age date but of uncertain artefact type The fragment has broken on one end (with a surviving length of 47.2mm and a weight of 29.0g) and the other end is of irregular sub-rectangular section (13mm x 7mm) and is corroded and heavily-pitted. The sides of the terminal are straight and near-parallel as far as a stop (17mm from the terminal where it has a width and thickness of 15.0mm and 9.0mm respectively. Above the stop the sides are straight but more divergent to the break (with a width and thickness of 18.8mm and 7.0mm respectively). The septum is longer on one face (with a surviving length of 20mm and 24mm, a thickness at the break of 1.8mm and a maximum width of 12.5mm) and the side flanges end in a rounded stop. The stop is comparatively shallow on both faces (at 1.5mm). The surface is heavily-corroded with a dark-green patina preserved on the septum. The object has the flange and stop features in common with palstave axe types, generally of Middle Bronze Age date. It is possible that the terminal is incomplete and originally ended with a blade, perhaps suggesting a chisel or similar. If the end is relatively intact, it may be possible to suggest a small hammer that may have been hafted in a similar form to Middle Bronze Age palstaves and therefore earlier than socketed hammers. However flanged hammers of this form are difficult to parallel.

NMGW-587A08: SWORD
Bronze Age blade fragment of uncertain type, probably from a rapier or sword of Middle to Late Bronze Age date c. 1500 – 750BC. The blade is fragmentary, represented by a slender fragment, broken at both ends in antiquity (with a surviving length of 31.9mm and a weight of 18.1g). The blade has no clearly defined midrib and is of lenticular section of consistent thickness (of 5.8mm – 6.3mm). The blade is comparatively slender and both original blade edges have been lost. The blade edges were straight and convergent to one end (with a maximum surviving blade width of 20.4mm and minimum width of 17.8mm). The short blade fragment has a gentle curve across its length, with the suggestion of bending prior to breaking. The surface is very heavily-corroded and much of the original surface with a dark grey-green patina over red-brown areas of surface loss. The fragmentary nature of the blade, lacking diagnostic features makes typological identification difficult. The comparatively slender form of the blade may suggest that it’s derived from just above the tip of a sword although a rapier fragment is also possible. Rapiers date from the Middle Bronze Age while leaf-shaped swords of Late Bronze Age date tend to be more commonly recovered.

NMGW-58A358: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Late Bronze Age socketed axe mouth fragment of uncertain type and of Wilburton, Ewart Park or Llyn Fawr metalworking industries of c. 1150 – 600BC date The axe is represented by a mouth fragment from the top of one face only (with a surviving length of 17.1mm, a surviving width of 30.8mm and a weight of 7.3g). There is a rounded protrusion on the top of the mouth where the mouth is also thicker (at 5.0mm, compared to 3.9mm), possibly the remnants of a casting runner stub, which has been well-finished. One end of the mouth has a slight curve and is likely to be approaching the axe side. The mouth has a lip above a moulding (9mm long), below which the tops of two ribs are evident immediately above the break. The axe is likely to have had three ribs originally. The lip at the mouth is also present on the inside of the socket but no other features are evident inside the socket. The surface is heavily-pitted with a dark-brown patina. The fragmentary condition of the axe makes typological identification indeterminate. The form is consistent with socketed axes of Late Bronze Age date, c. 1,150 – 600BC of Wilburton-Wallington, Ewart Park or Llyn Fawr metalworking industries. Axes of Ewart Park tradition are more commonly recovered.

NMGW-D83F11: PALSTAVE
An incomplete cast copper alloy palstave of Group III (Low flanged, Broad bladed), dating to the Middle Bronze Age from the Acton Park to Penard Metalworking phases (c.1500-1140 BC). The palstave has an incomplete length of 125mm from butt to blade edge, and a weight of 293.1g. The butt ends in a transverse break at around the point where the flanges meet the septum, the width at this point is 21.5mm. The flanges are badly damaged and the original shape is uncertain. The septum is largely straight, with a very slight taper towards the butt, and is 5.6mm thick. The Flanges form a straight rectangular stop ridge, which projects above the maximum surviving height of the flanges (24.6mm). The palstave originally had a side loop on one side overlapping the stop ridge, now only visible as attachment scars. The blade is fairly broad with concave edges expanding to flared tips (now damaged, one missing entirely) and a curved blade edge. A slight blade bevel is just visible, being roughly ??mm. A slight raised area running down the centre of the blade from the stop on both faces suggests that the axe had a poorly defined, now almost imperceptible midrib. No other decoration is visible. The palstave’s surface is pitted with green to brown patchy colouring- the original surface is missing from the entire palstave with the exception of inside the flanges and on the septum, where it has a green patina. The flanges are very badly damaged, being almost entirely gone on one side, and showing fresh bronze, presumably from recovery damage. Dimensions: Length: 125mm; Blade width 55.9mm; Butt width: 21.5mm; Stop thickness: 29.8mm; Width at stops: 22.7mm; Flange thickness: 24.6; Weight: 293.1g.

NMGW-C21D78: FLANGED AXEHEAD
A complete copper alloy Early Bronze Age flanged axehead. This axehead has a rounded arched butt and slightly diverging sides that abruptly expand to a broad crescentic blade and cutting edge, with the blade tips at right angles to the sides, but not recurving. Cast flanges extend along the sides, rising very gradually from the butt towards the middle of the axe and sloping down again to the blade expansion. This gives the axe a very shallow lenticular side profile. The flanges are slightly triple-faceted, so are slightly angled inwards on both faces and on one side very faint traces of decoration can be observed when lit correctly along the central, flat facet; this decoration appears to be hammered, angled corded decoration. The axe has a curved bevel or ridge about halfway down the septum (c.53.5mm from the butt), which is marginally lower than the flanges, but indicates the beginnings of stop ridge technology as is seen on later flanged axes and palstaves. A second curved ridge has been hammered into both faces at the blade expansion, though this is clearer on the better preserved face and a shallow groove can be observed, emphasising this ridge. The cutting edge is quite deep (26mm) and has an even crescentic cutting edge, though this has slightly abraded as a result of corrosion. On the better preserved face, on the inside of the flange on the right hand side of the septum below the bevel (when looked at in plan), there are two or three small angular indentations that are likely associated with working of the axe (e.g. hammering), but could represent the remains of decoration. The expansion of the blade is likely a combination of the original cast shape and hammering/working of the blade post-casting. Very little of the original surface of the axe is preserved. On one face there is dark green patina, preserving subtler features, but this is overall pocked with pale green corrosion. The sides of the axe are similar pocked and the opposite face is almost entirely covered in green corrosive build-up, which is particularly extensive on the blade and cutting edge. Length 122mm; blade width (tip to tip) 60.5mm; butt width 20.5mm; max. flange breadth 15mm; max. flange height c.2mm; bevel thickness (at centre) c.12.5mm; body width (at bevel) 26mm; weight 250.3g.

NMGW-D8F445: HOARD
Late Bronze Age copper alloy hoard. 1. Ribbed socketed axe fragment Dimensions: surviving length70.3mm; surviving blade width 44.2mm; width at upper break approx.33.5mm; surviving depth of socket approx. 49.0mm; surviving weight 110.9g. Blade and body fragment of a ribbed socketed axe of bronze, with the mouth, loop, upper body and one side missing. Three near parallel ribs descend down each face. The surviving axe side is near straight, but slightly divergent toward the blade end, with a slight outward curvature near the blade. The surviving face edges are rounded giving the axe a sub-rectangular shaped cross-section. The surviving casting seam is visible but has been carefully filed or hammered down. On one lower face, there are striations running parallel with the blade edge and slightly higher up, striations running parallel with the long axis and at near right-angles with those nearer the blade edge. These suggest the axe was once prepared and sharpened for use. The original blade edge has been completely eroded away and the surviving edge surfaces are fragile with a light green patina. All break edges are fragile, with a light green patina. On the side which is largely missing, the surviving lower side area is also highly eroded, also with a light green patina. Original surfaces have a grey green patina. Across one face, near and at right angles to the ends of the face-ribs, there is a linear surface scar, which looks modern and may be slight damage caused when the axe was discovered and removed from the ground. 2. Probable plano-convex ingot fragment Dimensions: maximum length 59.3mm; maximum width 39.5mm; maximum thickness 20.4mm; surviving weight 153.9g. A solid and heavy copper fragment with two convex shaped sides and highly eroded surfaces. In cross-section, the fragment is thinnest near one of the convex shaped edges and significantly thickens to the second convex shaped edge, which has a near vertical but heavily eroded break edge. One surface is slightly irregular but nearing flat, while the underside has a marked convex curve as it thickens from edge toward deeper centre. The underside has a green patina, while the upper surface and breaks have large areas of brown coloured surface with localised areas of green surface concretions.

NMGW-573091: UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT
Probable Bronze Age gold strip fragment. This is a semi-worked thickened strip fragment of gold of broadly rectangular shape. The strip has been worked and there are hammer facets visible on the flat surfaces and side margins. One edge has been hammered up and has a projecting margin on one face edge. The strip was broken at one end with a double-grip tool without sharp edges. As a result, there is widening, lateral distortion with thinning at one end, near the break. On one face, the break has created a near flat angled facet, while on the reverse there is a distinct concave curvature of the break, where gripped. The opposite end looks to have been snapped, rather than pulled, the break edge being irregular and with no thinning and minimal distortion of shape evident. Projecting burrs on the face edges look to have been hammered down. On one face, there is a linear crack evident in the metal along the axis of the strip, while a second smaller area of surface cracking is also evident. The gold has a yellowish tinge, rather than tending toward silver or having an orange hue. Dimensions: maximum length 12.7mm; maximum width 8.5mm; maximum thickness 2.8mm; weight 2.37g.

NMGW-F30ECA: FLANGED AXEHEAD
A near-complete cast copper alloy developed axehead of Needham’s Class 4E (Type Whittington), dating to the early Bronze Age, probably specifically to the Willerby assemblage (Metalworking Assemblage V), c. 1900 – 1600BC. Needham’s Class 4E (Type Whittington) relates to Type Bandon, as defined by Schmidt & Burgess (1981, p 65)[1] and probably dating to Willerby assemblage (Metalworking Assemblage V), the later part of Needham’s (1996)[2] Period 3, c. 1900 – 1600BC. The axehead is near-complete, missing only the cutting edge of the blade, the blade tips and part of the butt. There is no decoration visible on any of the axe’s surface. The axe has a lozenge profile with a stop ridge, a damaged straight butt and near-straight, gently diverging sides. The sides only start to diverge more strongly until well below the stop ridge, at which point they flare strongly to produce a heavily expanded blade edge (with a blade width of 64.2mm). The curvature of the sides and the quite strongly curved blade edge is slightly asymmetric, with one of the blade tips more expanded than the other. The sides of the axe are convex and undecorated- the flanges stand upright and are not beveled inwards compared to the septum; the flanges stand a maximum of c. 2mm above the septum. The sides are smooth where the original surface remains- any trace of casting flash has been carefully removed. The stop bevel is straight and subtle (with a maximum thickness of 11.2mm excluding the flanges). The axe has undergone chemical degradation but is still in relatively good condition. The majority of the original surface remains, with a dark brown patina. The original surface is smooth and even glossy in some patches, preserving some toolmarks including sharpening striations on the blade. There are patches of rust-coloured corrosion product on the original surface. Degradation has led to the delamination of the original surface, which has likely lost much of its copper content and is in a fragile state. This has led to the loss of areas of surface, revealing a light grey powdery core underneath. Cracks in the original surface suggest that this delamination is affecting much of the object. Areas where the surface has been lost entirely include one corner of the butt and a section of adjoining side, parts of the flanges, and one blade tip as well as the entire blade edge. This axe clearly fits into Needham’s Class 4E (Type Whittington)/Type Bandon: it is comparatively small with a straight butt, a clear stop ridge, straight and near-parallel sides producing a narrow mid-blade, below which it curves sharply to form expanded blade tips. Length: 109.6mm Width: 64.2mm Thickness: 14mm Weight: 185.54g

NMGW-7264F5: BLADE
A fragmentary cast copper alloy sword blade fragment, probably of Late Bronze Age date (c.1150-750 BC), possibly of Wilburton or Ewart Park metalworking industry of Needham’s (1991) Periods 4-5, dated 1150-750 BC. The fragment is rectangular in plan and lenticular in section with an overall surviving length of 59.4mm. The fragment has straight transverse breaks on each end and there is a slight bend in the length , suggesting deliberate breakage prior to deposition (‘ritually killed’). The blade has a shallow raised central midrib c.13.5mm wide on both faces (overall object depth of 7.9mm) flanked on each side by a shallow concave section to the blade edge. The blade edge is slightly faceted on both sides (max object width 34.4mm). The fragment weighs 70.56g and has a medium to light green patina with traces of light green and azurite corrosion product. The fragmentary nature of the blade, lacking diagnostic features makes typological identification difficult. Although swords have origins in the later part of the Middle Bronze Age of Taunton and Penard Metalworking Industries, occurrences of the types are comparatively unusual and leaf-shaped swords of Late Bronze Age date tend to be more commonly recovered. Similar finds are recorded on the PAS database including a very similar sized fragment with the same transverse breaks (SUR-42B7D9). Other similar finds recorded on the PAS include NMGW-FE5523, WMID-871F5F, NMGW-49B5F1, NMGW-35639F References: Needham, S. 1996. Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age. Acta Archaeologica 67, 121-140

NMGW-20CEB7: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
A fragment of a cast copper alloy socketed axe head of Late Bronze Age date, likely dating from the Wilburton-Wallington metalworking phase to the Llyn Fawr Phase (c. 1140 to 700 BC). The fragment consists solely of part of the blade nearest to one blade tip, one side and face of the axe, and part of the very bottom of the socket of the axe. The cutting edge of the blade is missing, but enough remains of the side and blade to see that the blade curved down from a now missing projecting blade tip. The fragment measures 24.9mm from the broken tip to the break perpendicular to the blade edge. The base of the socket is a maximum of 17.2mm from the broken blade edge, and measures 14.9mm in length from the side to the break. A fragment of one face survives projecting 8.9mm up from the base of the socket. The face wall is 4.6mm thick, while the remaining scar from the other wall is 3mm across, although possibly incomplete. Only 10.6mm of one side remains, with possible flashing remaining, and a visible expansion to form the blade tip. The extremely fragmentary nature of the object leaves too few diagnostic features to place it comfortably into a precise type, but a socketed axe like this likely dates to between Wilburton-Wallington and Llyn Fawr metalworking phases. Most socketed axes from South Wales date to the Ewart Park metalworking phase. The way in which this axe has been broken suggests intentional destruction. The fragment has a green pitted patina with patches of bright blue corrosion.

NMGW-61F02D: BLADE
An incomplete cast copper alloy blade, probably a knife or razor of Late Bronze Age date. The cutting edge of the blade is very slightly concave in plan with rounded ends that slope from a slightly convex top edge. The overall length is 69.2mm and max width is 25.4mm. An irrelgular long notch (11.8mm long by 3.5mm thick) along the top edge may be the point at which a tang or hafted handle had attached, but is now missing in old damage. The notch is off-centre measuring 32.2mm from one end, 39.2mm from the other. (A similar notch is seen on NMGW-B18276). The blade is thickest at the centre (5.3mm thick) and thins to the edges, except at the irregular notch. The opposite face is mostly flat with a slight taper towards the cutting edge and a few striations run along the blade, possibly from sharpening. The object weighs 30.06g and the metal is smooth with a mid-green patina. Patches of black possible tenorite coating preserves the top edge. The reverse has some spots of bright green bronze corrosion. A similar razor is recorded on the PAS database, NMGW-B18276, which was also found in Caerwent and also treated with a black coating with a similar notch at the top edge.

NMGW-E0FD70: RAPIER
A fragment of cast copper alloy blade tip, possibly from a rapier, of Bronze Age date (probably middle to late Bronze age, c. 1600- 800BC). The fragment consists of only the damaged end of the blade, ending in a break further down the blade, while the very tip of the blade is also damaged and missing, leaving an uneven rounded point. Much of the blade edges are missing, particularly on one side. The blade is lenticular in section, with no bevels. The blade edges appear to taper in a convex curve to the tip. Due to the fragmentary nature of this object, it cannot be confidently assigned to an object type or metalworking phase, although the narrow width of the blade suggests that it likely formed the tip of a rapier or dirk. Length: 27.5 mm Width: 13.3 mm Thickness: 3.3 mm Weight: 4.19 g

NMGW-42CFE1: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
An incomplete cast copper alloy socketed axe head of indeterminate type and of Late Bronze Age date, probably of the Ewart Park metalworking phase (c. 1000-800BC). The axe is incomplete, missing large parts of the mouth moulding, the side loop, the entire blade edge, and any potential blade tips. This lack of key diagnostic features makes it hard to place this axe into a typology, but it shows similarities to the South Eastern Type. The mouth moulding is a simple raised band c. 10mm wide in its surviving areas. The mouth is 28.2mm thick at the mouth moulding and 33.3mm wide, with internal dimensions of 24.65mm wide and 19.8mm wide. Most of the mouth moulding has delaminated from the metallic core and is lost, so the external measurements are incomplete. This loss of material makes the external profile of the mouth hard to judge, but seems to have been angular, potentially sub rectangular. The internal mouth profile is uneven and somewhat rectangular. Both faces are undecorated and smooth. The loop sprang from the bottom of the mouth moulding, and had a length of c. 19mm, now only surviving as indistinct attachment scars. The sides of the axe are very slightly concave, and can be seen to start to expand just before the sides end at the break where the blade has detached. The width at the point of the break is 31mm. A surviving core of the blade, including the original surface of one face, projects below this point but gives little clue to the blade’s original form or dimensions, being largely a metallic core covered in powdery blue copper alloy corrosion. Both of the sides have prominent casting seams/flashings running from the mouth moulding to the break. The axe retains most of its original surface, which has an uneven green to brown patina. The broken areas are covered by active baby blue powdery copper alloy corrosion. While this axe is difficult to firmly place as a South Eastern type axe, it certainly shows typological affinities to examples such as No. 1300 in Schmidt & Burgess (1981). Mark Lodwick comments: South Eastern type axes are often associated with the Carp's Tongue complex of North West France (Schmidt & Burgess, 1981, p 217), which heavily influences hoard composition in Lowland England. The type is also well represented throughout Britain and is present in the Llantwit tradition of south east Wales, represented within the eponymous hoard and elsewhere. Length: 68mm Width: 33.3 Thickness: 28.2mm at collar, 24mm below Mouth dimensions: Width: 24.65mm Depth: 19.8mm Blade expansion maximum: 31mm Weight: 94.11g

NMGW-1F0897: AWL
A near complete cast copper alloy awl or other leatherworking tool, likely of later Bronze Age date (c. 1250-700BC), but potentially dating from any time between the Bronze Age and the Medieval period (c. 1250BC-AD 1500). The awl is essentially complete barring some minor surface loss, particularly towards the tip. The awl is rectangular in section at its thickest section c. 27mm away from the point. From this point the awl tapers to a rounded point at one end and tapers to a flattened point at the other. The flattened point was likely the tang and would have been inserted into a handle of wood, antler, or bone. The awl has an uneven light green patina and small surviving fragments of dark patinated original surface and a pitting with lighter green corrosion. This artefact type is well represented on the PAS database: c.f. BERK-A89238, OXON-60701B, SUR-74CDD0, and CORN-FE4339.

NMGW-620797: HARNESS FITTING
A complete cast copper alloy harness fitting of Late Bronze Age date (c. 1020 – 800 BC). The ring consists of a circular ring (internal diameter 6.5mm, external diameter 18.9mm, 6.9mm thick) with an integrally cast sub-rectangular slot (outside dimensions 10.5mm long x 5.1mm high x 3.6mm thick; internal dimensions 5.3mm long x 2.5mm high) projecting from one end, resulting in a maximum length of 22.1mm. A raised moulded central rib/seam runs along the outer circumference of the ring, giving the object a flattened hexagonal shape in plan. The object is a smooth mid to dark green patina with pocks of light green corrosion on both faces and weighs 8.54g. Similar objects can be seen in the Late Bronze Age hoard of harness fittings found at Parc-y-Meirch, Denbighshire (Savory 1976: 52 fig.9). The similar objects in this hoard were situated within a larger outer ring, likely facilitating straps on a horse harness. These objects likely date to the transitional period between the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age. Similar objects are recorded on the PAS database e.g. CAM-6A8D1B, WAW-03C3E, HESH-7BCA6C, HESH-6A1A13.

NMGW-48F425: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Late Bronze Age socketed axe of uncertain type probably South Wales (Stogursey) or allied Type and of Ewart Park Metalworking, dating from c. 950 – 750BC The cast axe is fragmentary, missing the mouth, one side and much of the faces (with a length of 78.1mm, a maximum surviving breadth of 26.2mm and a weight of 86.4g). The better preserved side has a small area of the mouth surviving, which is slightly out-turned (with a thickness of 4.8mm) with no discernible evidence for a collar moulding. The socket is of rounded rectangular form (with a depth of 60.9mm). The casting seam is raised, extenuated by a slight mismatching in the mould alignment but is neatly finished. The sides are moderately angled to the central seam, giving a sub-hexagonal body section to the axe. The side is straight along its length before a gentle expansion at the blade. The blade is very slightly expanded (with a blade width of 43.2mm) and has a modest curve (with a depth of 10mm). The original blade edge has been lost. The better preserved face (with a thickness of 2.9mm – 3.6mm) has a gentle convexity across both its length and width, with no blade facet evident. The face has the suggestion of parallel or near parallel ribs, now worn and corroded. The surface is heavily-corroded but there is a distinct black patina, possibly tenorite surviving over much of the external surface. Otherwise, the surface has corroded pale-green. The fragmentary condition of the axe, lacking the mouth makes typological identification uncertain. The general form, dimensions and ribbed decoration of the axe are all consistent with South Wales (Stogursey) Type axes of Ewart Park metalworking, c. 950 – 750BC. The heavily-patinated, possible tenorite deposits on the axe are of interest, possibly indicating a deliberate black colouring of the axe[1]. [1] Dr M. Davis Pers. Comm.

NMGW-61EC65: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
A cast copper alloy socketed axe fragment of indeterminate type, probably of Wiburton-Wallington, Ewart Park or Llyn Fawr metalworking industries and of Bronze Age date (c.1150-600 BC). The axe is represented by a blade fragment only with surviving dimensions of 27.7mm long, max 54mm wide and 12.3mm thick and weighs 62.82g. The top of the fragment has traces of the base socket, broken in old damage. The blade faces are flat across the width and gradually convergent with no traces of ribbing surviving. The remaining portion of the surviving side of the blade is flat, creating a sub-rectangular section at the break. The blade gently flares to the slightly curved edge, which is damaged and missing its original surface. The fragmentary nature of the axe makes typological identification indeterminate. The presence of a socket base indicates a Late Bronze Age date for the axe, c. 1150 – 600BC, probably of Wilburton-Wallington, Ewart Park or Llyn Fawr metalworking industries. The fragment is comparatively heavy, possibly suggesting a leaded bronze, consistent with late Bronze Age and particularly Ewart Park metalwork. The object is a light green mottled patina with areas of bronze corrosion particularly on/near the blade edge and the break. Similar objects are recorded on the PAS database e.g. NMGW-ED6A68, NMGW-C52206, NMGW-C4D532

NMGW-219CA8: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
An incomplete cast copper alloy Bronze Age axe (1150 BC-800 BC). The axe is a plain long socketed type and slender in form. The axehead has been damaged and is incomplete missing the mouth and the loop (with a surviving length of 72.6mm and weight of 95.13g). The break is from old damage (where the axe has a maximum surviving width of 29.5mm, thickness of 21.1mm and socket depth of 43.1mm) and has a sub-rectangular section at the break with the end of the bottom loop on one side just before the break. The loop end is corroded and is represented by a small raised stub. The sides of the fragment are bevel slightly to the casting seams (which are smooth, probably hammer-finished) each running the length of the blade on the top and bottom. The sides diverge gently before flaring slightly towards the blade edge (with a blade width of 36.6mm). Towards the blade edge (11.5mm from blade edge) a darker gradient possibly indicates usewear. The blade edge itself is damaged with the original surface having been broken/eroded away through time. The faces of the blade are plain with no evidence of ribs. The faces are flat and gradually convergent to the blade edge. Sharpening striations are discernible running along the blade edge. The surface is smooth with a medium green patina with areas near the break on one face and on the top side lost to damage, likely from deposition environment, exposing a rough light green subsurface. Traces of shiny black are visible on one side and inside the socket, possibly from tenorite as seen on other contemporary axes.

NMGW-57466B: FLAT AXEHEAD
A fragmentary cast copper alloy axehead, probably a developed flat axe or palstave of Middle Bronze Age date (c.1500-1100 BC). The fragment comprises the narrow butt of the axehead, which is sub-rectangular in plan (overall length 32.6mm) and sub-triangular in profile that thins to the edge of the butt. The sides are straight and only slightly divergent (width at butt is 17.1mm, width at break is 20mm). The object is convex across the thickness beginning c.10mm from the butt edge and increasing gradually, reaching the maximum thickness (8.7mm at the edges, 6.2mm at the centre between the flanges) at the break (which occurred in old damage). The butt is narrow and thin with a surviving thickness of c.0.7mm. The surface is a dark green patina mottled with patches of bright green corrosion and weighs 20.44g. The fragmentary nature of the axe makes typological identification difficult. The gradual flange suggests the fragment is likely a developed flat axe rather than a palstave, which have a more dramatic flange at the butt.

NMGW-07EA87: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Late Bronze Age bronze socketed axe of South Wales (Stogursey) type and of Ewart Park Metalworking Industry, dated to c. 1000-700BC The axehead is complete (with an overall length of 97.0mm and a weight of 261.8g). The mouth is sub-rectangular (52.3mm long and 43.7 wide) and the four casting runner stubs are evident and raised, positioned on the inner lip of the mouth. There is some damage around one of the runner stubs, with a crack which extends down the face (for 17mm). The socket is rectangular (34.3mm x 30.5.0mm and 71.3mm deep). The mouth moulding has a rounded step (6mm – 7mm long) well-defined on one face, with a prominent step to the face. The oval sectioned loop springs from the moulding (5mm wide, 6mm thick and 35mm long), enclosing a D-shaped loop (15.9mm x 6.5mm). The sides are gently concave with a minimum width below the loop (40.0mm) before widening to a moderately expanded blade edge (52.3mm wide). The blade edge survives and is gently curved at the centre before curving out to the blade tips. There are a series of nicks at the blade edge, mostly in the central area and appear to be beneath the patina. One side has some damage, which has cut through the patina. The casting seams are prominent and raised (up to 2mm high) but have been neatly finished. The sides are slightly bevelled towards the central seam but are comparatively straight for the type, producing a near-rectangular body section. Both faces are decorated with three near-parallel ribs, which extend a little over half the length of the face (for 55mm). The ribs on one face are interrupted and poorly cast. The edges of the faces appear slightly developed to resemble weak ribs. The faces are gently convex across both their lengths and widths, with one face being more convex in both plains than the other and there are no blade facets. There is the suggestion of sharpening striations running off the blade. The blades on both faces have a marked colour difference to the remainder of the faces (12mm from the edge). The axe has a black patination, probably of tenorite, as observed on other contemporary axes. The pale-green patination on the blade end, suggests that the tenorite was removed during the axe finishing. The probable tenorite is also evident over the top of the runner stubs. Numerous small hammer facets are also evident on the blades, below the ends of the ribs. The socketed axe is typical of the South Wales (Stogursey) Type, although the near-rectangular body section is a little unusual. The clear patination difference on the end of the blade is of interest to the research informing the deliberate colouring of Late Bronze Age metalwork.

NMGW-08CD35: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Middle to Late Bronze Age socketed axehead of uncertain type, possibly related to Type Wallington (Schmidt & Burgess, 1980, p. 175-6)[1] of Wilburton Wallington metalworking dated to c. 1300 – 1000BC The cast axehead is complete (with a length of 102.6mm and a weight of 242.2g). The interior of the mouth is oval (27.2mm x 190mm) and the top irregular with the suggestion of four-runner casting. The exterior of the mouth is sub-rectangular (39.6mm x 27.5mm) with a prominent rounded mouth moulding or collar (3mm – 6mm thick and 10mm -13mm long) and has a noticeable shelf on the sides. The corners of the moulding are noticeably angular. The loop (19.4mm long, 11.0mm high and 7.0mm wide) springs from the base of the moulding. The sides of the axe are straight and near-parallel on their upper half and flat across the depths, producing a rectangular body section to the axe. The lower half of the axe sides are divergent, with the unlooped side being near-straight and the looped side gently concave. The flattened casting seams are evident on both sides and are both off-centre. The axe is widest across the expanded blade (with a blade width of 46.8mm) and has a moderate curvature (6mm deep). The faces are near-flat across their widths and convergent but convex across their lengths with no blade facets or ribs present. The surface is corroded with a rough corrosion product and dark-green patina. There is a clear discernible black surface beneath the corrosion on the upper two-thirds of the axe, probably tenorite. The interior of the socket has at least two small fragments of copper alloy wedged at its base. One fragment appears to be plate bronze and may be an axe wall fragment or similar, the other fragment below is thicker with a right-angled corner, possibly a blade. The axe appears to share some characteristics of early socketed axes, principally it’s slender rectangular body section, mouth moulding and parallel sides. This axe also has some more developed features, such as the expanded blade with divergent sides above the blade. The angular corners of the moulding may be seen as similar to Amorican axes of Llyn Fawr metalworking but the mouth is clearly not of front-back form. An early, Wallington is possible but a later Ewart Park (c. 1000 – 700BC) date is perhaps more likely. [1] Schmidt, P.K. & Burgess, C. 1981; The Axes of Scotland and Northern England, Praähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung IX, 7. Band 7

NMGW-5AB6F2: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Late Bronze Age socketed axe of Ewart Park Metalworking Industry, dated to c. 950 – 750BC The axehead is complete and is a comparatively small example (with a length of 62.6mm and a weight of 86.6g, including sediment in the socket). The mouth is oval (33.0mm wide and 27.4mm deep external and 23.8mm x 17.8mm internal). The top of the mouth has a lip-ridge from casting and appears to have been a four-runner casting, now with two stubs evident. The collar is rounded and bevelled to the face. The loop springs from the base of the moulding and is of rounded, sub-lozenge section (with a length of 21mm, 9.0mm internal, 4.8mm wide and 4.3mm thick). The sides are moderately straight and near-parallel (with a width below the loop of 28.2mm) before diverging sharply to produce an expanded and curved blade edge (with a width of 37.6mm). Both sides have a clear ridge from the casting seam, which has been neatly finished. The casting seam on the unlooped side is notably flattened opposite the loop, perhaps from the binding. The blade edge has some post depositional damage. Both faces are decorated the three converging ribs, with the side ribs beginning at the corners of the faces. The faces are convex across their widths and also have a gentle convexity across their lengths, before converging sharply below a blade facet (19mm from the blade edge). The body of the axe has a rounded, sub-rectangular section. Sharpening striations are evident on both on faces, running along the blade. The surface is corroded with a patchy dark-brown patina over a mid-brown surface. The ribbed socketed axehead with no moulding beneath the collar and probable four-runner casting is likely to indicate an axe allied to the South Wales (Stogursey) type. However, the axe is considerably smaller than would be expected and also has a rounded body section with a blade facet and recurved blade, which are all features atypical of the type.

NMGW-076CC1: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Late Bronze Age socketed axe of indeterminate type probably of Ewart Park metalworking Industry, dated to c. 950 – 750BC but possibly of Wilburton-Wallington through to Llyn Fawr Industries, dating to c. 1,150 – 600BC The axe head is fragmentary missing the upper part and is represented by approximately half of the original (with a maximum surviving length of 61.4mm and a weight (containing sediment) of 111.9g). The break across the axe occurred in antiquity (where the axe had a maximum surviving width and thickness of 42.8mm and 13.2mm respectively). The axe is likely to have had a sub-rectangular section at the break but both faces are now dished as a result of battering the socket from both faces. The battering appears to have occurred at the base of the socket, although this cannot be demonstrated because of the sediment within the socket. The surviving part of the side is straight and near-parallel before diverging gently to a slightly expanded blade edge (with a blade width of 47.9mm). The sides of the axe are rounded across their thickness with the casting seam evident running along the centre and neatly finished. The blade edge is comparatively straight, rounded near the tips. Both faces are dished beneath the break and suggest considerable force was applied; one face has a linear indentation from the more complete side, while the other face has a rounded depression. Beneath the break on one face is the base of a decorative rib, suggesting three parallel or near-parallel ribs. No ribs are now discernible on the other face. Beneath the impact damage on the blade, the faces are slightly convex across both their lengths and widths and gradually convergent to the edge, with no blade facet evident. The surface is damaged and torn around the impact area but has mid ‘olive’ green patina surviving elsewhere. The fragmentary condition of the axe makes typological identification uncertain. The form is consistent with socketed axes of Late Bronze Age date, c. 1,150 – 600BC of Wilburton-Wallington, Ewart Park or Llyn Fawr metalworking industries. However, the form and ribbed decoration are likely to suggest Ewart Park metalworking industry (c. 950-750BC) and possibly of South Wales or allied axe type. The damage to the axe is deliberate, perhaps as an attempt to close the socket, as seen on other axes with deliberate damage.

NMGW-A5C7CE: CHISEL
An incomplete cast copper alloy tanged and collared chisel of Late Bronze Age date, probably of Wilburton or Ewart Park metalworking industry, corresponding with Needham’s (1996) Periods 6-7, dated to c.1150-750 BC. The chisel is comprised of the blade and a fraction of the tang with a surviving overall length of 65.5mm. The tang is 9.8mm long (terminating in an old break), sub-square in section (5.4mm wide x 4.9mm deep) and flares out to a sub-oval collar (2.9mm tall x 11.5mm wide x 10mm deep) that narrows before the flanged shoulder (with a minimum width of 7.5mm). The sides of the blade are curved slightly before straightening out at the end, reaching a maximum width of 27.4mm. The original blade edge has been lost and has been lost but is roughly straight and asymmetrical, possibly indicating extensive use-wear, and is diagonal in angle with a chunk missing from the corner. Traces of striations are visible on one side. The surface on the opposing side has been lost to old damage. The surviving surface is a medium-dark green patina with patches of lighter green corrosion and black staining, probably from the deposition environment. The chisel weighs 228.79g. Tanged and collared chisels typically date from the Late Bronze Age to Earliest Iron Age. An example dating to the Wilburton/Wallington phase is known from Doncaster, Yorkshire (Burgess 1968, 19, fig 7,2; Burgess, Coombs and Davies, 1972, 217), though the many may be dated to the Ewart Park phase (c.950-700 BC) and into the subsequent Llyn Fawr period (c.700-600 BC). Tanged and collared chisels have a broad distribution across northern France, Britain and Ireland (see Coffyn et al. 1981, 202-203, Carte 7), though there are relatively few examples from western England and Wales. A very similar example with a thick collar and triangular blade can be seen in the large Ewart Park phase Nottingham Hill hoard, Gloucestershire (Gingell 1974, 308, fig 4,22), as well as a single find from Leigh Woods, Bristol (MacGregor 1987, 109, 11.65). Another example was found at Brogyntyn, Shropshire (Savory 1980, No 288.3) associated with a socketed gouge and a fragmentary Hallstatt 'C' sword. Similar objects have been recorded on the PAS database e.g. NMGW-E96F08, SOM-C8B934, WAW-199132.

NMGW-F2F5E1: PALSTAVE
Middle or Late Bronze Age palstave fragment, c. 1,450 - 750BC The axe is represented by the butt only, with a surviving length of 37.69mm and weighs 30.5g. The butt is rounded, but may be eroded and has a width of 22.71mm. The sides are straight and fairly parallel with a maximum width at the break of 24.64mm. The casting seams are prominent on both sides. The flanges begin before the butt and rise to a maximum surviving height of 15.00mm. The septum is flat and tapers to the butt, with a thickness at the break of 7.1mm. Air bubbles are evident in the bronze at the break and may have caused a weakness, resulting in the fracture. The fragment has poor surface preservation, but where the surface survives it has a black patina, elsewhere the fragment is pale to mid green.

NMGW-B86FC3: AXEHEAD
Butt fragment from a flat axe, flanged axe or palstave of indeterminate type and of Early Bronze Age to Middle Bronze Age date, probably dated to c. 2,200 - 1,150BC. The axe is represented by the butt only, with a surviving length of 29.52mm and a weight of 31.4g. The butt is thin and tapers to an edge with a width of 30.04mm. The sides of the axe diverge slightly to the break where the axe has a width of 33.77mm. The sides are rounded across their thickness and there is no discernible evidence for flanges on the fragment. The axe has a maximum thickness at the break of 7.05mm. The faces of the axe are slightly convex. The axe fragment has poor surface preservation and is mid to dark brown

NMGW-1A8A24: FLAT AXEHEAD
Early Bronze Age bronze butt fragment from an axe of uncertain type but of Flat or Developed Axe form The axe is represented by a butt fragment only, broken at one end in antiquity (with a surviving length of 28.1mm and a weight of 23.1g). The butt end is rounded at the corners and is moderately straight (with a width of 25mm and a thickness of 2.7mm). The sides are straight and divergent for their short lengths to the break (where the axe has a width of 30.5mm and a thickness of 6.0mm). The axe butt has a sub-rectangular body section, thickest at the centre and with no suggestion of flanges present on the fragment. The corroded surface has been stripped to brown metal with remnants of the mid-green. The surface condition and patina may suggest a copper rather than bronze composition, although it has not been possible to analyse the composition. The fragmentary nature of the axe makes typological identification difficult and uncertain. The butt form, absence of flanges and possible copper composition would be consistent with axes of Needham’s type 1 and in relation to Schmidt and Burgess (1981)[1] typology may have been of Ballybeg /Roseisle or allied types. Axes of these types are likely to be date to the Early Bronze Age, perhaps between c. 2200 – 1800BC. [1] Schmidt, P.K. & Burgess, C. 1981; The Axes of Scotland and Northern Ireland, Praähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung IX, 7. Band 7

NMGW-C2EEE6: FLAT AXEHEAD
Early Bronze Age bronze butt fragment from an axe of uncertain type but of Flat or Developed Axe form The axe is represented by a butt fragment only, broken at one end in antiquity (with a surviving length of 50.2mm and a weight of 51.0g). The butt end is evenly rounded (with a width of 20mm and a thickness of 0.9mm). The sides are straight and divergent for their lengths to the break (where the axe has a width of 28.0mm and a thickness of 8.6mm). The axe butt has a near-rectangular body section, with one face flatter across its width than the other. There is no suggestion of flanges present on the fragment. The corroded surface is heavily-pitted with a dark-green patina and areas of pale-green corrosion and surface loss. . The surface condition and patina suggest a bronze rather than copper composition, although it has not been possible to analyse the composition. The fragmentary nature of the axe makes typological identification difficult and uncertain. The slender, rounded butt form, absence of flanges and the presumed bronze composition would be consistent with axes of Needham’s type 3 and in relation to Schmidt and Burgess (1981)[1] typology may have been of Migdale, Aylesford or allied types. Axes of these types are likely to be date to the Early Bronze Age, perhaps between c. 2200 – 1800BC. [1] Schmidt, P.K. & Burgess, C. 1981; The Axes of Scotland and Northern Ireland, Praähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung IX, 7. Band 7

NMGW-EAA410: AXEHEAD
Bronze Age bronze blade fragment from an axe of indeterminate type, probably of Early or Middle Bronze Age date The axe is fragmentary, represented by the blade end only and has broken across its width in addition to its length (with a surviving width of 51.1mm, a surviving length of 31.5mm, a maximum surviving thickness of 10.7mm and a weight of 73.0g). The break occurred in antiquity and there is no socket base evident on the sub-rectangular body section. The surviving side fragment is convex, widening to the blade tip, now truncated but indicating an expanded blade edge. The original blade edge has been lost but the current edge suggests a moderate curve (with a depth of approximately 14mm). The side is widest at the edges, possibly as a result of hammering. The blade faces have a slight convexity across both their widths and lengths but with no obvious blade facet. The original surface has been lost and the current surface is heavily-pitted and corroded with a dark-green to brown patina. The fragment condition of the axe makes typological identification uncertain. The lack of a socket base and wider expansion that might be expected on a socketed axe may suggest a flat, developed or palstave axe, suggesting an Early to Middle Bronze Age date.

NMGW-FC228B: AXEHEAD
Bronze Age bronze butt fragment from an axe of uncertain type but of Developed Axe or Palstave form The axe is fragmentary, broken at both ends but is likely to have been close to the butt (with a surviving length of 21.4mm and a weight of 17.1g). The butt end has some damage (with a width of 21mm and a thickness of 4.4mm). The sides are slightly divergent to the break (with a maximum width of 24.6mm and a thickness of 6.7mm - 7.3mm). There is the suggestion of a casting seam on one side, although little of the original surface survives. The flanges are beginning to develop above the septum but are shallow and corroded at the break (giving the axe a maximum surviving depth of 9.2mm with a height above the septum of 1.3mm). A small number of casting flaws are evident on the fragment. The surface has a dark-green patina with areas of bright green surface loss and corrosion. The fragmentary nature of the axe makes typological identification difficult. The butt form would be consistent with Developed flat axes, From Type Aylesford (Schmidt & Burgess, 1981)[1] from the Early Bronze Age through to Late Palstaves, of Ewart Park Metalworking in the Late Bronze Age. [1] Schmidt, P.K. & Burgess, C. 1981; The Axes of Scotland and Northern Ireland, Praähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung IX, 7. Band 7

NMGW-A3890E: FLANGED AXEHEAD
Bronze Age bronze butt fragment from an axe of uncertain type but of Developed Axe or Palstave form The axe is represented by a butt fragment only, broken at one end (with a surviving length of 32.4mm and a weight of 28.4g). The butt end is rounded but may be truncated and thins to an edge (with a width of 19.5mm and a thickness of 0.8mm). The sides are straight and slightly divergent to the break (with a maximum width of 21.9mm and a thickness of 7.7mm). The sides are convex across their thicknesses with the suggestion of a casting seam on the pitted surface. The flanges begin near the butt and are slightly convex along the short length to the break and are probably slightly eroded and truncated (giving the axe a maximum surviving depth of 9.9mm with a height above the septum of 1mm). The break occurred in antiquity. The surface has a dark-green patina where it survives and is heavily pitted. The fragmentary nature of the axe makes typological identification difficult. The butt form would be consistent with slender-butted Developed flat axes, From Type Aylesford (Schmidt & Burgess, 1981) from the Early Bronze Age through to Late Palstaves, of Ewart Park Metalworking in the Late Bronze Age. 1. Schmidt, P.K. & Burgess, C. 1981; The Axes of Scotland and Northern Ireland, Praähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung IX, 7. Band 7

NMGW-AAB3FD: AXEHEAD
Bronze Age bronze butt fragment from an axe of uncertain type but of Developed Axe or Palstave form The axe is represented by a butt fragment only, broken at one end (with a surviving length of 30.4mm and a weight of 28.3g). The butt end is damaged and jagged but may have been rounded and thins to the edge (with a width of 20mm and a thickness of 1.8mm). The sides are near-straight and divergent for their short lengths to the break (with a maximum width of 27.7mm and a thickness across the septum of 8.1mm). The sides are rounded and convex across their thicknesses, with the suggestion of a casting seam on the heavily-corroded and pitted surface. The flanges begin just below the butt and are have a linear divergent edge (giving the axe a maximum surviving depth of 12.8mm with a maximum height above the septum of 2.5mm). The break occurred in antiquity. The surface has a bright and green corrosion. The fragmentary nature of the axe makes typological identification difficult. The butt form would be consistent with slender-butted Developed flat axes, From Type Aylesford (Schmidt & Burgess, 1981) from the Early Bronze Age through to Late Palstaves, of Ewart Park Metalworking in the Late Bronze Age.

NMGW-48B6E7: AXEHEAD
Miniature copper alloy axe of Late Bronze Age to Romano-British date (c. 1200 BC -AD 400) and of Robinson's (1988, p61) type 1 or possibly 2. The axe head is complete, with an overall length of 22.1mm and a weight of 4.4g. The butt is sub-rectangular and convex (8.2mm x 4.9mm), at the centre is a small oval depression (3.9mm long, 1.9mm wide, 0.9mm deep) representing the socket of a socketed axe, similar to Late Bronze Age forms. The unlooped side is slightly concave and is rounded across its thickness. The loped side is more concave. The loop begins 4.6mm from the butt and end 9.4mm from the butt. The loop has a circular internal perforation with a diameter of 2.0mm. The loop is of D-shaped section with a thickness of 1.8mm and a width of 3.2mm. It was possible that the axe was suspended from the loop as a pendant or similar. The blade edge is straight with rounded blade tips. The axe has a wedge-shaped profile and both faces are plain. The surface is well preserved with pale to dark green patina.

NMGW-B88605: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Blade end fragment from a Late Bronze Age socketed axe, probably from the Ewart Park metalworking tradition, dated to c.1000-800BC. The axe fragment comprises of an eroded blade edge and bottom of the socket, much of the original surface has been lost. The axe would have been of comparatively slender form and possibly had re-curved sides. The surface on one face has the remnants of two of the (probable) three ribs, which appear to be running parallel to one another.

NMGW-C33C2D: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Late Bronze Age socketed axe, probably of South Wales (Stogursey) Type and of Ewart Park metalworking, dated to Needham’s (1997) Period 7, c. 950 – 750BC The socketed axe is fragmentary, missing the upper part of the axe and the loop (with a surviving length of 58.3mm and a weight of 76.9g). The break occurred in antiquity and does not appear to have been the result of an evident weakness (at the break the axe has dimensions of 33mm x 23mm and with a maximum surviving socket depth of 43.6mm). One of the faces has impacted damage, forcing the face into the socket and possibly suggests deliberate damage. The other face has a crack extending from the break down the face (for 14mm). The more complete side has the stub from the lower attachment of the loop. Beneath the loop the side is moderately straight, before flaring slightly to the gently expanded blade edge (giving a blade width of 39.00mm), slightly truncated. The blade edge has a shallow curve (with a depth of 9mm). The sides of the axe are bevelled towards the centre, where the casting seam is evident but has been neatly finished. The faces appear to have been moderately flat across both their lengths and widths and gradually convergent to the blade edge. The faces were probably decorated with three convergent ribs and additionally sides of the faces appear to have been enhanced with ribbed mouldings. Deep striations are evident on the better preserved face, running diagonally from the blade edge and extending to the break. The striations appear to be beneath the patina and are too extensive to be sharpening striations. The surface is corroded and pitted with a dark-green patina and patches of bright-green corrosion.

NMGW-47B802: FLANGED AXEHEAD
Early Bronze Age flanged axehead The cast axehead is complete (with a length of 87.2mm and a weight of 129.3g) but has lost much of the original surface. The butt is straight and thin (with a width of 17mm and a thickness of 0.8mm). The sides are near-straight and parallel as far as the position of the bevel on the faces (where the axe has a width of 21.6mm, a thickness of 11.5mm and a maximum depth, including flanges of 14.9mm). The sides are decorated with diagonal ridges and are slightly convex and gently rounded across their depths. Below the stop the sides widen gradually before the recurved blade tips (with a blade width of 50.3mm and a blade depth of 21.2mm). The blade edge is crescentic but slightly straightened around its centre, possibly because of wear. The flanges begin just below the butt and have a regular curve before returning to the on the blade. The flanges are comparatively shallow (reaching a maximum height above the septum of 2.6mm). The septum gradually thickens linearly to the position of the bevel (66mm below the butt), which has a slight curve. Beneath the bevel, decorative ridges echo the bevel at the top of the blade. The decoration is only now partially preserved where there is surface preservation but the decoration is likely to have been contained between the flanges on the top of the blade (for 18mm below the stop). The faces of the blade gradually converge towards the edge and slightly convex across their lengths. The surface has patches with a dark-brown patina, with pale-brown areas of surface loss with some both green and blue corrosion. The height of the flanges (above 1.5mm) and overall form of the axe means it can be confidently classed as a low-flanged axe, datable to the Arreton assemblage (c.1725-1500 cal. BC)/Period 4 of the Early Bronze Age (Needham 1996; Needham et al. 1997). The axe can be classed as Type Arreton (following Schmidt and Burgess 1981, 72-75) or Class 5 (following Needham 1983; forthcoming Needham (1983, 198) lists 179 Class 5 axes from southern Britain, indicating the broad currency of this axe type. In Wales, approximately 26 examples are currently known from both hoards and isolated contexts, with recent discoveries rapidly changing the image of how these axes were circulated. Class 5 axes are present in hoards from Menai Bridge, Anglesey (Savory 1980, 115, No.259), Llanover, Monmouthshire (NMGW-3F3BBC) and Wenvoe, Vale of Glamorgan (NMGW-0B9997). Single finds are also known from Margam, Neath Port Talbot (Savory 1976; 1980, 102, No.122), Bangor Is-y-coed, Wrexham (CPAT-9DFD01) and Llanbradach Pwllypant, Caerphilly (NMGW-CD7412) and Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan (NMGW-C21D78)

NMGW-0670CA: FLAT AXEHEAD
Early Bronze Age bronze flat axe-chisel The axe-chisel is near-complete but is heavily corroded with some damage to the blade and butt and is comparatively small (with a length of 46.7mm and a weight of 22.0g). The butt is straight and flat with a little damage (12mm wide and 2mm thick). The sides are near-straight and divergent for the entire length of the axe-chisel, reaching the maximum width at the blade (of 26.4mm and with a thickness of 1.5mm). Much of the original blade edge is lost, which is of curved form but was not recurved. Both faces are very gently convex across their lengths but reach a maximum thickness (of 5.7mm) approximately one-third of its length from the butt (15mm from the butt) and is near-flat across their widths. There is no discernible median bevel or blade facets, although the blade faces converge more sharply (beginning 9mm from the blade edge). The side has a lenticular profile and there are no 'developed' features evident on the axe-chisel. The original surface has nearly all been lost with small remnant patches evident on both faces with a mid-green patina, elsewhere the pitted surface has corroded bright-green to green brown.

NMGW-6BD01B: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
A fragmentary cast copper alloy axe head of Late Bronze Age date. The type is uncertain, but probably South Wales (Stogursey) Type of Ewart Park metalworking industry dated to c.950-750 BC, but possibly of Wilburton-Wallington through to Llyn Fawr industries dating to c.1150-600 BC. The axehead is represented by the end of the blade only with a straight transverse break across its width resulting in a surviving length of 32.3mm. The break happened in antiquity and is likely evidence for deliberate breakage of the object prior to deposition, or ‘ritual killing’. The width at the break is 33.2mm (11.8mm thick) with traces of the hollow ovoid socket surviving (internal dimensions of the remaining socket 23mm x 6.9mm ). The sides are bevelled toward their centre with casting seams running along their surviving centre, terminating c.6.6mm before the blade edge. One casting seam has been damaged by corrosion, but the surviving seam suggests that it was finished. The blade edge has a slight expansion and possibly uneven curve, although damage to the original surface makes it difficult to tell for certain. The blade edge has a medium curvature (max width 36.3mm) with some damage to the original surface edge. The faces of the axe are gradually convergent and very slightly convex with the end of a single raised rib decoration preserving on one face (surviving rib length 7.8mm from the break). Some striations from sharpening are suggested, mostly concentrated on one face. The surface has a dark brown patina with areas of damage revealing bright green bronze corrosion beneath. The fragment weighs 39.72g. The fragmentary condition of the axe makes typological identification uncertain. The form indicates a socketed axe of Late Bronze Age date, c. 1,150 – 600BC of Wilburton-Wallington, Ewart Park or Llyn Fawr metalworking industries. However, the form, scale and ribbed decoration suggest the axe to be of South Wales or allied type and of Ewart Park metalworking industry (c. 950-750BC). The inward hammered at the break would suggest deliberate damage prior to deposition. Similar objects are recorded on the PAS database e.g. NMGW-EEFAFA, NMGW-31C923, NMGW-32296E, NMGW-219CA8

NMGW-4619AD: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Late Bronze Age bronze socketed axe fragment of indeterminate type and of Wilburton-Wallington, Ewart Park or Llyn Fawr metalworking industries dated to c. 1,150 – 600BC The fragmentary cast axe is represented by a blade fragment only (with a surviving length of 27.3mm, a blade edge width of 50.6mm, a maximum thickness of 12.3mm and a weight of 44.6g). The base of the socket is evident at break and is rectangular form (38.7mm x 7.0mm and with a maximum surviving depth of 14.6mm). The axe has broken above the blade tips with no surviving blade side remaining on the fragment. The original edge blade edge has been lost and is eroded but has a moderate curved edge (with a surviving depth of 12mm). The surviving blade face fragments are convex across their widths and slightly convex across their short surviving lengths. The surface has remnant patches of a dark-brown patina and elsewhere has a pale green corrosion. The fragmentary nature of the axe makes typological identification indeterminate. The presence of a socket base would imply a Late Bronze Age date for the axe, c. 1,150 – 600BC, probably of Wilburton-Wallington, Ewart Park or Llyn Fawr metalworking industries. The fragment is comparatively heavy, possibly suggesting a leaded bronze, consistent with late Bronze Age and particularly Ewart Park metalwork.

NMGW-A4E598: FLAT AXEHEAD
Early to Middle Bronze Age bronze axe, probably either a Developed Flat axe or of Later Short-flanged type and of second millennia BC date. The axe is incomplete missing the butt (with a surviving length of 59.2mm and a weight of 64.7g). The axe is of sub rectangular section and is comparatively slender and stout (with a width at the break of 18.0mm and a thickness of 8.8mm). The axe fragment reaches its thickest point (at 9.4mm), 36mm from the blade edge. The sides of the axe are straight and near parallel for the length of the blade. The casting seams are not discernible on the sides of the axes. The blade faces are plain and slightly convex, both across their lengths and widths. There are no flanges on the surviving blade faces. The blade width expands sharply at the position where the blade facet begins (13mm from the blade edge). The blade edge is now comparatively straight, turning at the edges and has lost the blade tips (with a surviving blade width of 28.1mm). The blade edge appears to have been blunted through impact. There is the suggestion of sharpening striations running perpendicular to the blade edge but these have been obscured by a varnish coating of the axe. One face of the axe has probable stress fractures near the break and also has two impact marks (both 6.6mm long and 1.5mm wide), presumably from a bladed tool, perhaps another axe. The other face has a casting flaw near the break. The axe has a pale to dark green surface patina and has a recent gloss coating. The missing butt makes identification and typological dating difficult. It is unclear to what degree of finishing the axe has undergone and whether the blade and flanges were yet to be worked. The 'blocky' nature of the axe would appear to either suggest a Developed flat axe of Metalworking Assemblage IV - V or a Later Short-flanged type of Taunton - Penard metalworking. Its form can be paralleled with some Class 4 developed flat axes (following Needham forthcoming) which can be dated to Needham's (1996) Period 3 dated to c. 1950-1700BC. Alternatively, Later Short-flanged axes fall within Period 5, dated to c.1500-1150BC. The apparent non introduction of lead into the bronze alloy may suggest an earlier technology and lend weight to an identification of a developed flat axe.

NMGW-24C12C: ARROWHEAD
An incomplete knapped and pressure flaked barbed and tanged arrowhead Late neolithic to early bronze age (c. 2500 BC-1500 BC). Arrowheads such as this Sutton Type B arrowhead (Green 1980) are commonly associated with the emergence of the Beaker phenomenon in Britain. The arrowhead is made of grey semi translucent flint with cherty (likely fossil) inclusions. The arrowhead is missing its very tip and one barb (likely due to weakness in the cherty inclusion). The remaining barb is hollow based Length: 17.9mm Width: 15.7mm Thickness: 4.2mm Weight: 0.88g

NMGW-45E3DD: AXEHEAD
Blade fragment from an axehead of uncertain type and date, probably a Developed Flat Axe of Early Bronze Age date. The axehead is fragmentary and heavily-corroded (with a surviving length of 52.5mm and a weight of 72.7g). The break occurred in antiquity and at the break, the axe body is slender and of sub-rectangular section (with a width of 22.3mm and a thickness of 8.9mm). The sides diverge moderately (for 24mm) before expanding sharply to produce an expanded blade edge (with a width of 50.0mm and an expanded edge length of 17mm). The faces are flat across their widths and also their lengths before a curved blade facet (19mm from the blade edge), positioned at the point where the blade is expanded. The edges of the faces appear to have slight ridges, seemingly the remnant ends of corroded flanges. The surface is heavily-corroded and pitted with no original surface surviving. But has a mid to bright green corrosion. The probable presence of flanges on the edges of the face would suggest the axehead was of a developed type. The fragmentary condition of the axehead makes further typological identification difficult and speculative. The slender body expanding sharply to a possible recurved blade may suggest an axe of Type Bandon as defined by Schmidt & Burgess (1981, p 65-8)[1]. Developed Flat axes relate to Metalworking Assemblages IV -V and date to Needham’s (1996)[2] Period 3, dated to c. 2050 – 1700BC. Type Bandon Axes probably relate to the Willerby assemblage (Metalworking Assemblage V) with a proposed date range of c. 1900 – 1600BC. [1] Schmidt, P.K. & Burgess, C. 1981; The Axes of Scotland and Northern Ireland, Praähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung IX, 7. Band 7 [2] Needham, S. 1996; Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age, Acta Archaeologica 67, p. 121-140

NMGW-6D1B04: AXEHEAD
Blade end fragment of a Bronze Age axe; the fragment is worn with none of the original surface surviving. The broken end does not show any evidence of a socket. The surviving blade edge is gently curved. The blade width is slender, with the sides gently expanding to the blade. The slender dimensions of the fragment suggests the piece may have come from a late palstave or socketed axe, although some of the width may have been lost through erosion.

NMGW-6C3EBB: AXEHEAD
A fragmentary cast copper alloy axehead, probably a palstave or flanged axehead of Middle Bronze Age date (c.1500-1100 BC). The fragment comprises the butt of the axehead, is sub-trapezoidal in shape and H-shaped in section. The edges expand from the butt with increasing thickness towards the break, which measures 4.6mm thick in the centre and 12.1mm thick at the larger surviving edge. The butt edge is The surface is a dark grey-green patina and measures 23.5mm long, 21.8mm wide, 12.2 thick and weighs 13.64. Similar objects are recorded on the PAS database e.g. NMGW-FC4B96, SWYOR-E08613, SF-23CC2B, DEV-618BF7

NMGW-49DA31: AXEHEAD
Bronze Age bronze axehead, blade fragment probably from a Developed axe, cast flanged axe or palstave of Early to Late Bronze Age date, probably c. 1700 – 1000BC The axehead is fragmentary, represented by the blade only (with a surviving length of 47.5mm and a weight of 98.0g). The break has occurred in antiquity and the axe is of sub-rectangular section at the break (with a width of 34mm and a thickness of 11.1mm). The sides are somewhat straight and divergent (for 20mm) before flaring outwards to the blade tips to produce a moderately expanded blade edge (with a surviving blade width of 52.4mm). Any casting seams on the sides are no longer evident, probably masked by corrosion and surface loss. The original blade edge has been lost and the blade edge is now asymmetric, differentially worn on one side and has a comparatively deep curve. The blade faces appear moderately flat before converging to the edge, with a possible subtle blade facet (16mm from the edge). There is a prominent mid-ridge evident on both faces but more noticeable on the better preserved face. It is possible that the mid-ridge may be the distal end of a midrib but may also have had a consistent ridge along the length of the blade. The surface is partially preserved on one face with a dark-green to brown patina and has been lost on the other. There are a number of scratches or striations on the area of preserved surface and appear to be beneath the patina. The fragmentary condition of the axe makes typological identification difficult, the central blade ridge suggests an axe of Developed Type or palstave blade, suggesting a the axe belonged to Arreton tradition at the earliest, dated from c. 1700BC to and probably through to Wilburton at the latest, c. 1000BC.

NMGW-84B152: FLAT AXEHEAD
Early Bronze Age bronze butt fragment from an axe of uncertain type but of Flat or Developed Axe form The axe is represented by a butt fragment only, broken at one end in antiquity (with a surviving length of 44.9mm and a weight of 33.1g). The butt end is damaged eroded at the end and distorted but was probably comparatively wide and straight (with a width of 24mm and a thickness of 1.4mm). The sides are straight and slightly divergent for their short lengths to the break (with a maximum width of 31.7mm and a thickness of 9.1mm). The axe butt has an angular, rectangular body section with no suggestion of flanges present on the fragment. The surface has a black patina, possibly burnt with areas of pitting and pale to mid-green corrosion.

NMGW-EA67F3: FLAT AXEHEAD
Early Bronze Age copper flat axe, probably of Type Migdale (Schmidt & Burgess, 1981, p 35-36) or Needham's (forthcoming) Class 2D, and belonging to metalworking stage III, corresponding to Needham's (1996) Period 2 dated to 2300 - 2050BC. The axe is broken and has lost the butt in antiquity, with a current surviving length of 67.8mm and weighs 195.1g. The axe has a width of 47.7mm and a thickness of 9.6mm at the break and is of sub rectangular section. One of the sides is comparatively straight, while the other side is concave and divergent to produce a moderately expanded blade edge. The blade has a width of 68.2mm. The surviving areas of the faces are concave and would have produced a lenticular profile across the length of the axe. The axe has poor surface preservation with areas of pale green patina on one face, elsewhere the surface is brown.

NMGW-96C616: AXEHEAD
Blade fragment from a Bronze Age axe, probably of Middle Bronze Age date, c. 1500-1100 BC. The axe is represented by a blade fragment only, and has a surviving length of 32.1mm. The original surface of the axe has been lost, and little surface detail survives. The axe was probably comparatively slender and has a minimum width across the break of 21mm. The break is eroded and round and shows no evidence of a socket base. The sides expand to the blade tips, which are now rounded, giving a blade width of 35.5mm. No evidence for casting flashes survive on the sides. The blade edge is curved. One face is relatively flat, while the other has the suggestion of a blade facet surviving, beginning c. 10mm from the blade edge. The fragment weighs 28.4g. The bronze is heavily pitted and has a dark green to brown patina. The fragment is likely to originate from a palstave of Middle Bronze Age date, but may be from an earlier developed or flanged axe of later Early Bronze Age, from c. 1700BC.

NMGW-58F2B5: PALSTAVE
Middle Bronze Age bronze Transitional palstave, probably of Type Roundhay, as defined by Schmidt & Burgess (1981, p. 149)[1], Ribbed Variant and of Penard or Wallington metalworking industry, of Needham's Periods 5 -6, dated to c. 1300 - 1150BC The palstave is near-complete, missing the loop but is heavily-corroded and is comparatively small (with a length of 108.6mm and a weight of 194.6g). The butt is straight, now worn to a slight angle (with a width of 18mm and a thickness of 5mm). The sides are near parallel, very gently convex (reaching a width of 23.5mm above the loop and a width of 20.8mm at the stop). The loop has been lost but the stubs indicate that it was positioned either side of the stop (with a length of 25mm and internal length of 9mm). The sides of the blade are gently curved and divergent, producing a moderately expanded blade edge with prominent curve (with a blade width of 37.4mm). The casting seams are raised and discernible on both sides but were neatly finished. The sides are appear to have been flat across the depths above the stop but convex on the blade. The flanges have been truncated but the better preserved flange appears to have been straight, gradually rising from the butt to the stop (with a maximum surviving thickness at the stop of 24.0mm. The stop has a gentle curve and near-vertical sides, perpendicular to the septum. The septum is moderately concave across its width and flat across its length. Both faces are ribbed, with a prominent midrib, flanked on each side with weaker ribs, positioned near but not at the sides. The ribs appear to have extended all the way along the blade to a blade facet. A single blade facet is evident on the blade. The surface is corroded but has mid to dark-green patina where it survives. The palstave has a number of unusual features; Type Roundhay palstaves are generally smaller but this example is unusually small and also the three-rib decoration arrangement is difficult to parallel. The form is broadly consistent with Transitional Palstaves and specifically of Type Roundhay. [1] Schmidt, P.K. & Burgess, C. 1981; The Axes of Scotland and Northern Ireland, Praähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung IX, 7. Band 7

NMGW3282: SPEARHEAD
Cast copper alloy side-looped spearhead with a leaf-shaped blade and lozenge-shaped midrib. The mouth of the socket, the edges and end of the blade and much of the original surface of the spearhead are missing. The side loops on the socket are also missing; however, their original position, approximately midway along the incomplete socket, is indicated by the surviving stubs of the loops (set c.8-9mm apart). The socket continues for a short way into the blade. There is no evidence to suggest that the spearhead was originally decorated. Surviving length 76mm, surviving length of blade 41mm, maximum surviving external diameter of socket 13.5mm, maximum surviving width of blade 13mm, maximum thickness of midrib 8mm. This is an example of Ehrenberg's Class IV spearhead (cf. Ehrenberg 1977, 7-9) and Davis' Class 6 Unclassified (Davis 2012, 106, No.648, Pl.37).

NMGW-D9BCD0: SPEARHEAD
Incomplete Middle Bronze Age copper alloy side-looped spearhead, dating to the Taunton (Cenmaes) - Penard metalworking phases (c.1400-1100BC) (Needham et al. 1997), corresponding to Needham's (1996) Period 5 (c. 1500 - 1150BC). The spearhead is corroded and incomplete, missing most of the blade and some of the socket on one face. The spearhead has a surviving height of 82.6mm and a maximum external diameter at the mouth of 18mm. The sides of the socket converge comparatively sharply towards the beginning of the blade. The socket continues along the blade to form a prominent rounded midrib. The sides of the socket are slightly pronounced and have the suggestion of side or socket loop stubs approximately 11mm apart. Much of the socket on one face is missing; some of this may be the result of miscasting (where the core has been incorrectly aligned), rather than later damage. The socket has a surviving depth of 63mm. The remnants of the blade are evident on both sides, but little of the blade survives. The spearhead weighs 25.6g (after cleaning).

NMGW-3DA94B: SCRAPER (TOOL)
Early Bronze Age flint ‘Thumbnail’ scraper The scraper is complete (with a length of 23.1mm, a width of 22.8mm, a thickness of 9.2mm and a weight of 5.2g). The dorsal face has extensive invasive retouch and only the proximal edge area is not retouched. The retouch is characteristically steep, more pronounced at the distal end. There is a small patch of surviving cortex along the proximal edge. The flint is largely unpatinated. Thumbnail scrapers are often associated with Beaker material culture.

NMGW-EAC9D1: SPEARHEAD
Bronze Age spear tip of uncertain type and date within the Bronze Age The spear is represented by the tip only, with a surviving length of 52.mm and a weight of 19.4g. The spearhead broke in antiquity and there is no socket evident on the fragment. The spear has a width of 20.4mm and a thickness of 8.2mm at the break. The spear had a prominent and comparatively wide rounded midrib (12mm wide at the break). The midrib alignment differs between faces, as is evident on the cross-section break. The sides of the spear are comparatively straight or slightly convex along the length of the fragment. Areas of the original survive with a deep brown patina and show a blade facet (2.5mm wide) and sharpening striations running along the blade. Elsewhere the current surface is pale green. The fragment is curved along its length, suggesting it was bent prior to breaking. The proportions of the fragment may suggest a heavier spearhead type, possibly a Late Bronze Age pegged spearhead with a flame-shaped blade.

NMGW-8C8316: AWL
A complete copper alloy awl, possibly of late Bronze Age date, c. 1250-800BC. The awl is made up of two regions, one end being bullet shaped and having a smooth surface, the other having a hammered surface. The awl is 52.7cm long and 6.6mm in diameter at the widest point. The tang end, comprising of 30.5mm of the length, is roughly worked with obvious hammer or tool marks. This narrows towards the tip and then gently curves to a sharp point. It is broadly square in section. The working end of the awl, comprising of 22.2mm of the length, has a smooth surface and is bullet shaped. It is circular in section. The awl has most of its original surface, with two small areas of loss. It has an even, dark brown patina. Similar examples on the PAS database include HAMP-13C120, HAMP-CD8FF4 and DOR-79E277

NMGW-8CD44C: SPEARHEAD
Late Bronze Age socketed spearhead of Davis' (2015) Type 11A, which covers Generic pegged spearheads with flame-shaped blades, dating to the Wilburton or Ewart Park metalworking industry (c.1120-800 BC) (following Needham et al. 1997). The spearhead is complete and retains the sediment in the socket (with a length of 159mm and with a weight of 144.7g, including sediment and 126.2g without). The socket is near-circular (with a diameter of 27.9mm - 28.6mm, 25.4mm internal and 110.1mm deep). There is no evidence for a lip at the mouth or decoration around the socket. The sides of the circular socket are conical, gradually converging to the tip and define a rounded midrib along the blade. Approximately midway between the mouth and the start of the blade are the sub-circular attachment holes (of 7.2mm and 7.8mm diameter), which are raised or burred on the interior of the socket. The casting seams are evident on both sides but have been neatly fettled and mostly removed but with a discernible ridge surviving. The blade is leaf-shaped and reaches its maximum width approximately one-third of the blade length (with a length of 114mm and a maximum width of 38.3mm). The blade facets are evident and mostly survive (with a length of 4mm and a thickness of 0.6mm). There is the suggestion of some striations running along the blade facets, possibly the result of sharpening. There are striations evident inside the socket (7mm from the mouth). The surface has a dark-brown patina with some areas of pale-brown and green surface loss. The sediment was removed from the socket in the museum and contained root material but no discernible surviving wooden shaft. A void was observed immediately above the peg holes. Spearheads of pegged type have been shown to date from Wilburton metalwork, dated from 1150BC, the majority of associated spearheads are found with Ewart Park metalwork (950 - 750BC).

NMGW3325: SPEARHEAD
Middle Bronze Age basal-looped spearhead. Length 220mm and 32mm wide across the widest part of the leaf-shaped blade. The socket, encircled by three lightly engraved lines, is 50mm and 16-17mm in diameter at the mouth where it is approximately circular in cross section; further up, the section is sharply angular. Because part of the wooden shaft remains firmly wedged in place it is not possible to known how far the hollow socket extends. There are two neatly formed loops at the base of the blade, one a little larger and lower than the other. The two halves of the mould have been very slightly misaligned and the thickness of the socket metal varies around its circuit. There is a small blow hole in one side of the spine just above the loops. The weapon is not worn or smoothed by the sea and there are stains on the blade which suggest that it had laid until recently in some peaty soil. It is probable, therefore, that it had been recently eroded from coastal peats. The metal is in good condition with a fairly uniform matt surface of blue/purple colour; nowhere is the patination shiny, which may be an effect of salt water and sand. The edges of the blade have been sharpened in the middle section in antiquity, creating a slightly ragged, thinner edge; the bottom of the socket has also seen a little damage which may have occurred during use. This spearhead falls within Davis' (2012) Type 8A spearhead (flame-shaped blade, incorporated basal-loops) and can be dated broadly to the Taunton phase (1400-1275 BC) (Davis 2012,133-134). It is recorded in Davis' (2012) corpus: No.741, Pl.45. The spearhead can be paralleled in the Taunton hoard itself and in the Stibbard hoard from Norfolk. In Wales the closest parallel is the very splendid weapon from Nebo near Llanrwst which is twice the length but has the same angular socket and essentially leaf-shaped blade (Bezant Lowe 1912, 47; Ellis Davies 1929, 342). A spearhead from the river at Hay on Wye is of similar date but has a rather more complex section across the blade (Savory 1980, 112, fig.27).

NMGW314: SPEARHEAD
Copper alloy spearhead, tanged, of Type 1B Curved Midrib (following Davis 2012, 33f.) and dating to the Arreton phase of the Early Bronze Age (c.1700-1500 cal. BC) (Needham et al. 1997). The spearhead survives in two pieces, broken across the blade-tang junction. It has a long triangular blade bevelled at the edge, with a rounded midrib and (blade wings with) two distinct steps parallel to the edge of the blade. The central mid-rib is filled, on both sides, with rows of pointille (punched dot) decoration. The tip of the blade is missing and the blade edges are damaged. The junction of the tang and blade is demarcated by an undecorated triangular-shaped facet. The rectangular-sectioned unrivetted tang tapers towards an irregular end which curves slightly upwards. The tang is broken close to the junction with the blade; this is an ancient break. The surface of the spearhead is in poor condition and is partly obscured by corrosion deposits. Length 207mm, maximum width 40mm, thickness 10mm, weight 151grams.

NMGW-215EBE: SPEARHEAD
Bronze Age bronze socketed spearhead fragment of uncertain type, of Middle to late Bronze Age date The spear is fragmentary, represented by the upper part only (with a surviving length of 43.4mm and a weight of 10.9g). The top of the circular socket is evident at the base of the fragment (with a diameter of 6.8mm and a depth of 19mm). The socket defines a prominent rounded midrib on the exterior (with a maximum surviving thickness of 9.0mm), which narrows gradually to the tip. The blade appears comparatively straight along the fragment, possibly suggesting a leaf-shaped blade (with a maximum surviving width of 18.3mm). A small fragment of the blade facet appears to survive above the break. The surface is heavily corroded and no sharpening striations are now evident on the corroded surface, which has a pale-green patina. The socket present on the spearhead would suggest a form was side-looped, basal-looped or pegged but the fragmentary nature makes typological identification difficult.

NMGW-69D01E: HOARD
Description of objects (AG) 1. Faceted and socketed axe, Type Gillespie, bronze – half of mouth missing Dimensions: length 81.8mm; surviving blade width 43.9mm; body width below loop 30.9mm; external mouth dimensions (side to side) approx. 30.6mm; depth socket approx. 59.0mm; width loop 6.1-7.6mm; surviving weight (before conservation) 137.0g. This is a near complete bronze faceted axe, missing one half of its mouth on one face and side. The axe has distinct angular facets down each face side-margin, giving the entire axe eight facets in total. The axe has a deep onset collar with a slightly concave and slightly everted profile, the lower margin defined by a ledge with no lower collar moulding. The loop is relatively thick and low-set, emerging below the collar. The damaged mouth was originally sub-rectangular in shape. The sides are slightly divergent and straight, curving and expanding significantly near the blade-edge. Casting seams are present down the sides, having been flattened and partially removed probably by hammering down. The blade edge is damaged and eroded and there are striations parallel with the blade edge on the bevel, indicating the axe was prepared for use. The break surfaces on the mouth and upper face are soil covered, though the damage may have occurred in the more recent past through impact with the plough or during removal from the ground. Striations on one face also look to have been created in the more recent past. The axe has a green-grey to green-brown patina on its original surfaces, with eroded breaks and surfaces green in colour. 2. Plain and slender socketed axe, bronze undiagnostic – large fragment Dimensions: surviving length 79.8mm; surviving blade width 35.3mm; body width below loop 26.2mm; surviving depth socket approx.; surviving weight (before conservation) 81.5g. This is a large blade and body fragment of a plain and slender bronze socketed axe now not identifiable to type, with the entire mouth and collar missing. The sides are slightly concave and divergent and the blade-edge is extremely eroded, the original blade width now lost. The axe has a sub-oval shape in body cross-section. On one upper side a lower and highly eroded loop stub is apparent. Most original surfaces have been lost, the axe being heavily eroded. The axe surfaces have a brown patina with some patches of green patina in heavily eroded areas. There is a longitudinal body wall crack running down one body face from the break edge on the upper body face. 3. Plano-convex ingot fragment, leaded bronze Dimensions: maximum surviving length 40.6mm; maximum surviving width 34.2mm; maximum thickness/depth 22.4mm; surviving weight (before conservation) 123.4g. This is a small fragment of a low tin bronze plano-convex ingot, with a convex edge section surviving and with three highly eroded break edges. The upper surface is uneven and vesicular, indicating surface cooling of the once molten metal. The base is convex, narrow at side-edge and thickening towards the centre of the ingot. The undersurface is irregular, though shows distinct flattening where it took the shape of the original bowl depression, into which the metal was poured. The breaks exhibit vesicles in the metal consistent with bubbling of gases within the molten metal soon after poured. The ingot has a grey-green patina.

NMGW-715DFC: SPEARHEAD
Middle Bronze Age bronze side-looped socketed spearhead of Davis' (2012, 53-58) Group 4: Plain kite blade, dating to the Acton Park metalworking phase (1500-1400 BC) (Needham et al. 1997). The spearhead is near-complete with peripheral damage to the mouth and tip (with a length of 103.9mm and a weight of 66.0g). The socket is circular (with an internal diameter of 17.2mm and an external diameter of 20.2mm) and has a rounded step just above the mouth. The socket has not been completely cleaned-out (and has a current depth of 23mm) and contains bronze corrosion. The sides of the socket are near-straight and convergent towards the blade. The loops are flat topped of sub-lozenge shape (14mm long by 6mm wide), which begin 21mm from the socket mouth. The perforations beneath the loops are slender and oval, containing sediment (4.0-5.7mm long and 2mm high). Both sides have a ridge, running between the mouth and the loop and between the top of the loop and the base of the blade, resulting from the careful finishing of the casting seams. There appear to be decorative grooves flanking the loops. The short blade can be described as "kite-shaped" (with a maximum width near its base of 23.0mm and a length of 48mm) with flat blade edges. The socket continues into the blade as a narrowing and more angular midrib. Weak blade facets are discernible but are now worn. The spearhead has been very neatly finished with no casting flashes evident. The surface of the spearhead is preserved with a dark green patina. Deep sharpening striations are evident beneath the patina running along both sides of the blade and onto the midrib on both faces.

NMGW-8457AC: FLAT AXEHEAD
Dimensions: length 181.0mm; width of blade 86.2mm; width of butt 28.7mm; thickness of butt 1.5mm; maximum thickness across body 11.6mm; weight 551.3g A complete, but corroded and worn flat axe with rain-pattern decoration, dating to MA III/MA IV of the Early Bronze Age (c. 2000-1900 BC) (Needham 1996). The axe has a narrow butt, tapering to a slightly arched end with a thickness of 1.5mm. The axe has a rectangular cross-section and a lozenge-shaped profile, thickening from the butt towards the point of maximum thickness (c. 82.5mm below the butt end). From the butt end, the sides of the axe are straight and near-parallel. The angle of divergence for the sides becomes greater below the point of maximum thickness, with the sides remaining straight before slightly expanding once again near the blade edge, creating a broad and slightly curved cutting edge. Both faces of the axe are decorated with numerous short and lentoid-shaped punches, beginning approximately 40mm below the butt-end on the least eroded face. This decoration is mostly visible along the blade faces, where the punch marks are arranged in rows and are angled in slightly different directions, creating the impression of a ‘rain-pattern’. Very fine diagonal striations are visible along one side, likely caused when the axe was prepared in antiquity. Original surfaces have a brown to grey-brown patina. Small corrosion pits are visible across both faces and occur frequently, exposing light green sub-surfaces. Fresh bronze is visible across one face edge. This axe may be confidently identified as a Class 4C, Type Mount Pleasant, based on the combination of a lozenge-shaped profile, relatively narrow haft-end and mid-blade, and angled sides (Needham 2017, 25-26). Dating for these axes is complicated as sub-class 4C axes are currently not known from graves or hoards, but the form is suggested to date to c. 2000-1900 BC (ibid., 26). -Chris Griffiths 12/6/23

NMGW-3A7AD0: CHISEL
Late Bronze Age socketed chisel The chisel is complete (with an overall length of 103.5mm and a weight of 43.5g). The socket mouth is oval (with external dimensions of 19.6mm x 15.9mm and internally 16.4mm x 12.3mm) and there is no collar or mouldings and there are no attachment holes on the sides of the socket. The sides are near-straight, or slightly concave and the socket faces are straight and convergent to the blade (with a socket depth of 48.2mm). The blade is of rectangular section (15.1mm wide and 5.6mm thick beneath the socket) and the sides are gently convex and divergent to the slightly expanded blade edge (with a width of 20.1mm). The blade gradually thins to the edge. Non-destructive, X-ray fluorescence metallurgical analysis identified the bronze alloy as being a leaded bronze. The surface has a pale-grey to black corrosion. The object is unusual and is very difficult to closely parallel in its general form. Bronze Age chisels are often of tanged form, rather than socketed. The socket form can be paralleled in Thorndon Type socketed knives but is without the rivet holes. It is possible that the chisel is a late Bronze Age form of a type very poorly represented in the archaeological record of Britain. The X-ray fluorescence metallurgical analysis is consistent with a Late Bronze Age date.

NMGW-2C36F4: SPEARHEAD
Copper alloy socketed side-looped spearhead. Incomplete short socketed spearhead with a plain kite-shaped blade and central rib defined by the tapering socket. Only one of the side loops survive, and is comparatively shallow. Approximately half of the socket is missing, probably because of erosion. The base of the socket is also missing, but is unlikely to have been very much lower. Only small areas of the original surface survive and the blade edge has also been eroded. The socket retains the remnants of the wooden shaft, and further shaft fragments were displaced when the spear dried subsequent to recovery.

NMGW-E80BA5: SPEARHEAD
Copper alloy side-looped spearhead - Class 6E (leaf-shaped, developed side-loop) Incomplete socketed spearhead with a plain leaf-shaped blade. The two loops no longer survive but sprung from either side of the socket, probably fairly near its base. One of the faces is missing as far as the end of the socket, probably as a result of corrosion but possibly the result of casting problems. The socket would have enclosed the shaft around the loops, but the metal is now torn and distorted at this point. The base of the socket is missing. When found the socket contained remnants of the spear shaft. This is Davis' (2012, No.559, Pl.33) Type 6E and can be broadly dated to the Acton Park and Taunton metalworking phases (Davis 2012, 108-110; Needham et al. 1997).

NMGW-B67A91: SPEARHEAD
Bronze Age copper alloy spearhead fragment of side-looped type, dating to the Taunton-Penard metalworking phases (c.1400-1100 BC) of the Middle Bronze Age. The spearhead is broken at both ends and would have been short with a flame- or leaf-shaped blade. The circular socket becomes lozenge-shaped as it defines the central rib of the blade. The remnants of both loops are present at the base of the fragment and appear slight with a circular section.

NMGW-FA8F77: SPEARHEAD
Middle Bronze Age copper alloy side-looped spearhead, Group 6 (Unclassified). Incomplete eroded socketed spearhead, the blade does not survive but the remnants suggest the blade was leaf-shaped. The two loops have been lost, but their remnants are visible near the base of the spearhead either side of the socket. The spearhead has eroded to such an extent that little else apart the socket survives forming a cylindrical tapering point. The bottom of the socket has broken and is missing.

NMGW-8E8085: SPEARHEAD
Middle Bronze Age copper alloy side-looped spearhead, dating to the Taunton (Cenmaes) - Penard metalworking phases (c.1400-1100BC) (Needham et al. 1997), corresponding to Needham's (1996) Period 5 (c. 1500 - 1150BC). The spearhead is complete and is 149.4mm long and weighs 101.3g. The circular socket has an external diameter at the mouth of 19.2mm. Adhering to the inside of the socket is a ring of surviving wood from the spear shaft, (the spear was deposited or lost in a wetland esturine environment). The sides of the socket converge towards the blade. Midway between the blade and the end of the socket are attachment loops (external dimensions 16 x 6mm) with irregular oval tops. The spearhead has a leaf shaped blade (maximum width 30.8mm) with straight converging blade edges. The socket continues as a solid rounded midrib as far as the tip. Bevelled blade edges are evident although eroded. The spearhead had a dark green to brown patina.

NMGW-E250E6: SPEARHEAD
Socket fragment from a Middle Bronze Age side-looped spearhead, possibly falling with the Taunton-Penard metalworking phases (c.1400-1100 BC). The spearhead is represented by the socket only and none of the blade survives, making a typological classification difficult. The socket tapers gradually to the break. The two side loops (c. 19. x 6 mm) are low and flat with a roughly lozenge-shaped plate. Casting seams are clear on both sides below the loops, and have been neatly finished by filing. The striations from the filing survive around the loops. The base of the spearhead is slightly thinner, with a gentle step 5mm from the base. The casting seams have been removed before the step. The surface of the fragment has survived well with a dark brown patina.

NMGW-A67EA6: SPEARHEAD
Middle Bronze Age bronze socketed spearhead of Greenwell and Brewis (1909) Class IV side-looped (socket -looped) type, or Davis' (2012) Type 6C Developed side-looped, probably of Taunton-Penard metalworking phases, corresponding to Needham's (1996) Period 5, c. 1500 - 1150BC. The spearhead is incomplete and fragmentary, with a combined surviving length of 135.0mm and a combined weight of 39.6g. The lower of the three fragments would have been near the original socket rim and would have had a diameter of approximately 15mm. The sides of the socket are straight and converge towards the blade. The lower socket fragment was bent outwards prior to breaking. The loops have flat tops and begin 21.5mm from the current base, with lengths of 15.6mm and 17.0mm (3.3mm and 3.9mm internal). The casting flashes are evident on both sides and have been neatly finished. The blade is leaf-shaped and is slender with a maximum surviving width near its base of 19.5mm. The blade edges are straight and blade facets are discernible. The central rib is slender and comparatively high, producing a concave-sided lozenge blade profile. The tip of the spearhead has been lost. The surface of the spearhead is well-preserved with a dark-brown patina.

NMGW-036216: SPEARHEAD
Middle Bronze Age bronze spearhead of side-looped type, falling within Davis' (2012) Group 6 (Developed side-looped). The spearhead is near-complete, with some peripheral damage, missing some of the mouth and one of the side loops (with a length of 110.7mm) and the socket retains the deposit (giving a weight of 53.5g). The mouth is sub-circular (with a diameter of 18.5mm - 19.8mm) and the rim has a subtle bevel. The loops were flat-topped and oval (18-19mm long, 6mm wide and 2mm high), positioned approximately halfway between the mouth and start of the blade (14-16mm from the mouth and 12-13mm from the start of the blade). One of the loops is damaged and has lost its apex. Above the loops, the socket becomes more oval (12.7mm x 14.5mm) and is marked with prominent incised grooves, with four on one side and five on the other, possibly to imitate or accommodate the binding. The blade is flame-shaped (with a length of 60.5mm and a maximum width of 22.5mm) and has some recent edge damage. The socket continues along the blade to the tip as a prominent but gradually weakening midrib. The blade rib is slightly faceted, possibly because of filing or sharpening the blade. Sharpening striations are clearly discernible on both faces, running along the blade. Blade facets (3mm wide) are evident where the blade edge survives. The break at the tip may have occurred in antiquity through use. The surface has a deep-brown patina with pale green corrosion around the areas of damage. The lateral grooves between the loops and blade are not common features and are difficult to closely parallel. 1. Needham, S. 1996; Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age, Acta Archaeologica 67, p. 121-140 2. Accession number: A11811 3. Needham, S., Bronk Ramsey, C., Coombs, D., Cartwright, C., Pettitt, P.; 1997; An Independent Chronology for British Bronze Age Metalwork: The Results of the Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Programme; Archaeological Journal 154, p. 55-107

NMGW-0BF252: SPEARHEAD
Bronze Age bronze spearhead of Davis' (2012) Group I form and of Arreton Down metalworking dating to the latest part of the Early Bronze Age, corresponding to Needham's (1996) Period 4 dated c. 1700 - 1500BC. The spearhead is near-complete with a distorted tang (with a length of 229mm and a weight of 193.4g). The end of the tang has a separate, circular-sectioned rivet with slightly expanded ends (28.0mm long and 6.6 - 8.1mm diameter and up to 8.8mm diameter for the ends) remaining in-place. The end of the tang is rounded (with a width of 14.1mm, a thickness of 2.3mm and positioned 3mm from the rivet). The tang is rectangular sectioned with near straight sides, slightly narrower above the rivet and gradually thickening towards the blade (with a minimum width of 11.4mm and a maximum thickness of 9.5mm). The blade has bevelled shoulders to give a maximum width near the base (of 42.1mm and a blade length of 156mm). Little of the original blade edge survives but they appear to have been straight and gradually converging to the tip. The spearhead faces have median bevels, giving a lozenge section (with a maximum thickness near the base of 10.7mm). The blade faces are stepped parallel to the edge (7mm from the edge) with an additional blade facet discernible in the better preserved area (2mm from the edge). No applied decoration is evident on the spearhead and there are no sharpening striations discernible. The surface has a mid-green patina with a dark green and blue (possibly azurite) corrosion, some of which appears to be active. Analysis to ascertain the composition of the metal of both the spearhead and the rivet was attempted using X-ray fluorescence, the results are not semi-quantitative but indicate that the spearhead alloy is an arsenical bronze, while the rivet is a tin bronze with only trace arsenic levels . It is unclear whether different alloys were used for practical reasons or whether the two parts were made at different times. Tanged spearheads are not a commonly recovered artefact type, with seemingly only four other recorded examples from Wales. Two of the four tanged spearheads were recovered from Penllyn , indicating a highly-significant local clustering for the type. The other two spearheads are from Ystradyfodwg, Rhondda (Savory, 1980, no. 225, p. 111) and from Llanfachreth, Gwynedd (Savory, 1980, no. 336, p. 132). The Glamorgan tanged spearheads are of a similar form to this example but are generally decorated. The Gwynedd spearhead is of a more squat form. 1. Davis, R.; 2012; The Early and Middle Bronze Age Spearheads of Britain; Prähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung V, 2012, Band 5 2. Needham, S. 1996; Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age, Acta Archaeologica 67, p. 121-140 3. Mary Davis; spearhead: XRF no. 1097/8; rivet: XRF no. 1099 - 1100 4. PAS: NMGW314, NMW 2000.54 & Amgueddfa Cymru accession number: 99.9H/2 5. Savory, H.; 1980; A Guide Collection of the Bronze Age Collections; National Museum of Wales

NMGW-E7AAA1: SPEARHEAD
Middle Bronze Age bronze spearhead of Davis' (2012) Group 6 (Developed side-looped) type. The spearhead is incomplete and heavily corroded, missing the mouth, tip, blade and side loops (with a surviving length of 62.6mm and a weight of 15.0g with an emptied socket). The mouth has been lost and the base is sub-circular (with a diameter of 12.4mm - 14.2mm and with a thickness of up to 2mm). The socket has straight sides which gradually converge (with a surviving depth of 33.5mm). Remnants of the stubs of the side loops are discernible on both sides (beginning 23mm from the surviving mouth and with a length of 9mm). Further along the spearhead the remnants of the blade are discernible (beginning 38mm from the surviving mouth). The spearhead appears to have been of sub-lozenge section at the blade, probably suggesting a midrib. Little survives of the blade, which survives as a flange (with a maximum surviving height of 1.0mm). The spearhead has broken before the tip but above the end of the socket, although there is the suggestion of tapering brown core beneath the bronze, perhaps representing the core from casting. Surprisingly, the core was observed to be magnetic, indicating that it is ferrous, possibly suggesting reuse or repair at a later date (at least 800 years later) or possibly but unlikely as a by-product of the casting process or because of a post-depositional event. Patches of the original surface with a dark green patina survives and there is the suggestion of sharpening striations running parallel to the blade. ~ Needham, S. 1996; Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age, Acta Archaeologica 67, p. 121-140 ~ Accession number: A11811 ~ Needham, S., Bronk Ramsey, C., Coombs, D., Cartwright, C., Pettitt, P.; 1997; An Independent Chronology for British Bronze Age Metalwork: The Results of the Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Programme; Archaeological Journal 154, p. 55-107

NMGW-543FF9: SPEARHEAD
Dimensions: surviving length 67.2mm; max. surviving width of blade 12.4mm; max. thickness 8.9mm; surviving internal diameter of socket 6.2mm; depth of socket (partially blocked by soil) 18.9mm; surviving weight 10.6g Middle Bronze Age spearhead, probably of Davis’ (2012) Group 6; Developed side-looped and dating to the later Arreton-Wilburton phases (c. 1600-1100 BC). This is the blade fragment of a socketed spearhead, broken across the socket/blade junction. The spearhead is relatively short in length, with a narrow and flame-shaped blade. The blade has a lozenge-shaped cross-section, with a narrow and prominent mid-rib. The sides of the mid-rib are straight and converging, extending up to the tip of the blade. Original blade edges no longer survive. Fine striations are visible along the original surfaces, parallel to the blade edge. The breaks along the blade edges and socket appear eroded and largely within the patinated surface, indicating damage cause prior to recent discovery, possibly during antiquity. Two glancing scrapes have exposed fresh bronze across the mid-rib, likely caused during recent discovery and retrieval by the finder. The spearhead has a dull grey-green patina. Original surfaces have a dark grey-green patina, surviving in three small patches on one face. The inner surface of the lower socket has a blue patina, located around the lower break edge. The socket is partially blocked by orange-brown clay soil.

NMGW-3DF2CB: SPEARHEAD
Middle Bronze Age bronze socketed spearhead of Davis’ (2012)[1] Group 6: Developed side-looped, unclassified (Greenwell and Brewis (1909)[2] Class IV (or socket -looped)) spearheads and of later Arreton, Acton Park, Taunton or early Wilburton metalworking (c. 1500 – 1100BC), of Needham’s (1996)[3] Periods 4-5 The spearhead is incomplete missing both most of blade and the socket mouth (with a surviving length of 70.2mm and a weight of 28.5g). The socket was circular, with a small fragment of the simple rim surviving (with a maximum surviving internal diameter of 14.0mm and an external diameter of 16.7mm). The socket continues to the break across the blade. The sides of the socket are near-straight and gradually convergent. One of the loops is complete and is flat-topped of linear form (20mm long by 3mm wide), which begin 20mm from the socket mouth. The perforations beneath the loops are slender and oval (4.0-5mm long and 2mm high). Both sides have a ridge, running between the mouth and the base of the loop. Between the top of the loop and the base of the blade are five to six short horizontal incised lines, perhaps referencing or accommodating the binding. Only a small part of the blade survives (with a surviving length of 18.6mm and maximum surviving width of 45.6mm) but the gentle curve may suggest a leaf-shaped blade. The damaged blade edge with a blade facet is evident and survives on one side. Above the loop, the socket becomes increasingly oval-sectioned and defines a prominent midrib along the blade, as far as the break (with a thickness at the break of 9.5mm). The break occurred in antiquity and the socket (4.9mm diameter) is off-centre at the break (with a minimum thickness of 0.4mm). The spearhead has been neatly finished with no casting flashes evident. The surface of the spearhead is partially-preserved with a dark brown patina. Sharpening striations are evident beneath the patina running along the blade on the better preserved face. Group 6, side-looped spearheads have a long-lived production, spanning the end of Arreton in the Early Bronze Age to Wilburton at the beginning of the Late Bronze Age. A side-looped spearhead of Davis’ (2012) Group 6, Type A was found in the Thames at Mortlake, now in the Museum of London[4], and had remnants of the wooden shaft surviving. The shaft was radiocarbon dated by Needham et al (1997, DOB 31)[5] to 1680 – 1400BC (with 95% confidence). A Group 6, Type D spearhead from Tormarton, Gloucestershire has two radiocarbon dates (1390 – 1010BC and 1310-1057BC) (Davis 2012, ibid. p 7). Most Group 6 spearheads however are likely to date from Acton Park and Taunton industries. [1] Davis, R., 2012; The Early and Middle Bronze Age Spearheads of Britain, Praähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung V. Band 5. [2] Greenwell, W. & Brewis, W.P. 1909, The origin, evolution and classification of the bronze spear-head in Great Britain and Ireland, Archaeologia 61: 439-472. [3] Needham, S. 1996; Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age, Acta Archaeologica 67, p. 121-140 [4] Accession number: A11811 [5] Needham, S., Bronk Ramsey, C., Coombs, D., Cartwright, C., Pettitt, P.; 1997; An Independent Chronology for British Bronze Age Metalwork: The Results of the Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Programme; Archaeological Journal 154, p. 55-107

NMGW-F14218: SPEARHEAD
Middle Bronze Age bronze socketed spearhead of Davis’ (2012)[1] Group 6: Developed side-looped, unclassified (Greenwell and Brewis (1909)[2] Class IV (or socket -looped)) spearheads and of later Arreton, Acton Park, Taunton or early Wilburton metalworking (c. 1500 – 1100BC), of Needham’s (1996)[3] Periods 4-5 The spearhead is near-complete missing one loop and with some damage to the socket mouth (with a length of 94.0mm and a weight of 39.2g). The incomplete socket is sub-circular (with a maximum internal diameter of 13.5mm and an external diameter of 14.5mm - 15.9mm). The socket has a depth of 30, possibly with concretions or corrosion at the base. There is a subtle groove around the socket above the mouth (3mm above the socket). The sides of the socket are near-straight and gradually convergent. One of the loops is complete and is flat-topped of linear form (20mm long by 3mm wide), which begin 20mm from the socket mouth. The perforations beneath the loops are slender and oval (4.0-5mm long and 2mm high). Both sides have a ridge, running between the mouth and the base of the loop. Between the top of the loop and the base of the blade are five to six short horizontal incised lines, perhaps referencing or accommodating the binding. Only a small part of the blade survives (with a surviving length of 18.6mm and maximum surviving width of 45.6mm) but the gentle curve may suggest a leaf-shaped blade. The damaged blade edge with a blade facet is evident and survives on one side. Above the loop, the socket becomes increasingly oval-sectioned and defines a prominent midrib along the blade, as far as the break (with a thickness at the break of 9.5mm). The break occurred in antiquity and the socket (4.9mm diameter) is off-centre at the break (with a minimum thickness of 0.4mm). The spearhead has been neatly finished with no casting flashes evident. The surface of the spearhead is partially-preserved with a dark brown patina. Sharpening striations are evident beneath the patina running along the blade on the better preserved face. Group 6, side-looped spearheads have a long-lived production, spanning the end of Arreton in the Early Bronze Age to Wilburton at the beginning of the Late Bronze Age. A side-looped spearhead of Davis’ (2012) Group 6, Type A was found in the Thames at Mortlake, now in the Museum of London[4], and had remnants of the wooden shaft surviving. The shaft was radiocarbon dated by Needham et al (1997, DOB 31)[5] to 1680 – 1400BC (with 95% confidence). A Group 6, Type D spearhead from Tormarton, Gloucestershire has two radiocarbon dates (1390 – 1010BC and 1310-1057BC) (Davis [1] Davis, R., 2012; The Early and Middle Bronze Age Spearheads of Britain, Praähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung V. Band 5. [2] Greenwell, W. & Brewis, W.P. 1909, The origin, evolution and classification of the bronze spear-head in Great Britain and Ireland, Archaeologia 61: 439-472 [3] Needham, S. 1996; Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age, Acta Archaeologica 67, p. 121-140 [4] Accession number: A11811 [5] Needham, S., Bronk Ramsey, C., Coombs, D., Cartwright, C., Pettitt, P.; 1997; An Independent Chronology for British Bronze Age Metalwork: The Results of the Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Programme; Archaeological Journal 154, p. 55-107

NMGW-F3B5D5: SPEARHEAD
Middle Bronze Age bronze socketed spearhead of Davis’ (2012)[1] Group 6: Developed side-looped, unclassified (Greenwell and Brewis (1909)[2] Class IV (or socket-looped)) spearheads and of later Arreton, Acton Park, Taunton or early Wilburton metalworking (c. 1500 – 1100BC), of Needham’s (1996)[3] Periods 4-5 The spearhead is incomplete missing the tip, much of the blade edge and with some damage to the socket mouth (with a surviving length of 150.1mm and a weight of 45.6g). The truncated socket is sub-circular (with a maximum internal diameter of 14mm and an external diameter of 17.6mm - 18.5mm). The socket retains some of the sediment and has a depth of 75, possibly with sediment or corrosion at the base. The socket has two clear ridges, which develop into prominent mid-ridges on along the blade. The sides of the socket have integral loops, only one of which survives and is flat-topped of linear form (13mm long by 3mm wide), which begin 28mm from the socket mouth at present. The perforations beneath the loops are slender and oval (5.5mm long and 2.8mm high). There is a weak ridge on both sides running from the loop to the blade, giving the top of the socket a sub-lozenge section. Only a small part of the blade survives (with a surviving length of 88mm and maximum surviving width of 5mm) but the slender convergent form may suggest a flame-shaped blade. No detail survives on the small fragment of surviving blade edge. The tip is missing and is likely to have broken in antiquity. The spearhead has been neatly finished with no casting flashes evident. The surface of the spearhead is partially-preserved but with the surface now flaking and with a mid to dark brown patina. Group 6, side-looped spearheads have a long-lived production, spanning the end of Arreton in the Early Bronze Age to Wilburton at the beginning of the Late Bronze Age. A side-looped spearhead of Davis’ (2012) Group 6, Type A was found in the Thames at Mortlake, now in the Museum of London[4], and had remnants of the wooden shaft surviving. The shaft was radiocarbon dated by Needham et al (1997, DOB 31)[5] to 1680 – 1400BC (with 95% confidence). A Group 6, Type D spearhead from Tormarton, Gloucestershire has two radiocarbon dates (1390 – 1010BC and 1310-1057BC) (Davis 2012, ibid. p 7). Most Group 6 spearheads however are likely to date from Acton Park and Taunton industries. Damage to the spearhead makes typological identification uncertain but the comparatively long and slender form with a suggested flame-shaped blade may suggest a Group 6C spearhead, which have a largely South-Eastern British distribution. [1] Davis, R., 2012; The Early and Middle Bronze Age Spearheads of Britain, Praähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung V. Band 5. [2] Greenwell, W. & Brewis, W.P. 1909, The origin, evolution and classification of the bronze spear-head in Great Britain and Ireland, Archaeologia 61: 439-472 [3] Needham, S. 1996; Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age, Acta Archaeologica 67, p. 121-140 [4] Accession number: A11811 [5] Needham, S., Bronk Ramsey, C., Coombs, D., Cartwright, C., Pettitt, P.; 1997; An Independent Chronology for British Bronze Age Metalwork: The Results of the Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Programme; Archaeological Journal 154, p. 55-107

NMGW-ECDADB: SPEARHEAD
An incomplete cast copper alloy side-looped spearhead of Middle Bronze Age date. Probably of Davis’ (2012) Group 5 A (Wide Blade) of the Acton Park metalworking phase (1550-1400 BC). At its mouth, the socket has a diameter of 2mm and an aperture diameter of 17.4mm, as well as an aperture depth greater than 43mm (the very end of the shaft aperture is still filled by soil to an unknown depth). Both side loops are present but damaged, sited 14.4mm to 12.7mm above the socket mouth, measuring 17.2mm long by 6.4mm wide and 17.7mm long by 5.6mm wide respectively. The shape of the loop plates is altered by damage and may originally have been oval or lozenge shaped. The loops are cast in line with the blade, and casting flashing is visible between the socket mouth, the loops and the blade. Much of the flashing appears to have been removed by hammering or possibly filing. Two small (one <0.5mm, the other c. 0.8mm) holes are present in each flashing line 12.7-11.9mm below the blade base respectively. The smaller hole enters the socket at an oblique angle and is partially covered by flashing. The size and positioning make it likely that these holes are chaplet holes, remnants of the casting process. The socket tapers into the blade until at c.26.5mm above the bade base becomes a lozenge sectioned midrib that continues as far as the tip. Damage to the blade edges has made it hard to ascertain the blade shape, which is best described as transitional between leaf and flame shaped. It has a blade length of 68.8mm and a 35.4mm wide PMW (Point of Maximum Width) at 32.84% up the full blade length (22.6mm from the blade base). The width of the blade as a percentage of its length is 51.45%. The blade is broad based and curves smoothly from the base to the blade edge. The single intact blade has a small concave “step” from the PMW to the blade edge, after which the blade runs straight to the tip. It is unclear if this is merely damage, or is reworking during the spears’ lifetime. The other blade edge is badly damaged, with 36mm of blade edge destroyed above the PMW and a large chunk 12.7mm long by 8.3mm deep gouged out of the blade just prior to or during recovery. The blades are flat and slightly beveled at the edges. The identification of this spearhead as Davis’ (2012) Group 5 A (Wide Blade) is not certain, but is most likely based on general morphology, especially width of the blade being equivalent to 51.45% of blade length. Length: 119.5mm Width: 35.4mm Thickness: 21mm Weight: 75.12 g

NMGW-092622: SPEARHEAD
Probable fragmentary Middle to Late Bronze Age spearhead The spearhead is represented the incomplete pointed socket only (with a surviving length of 67.8mm and a weight of 36.6g). The socket (with a surviving depth of 34.5mm and a maximum surviving internal diameter of 14mm and 20mm external) is open on one face and appears to have been sub-circular to oval. The interior of the socket is particularly roughly cast at its base but has undergone more finishing near the break. There are remnant stubs on one side, possibly suggesting loops for binding a spearhead. The spearhead width expands slightly where the blade would have begun (to 21.5mm) before the straight sides converge to the point. Both face are convex and rounded and the more complete face has a slight concavity along its length. The converging sides appear damaged with the stubs of the blade evident. There is a concave stepped moulding at the top of the socket on both faces where remnants of the patina survive. The remnant surface has a green-brown patina and elsewhere has a pale-green corrosion. The fragmentary aspect and poor preservation of the artefact makes any identification difficult, the form however is consistent with Bronze Age spearheads and the remnant stubs on the side of the socket may suggest a spearhead of side-looped type and of Acton Park metalworking, dating to c. 1600 - 1400BC. The step moulding on the faces is more difficult to parallel but it is likely that the curve echoed the curve of the missing blade edge, emanating from the sides of the moulding.

NMGW-DD80BC: SPEARHEAD
Bronze Age socketed spearhead, possibly of Middle Bronze Age date, c. 1600 - 1200BC The spearhead is fragmentary, represented by a median fragment (with a surviving length of 47.7mm and a weight of 9.4g). The mouth of the socket is missing (with a surviving depth of 31.4mm) and is open on one face but appears to have been of sub-circular to oval (with a maximum surviving internal diameter of 8mm). The socket defines a prominent midrib on the more complete face (giving a maximum surviving thickness of 7.5mm). On either side of the midrib, the beginnings of the blade are evident but are heavily truncated (with a maximum surviving width of 13.3mm). There is the suggestion that the blade edges begin just above the break and if correct, implies a spearhead of comparatively small size. The tip is missing and the spearhead is of pointed oval section at the break (8.8mm wide and 4.3mm thick). The surface is heavily-corroded but remnant traces of a dark brown patina survive on the side of the midrib and displays filing or sharpening striations running along the blade. The fragmentary aspect and poor preservation of the artefact makes any identification difficult, the general form however is consistent with Middle Bronze Age spearheads and the suggested scale may tentatively suggest a spearhead of side-looped type and of Acton Park metalworking, dating to c. 1600 - 1400BC.

NMGW-F04D8D: FLANGED AXEHEAD
DESCRIPTION Dimensions: length 102.6mm; width of blade 57.5mm; width of body 25.7mm; max. thickness of body 11.1mm; height of flanges 14.3mm; width of butt 20.5mm; weight 194.7g A virtually complete cast copper-alloy flanged axe of Needham’s Class 5A (Type Horncastle), dating to the Arreton phase of the Early Bronze Age (c. 1725-1500 BC) (Needham 1996; Needham et al. 1997). The sides of the axe are straight and slightly divergent, curving out suddenly at the blade end to create a widely expanded blade with a crescentic cutting edge. The blade edge is slightly damaged and asymmetrical, with one blade tip appearing more pronounced than the other. The axe has a moderately arched butt end. Approximately 48.0mm from the butt end, there is a very low stop bevel across both faces. The flanges are long, extending from just below the butt end to the upper blade. Each flange rises to a maximum height of 2.0mm above the septum on each face. In side-view, the axe has a lenticular profile. Faint cable hammer decoration can be observed down both sides of the axe, positioned between the blade tips and the position of the stop bevel. There are very faint and occasional striations visible across the upper blade which appear within the patinated surface. Sections of fresh bronze are visible across the flanges and face edges, indicating more recent damage which was possibly caused when the axe was recently discovered and retrieved from the ground. The axe has a brown patina, with green and light green surfaces visible across one flange, the lower blade and cutting edge. Pitting is visible across the surface of both faces. This axe may be confidently identified as a Class 5 long-flanged axe: it has long flanges which extend down much of the full length of the body, a relatively thick body with a stop bevel, and a strongly expanded lower blade (Needham 2017, 29-31). The good level of preservation of this axe allows for it to be further identified as belonging to Needham’s Type 5A (Type Horncastle), which characteristically have flanges which are relatively low for the class (ibid., 31-32). Type 5A axes may be particularly early examples of this group, falling towards the beginning of the Arreton phase (c. 1725-1500 BC). Associations with these axes are uncommon (ibid., 32), but a hoard of three flanged axes from Llanover, Monmouthshire (Gwilt & Lewis 2015), contains two probable examples of this type.

NMGW-7ECFB8: DRESS FASTENER (DRESS)
Copper alloy ring of uncertain date, possibly a Late Bronze Age dress-fastener The ring is near-complete, with minimal peripheral damage to one of the terminals (with an overall height of 47.8mm and a weight of 99.1g). The terminals are joined but there is a fracture between the two sides (giving the object an overall width of 76.9mm). The terminals are circular but are irregular (with a diameter of 40mm) and are angled upwards towards the midpoint. The underside of the terminals have a crescent-shaped bevel on the outer edges, elsewhere the underside is concave and appears unfinished from casting. At the centre of each terminal are raised stubs around a rectangular depression (5.3mm long by 1.3mm wide), presumably the remnants of where the jet was removed, although it remains uncertain why the casting left rectangular depressions. The upper faces of the terminals have a raised edge defined by an internal groove. The finished edge does not continue onto the inner side of the terminals. The faces are convex, growing deeper towards the hoop (with a thickness of 6mm). There is a semicircular moulding around the hoop on both terminals (19mm long, 15mm wide and 1mm deep). The hoop (with a maximum external width of 60.2mm and internal: 44.1mm wide by 29.7mm high) is of oval section and is widest and deeper near the terminals (at 14mm wide and 9mm deep) and narrows to the midpoint of the hoop (7mm wide and 7mm deep). There are no discernible wear facets around the hoop. The inner face of the hoop has a casting flaw near one terminal, resulting from an air bubble. The surface of the copper alloy is pitted with a mid-brown patina and a silvery sheen, probably because of tin leaching, leading to surface enrichment.

NMGW-4FB540: ARROWHEAD
Early Bronze Age flint barbed and tanged arrowhead, c. 2,500 - 1,500BC The arrowhead is near-complete, but may have lost the tip and has a length of 23.63mm, a maximum width across the barbs of 21.42mm and has a weight of 1.7g. The ends of the barbs are squared and the tang is moderately pointed. The arrowhead is bi-facially worked by pressure flaking and has a maximum thickness of 4.83mm. The arrowhead is made on pale grey flint and is unpatinated.

NMGW-84F1C2: PALSTAVE
Middle Bronze Age bronze palstave of Group III, Low Flanged, Broad Blade form and possibly of Type Harlech, as defined by Schmidt & Burgess (1981, p137) . The palstave is near-complete, with minimum peripheral damage (with a length of 156mm and a weight of 394.2g). The butt is damaged but was likely to have been moderately straight (with a width of 18.3mm and a thickness of 3mm). The sides from the butt to the stop are near-parallel, gently convex (with a maximum width of 26.1mm). The loop is irregular and extends either side of the stop (with a length of 32mm, an internal length of 7.1mm and height of 4.0mm, an external height of 11.3mm and a maximum width of 7.9mm). The septum is rounded with an arched facet extending from the base of the flanges, above which the butt is flat and with probable hammer marks evident, although much of the surface has been lost at the butt. The stops are comparatively straight and vertical (with a width of 15mm, a depth of 12.5mm and 13.0mm, where the axe has a thickness of 29.2mm). The flanges have a curving top edge, reaching their zenith just above the stop (with a maximum depth of 28.1mm and a maximum height of 10.5mm) and end before the butt. The casting seams are clearly discernible on both sides and have been finished by hammering, carefully finished on the blade but minimally finished near the loop. The sides of the blade are curved and divergent, with a gentle S-shaped profile on the better preserved side and suggesting a 'crinoline' outline, although not pronounced. The blade edge has been lost, which has a gentle curve and is moderately expanded (with a blade width of 59.3mm). Both faces are decorated with a single prominent midrib beginning beneath a bevel from the stop (extending 58mm along the blade). Otherwise the blade faces are flat across their widths and also flat but convergent across their lengths. There is a single subtle blade facet (9mm from the eroded blade edge). The better preserved faces shows hammered dimple facets, arranged in curving arcs and generally concentric to the blade edge. Sharpening striations are also evident running diagonally off the blade edge. The surface has a dark-green to black patina with damaged and pitted areas of mid-green to brown.

NMGW-A49E88: SWORD
One of three fragments of a Late Bronze Age copper-alloy leaf-shaped sword. The morphology indicates that the sword is of Ewart Park Type, a widespread type which belongs to the Ewart Park Metalworking Assemblage (c. 1000-800 BC) (Needham 1996; Needham et al. 1997). This is the first fragment, representing the handle- other fragments are recorded as NMGW-A4C317 and NMGW-A4A891 The sword is incomplete, missing the terminal end of the hilt and the majority of the mid- and lower blade. There is a clear refit between the lower hilt and upper blade fragments, whilst the tapered lower blade fragment is felt on the balance of probability to have also once belonged to the same original object. The three fragments are described in detail below: Fragment 1 – hilt: Dimensions: surviving length 63.4mm; surviving widths 17.1mm (upper break), 41.2mm (across shoulders) and 28.3mm (lower break); thicknesses 4.5mm (upper break) and 9.3mm (lower break); surviving weight 70.9g A transverse break is visible across the hilt tang, the sides of which are straight and near-parallel. The sides of the tang are damaged, but are clearly defined by raised flanges (c. 5.2mm height). The sides of the tang expand outwards sharply to create expanded, flared shoulders. Both shoulders are damaged and eroded. From the shoulders, the blade tapers inwards with a sharp-to-moderate curve. Three rivet holes (5.0-5.2mm diameter) are visible across the surviving hilt: one, located just below the position of the upper break and along the tang; the other two, cast into each shoulder. A prominent mid-rib extends from the position of the tang rivet towards the lower break edge, gradually expanding in width towards the lower break edge. The lower break edge is positioned across the hilt-blade junction, the break edge appearing soil covered and slightly eroded whilst still retaining some angularities across its width. Original surfaces have a grey-green patina. Numerous scratches are visible across both surfaces which break through the patina. Light green powdery surfaces are visible across the edges and the mid-rib.

NMGW-A4A891: SWORD
One of three fragments of a Late Bronze Age copper-alloy leaf-shaped sword. The morphology indicates that the sword is of Ewart Park Type, a widespread type which belongs to the Ewart Park Metalworking Assemblage (c. 1000-800 BC) (Needham 1996; Needham et al. 1997). This is the second fragment, representing the upper blade- the other fragments are recorded as NMGW-A49E88 and NMGW-A4C317. The sword is incomplete, missing the terminal end of the hilt and the majority of the mid- and lower blade. There is a clear refit between the lower hilt and upper blade fragments, whilst the tapered lower blade fragment is felt on the balance of probability to have also once belonged to the same original object. The three fragments are described in detail below: Fragment 1 – hilt: Dimensions: surviving length 63.4mm; surviving widths 17.1mm (upper break), 41.2mm (across shoulders) and 28.3mm (lower break); thicknesses 4.5mm (upper break) and 9.3mm (lower break); surviving weight 70.9g A transverse break is visible across the hilt tang, the sides of which are straight and near-parallel. The sides of the tang are damaged, but are clearly defined by raised flanges (c. 5.2mm height). The sides of the tang expand outwards sharply to create expanded, flared shoulders. Both shoulders are damaged and eroded. From the shoulders, the blade tapers inwards with a sharp-to-moderate curve. Three rivet holes (5.0-5.2mm diameter) are visible across the surviving hilt: one, located just below the position of the upper break and along the tang; the other two, cast into each shoulder. A prominent mid-rib extends from the position of the tang rivet towards the lower break edge, gradually expanding in width towards the lower break edge. The lower break edge is positioned across the hilt-blade junction, the break edge appearing soil covered and slightly eroded whilst still retaining some angularities across its width. Original surfaces have a grey-green patina. Numerous scratches are visible across both surfaces which break through the patina. Light green powdery surfaces are visible across the edges and the mid-rib. Fragment 2 – upper blade Dimensions: surviving length 81.7mm; surviving widths 28.1mm (upper break) and 24.7mm (lower break); thicknesses 10.0mm (upper break) and 8.0mm (lower break); surviving weight 98.1g A clear refit can be established between this fragment and Fragment 1 (above). The blade edges are heavily damaged and eroded, with no surviving evidence of a ricasso along the hilt/blade junction. The damaged blade edges follow a straight and slightly convergent line towards the lower break edge. The blade has a lenticular shaped cross-section with a prominent rib, flanked by shallow grooves. No surviving evidence of a beveled edge can be observed. In side-view, the sword is slightly bent across the upper break edge and the middle of the fragment. The lower break edge is soil covered, but appears well eroded and within the patinated surface. Numerous scratches are visible across both surfaces which break through the patina. Original surfaces have a grey-green patina. Light green powdery surfaces are visible along the damaged blade edges and the mid-rib. Short sections of core metal are visible across the damaged blade edges, indicating more recent damage caused. Fragment 3 - tapered lower blade fragment. Dimensions: surviving length 35.5mm; surviving widths 18.2mm (upper break) and 10.0mm (lower break); thicknesses 5.8mm (upper break) and 4.5mm (lower break); surviving weight 10.9g No clear refit can be established between this fragment and Fragment 2 (above). The sides of the blade are near-straight and converge towards the lower break edge. The blade has a lenticular shaped cross-section. The upper break edge is straight, with a soil covered surface. The remains of a possible beveled edge are visible down one side, with a maximum surviving width of 1.7mm. The tip of the sword is missing. Original surfaces have a grey-green patina. Light green powdery surfaces are visible along the damaged blade edges.

NMGW-9B796D: MINIATURE OBJECT
Miniature copper alloy axe of Late Bronze Age to Romano-British date (c. 1200 BC -AD 400) and probably of Robinson's (1988, p61) type I. The miniature axe head is complete but is slightly distorted along its length and is of comparatively elongated form (with an overall length of 28.9mm and a weight of 4.8g). The butt or mouth is sub-square (4.9mm x 4.7mm) and has a transverse ridge separating the mouth from the top of the loop. The mouth encloses a small, shallow and irregular depression, probably representing a socket. The miniature axe head has a maximum width across the loop (of 10.0mm). The top of the loop is the same level as the mouth. The integral loop is semi-circular form (9.0mm wide and 3.0mm thick) with a small central, sub-circular perforation of irregular, hour-glass form (2mm diameter). It is possible that the axe was suspended from the loop as a pendant or similar. There is the suggestion of a subtle collar moulding below the mouth (6mm long). The unlooped side and the looped side, beneath the loop are both near-straight, with a slight concavity and are divergent to the blade. The blade edge (with a width of 9.7mm and thickness of 1.2mm) is straight. The axe has a rounded, sub-rectangular body profile. The axe has a wedge-shaped profile with generally flat faces and both faces have no obvious decoration. The miniature axe has remnants of a dark- brown patina and elsewhere is mid-green.

NMGW-83CC4B: BLADE
A fragment of Late Bronze Age cast copper alloy blade, possibly of Ewart Park type, dating from c. 1000 to 800 BC. The blade fragment has a surviving length of 64.39mm, with a surviving width of 33.23mm across the top break, and 26.18mm across the lower break. It is broadly trapezoid in plan and is lenticular in cross-section. On one blade face there is evidence of a midrib approximately 12.0mm wide. The blade edges are heavily eroded leaving no original surface. The break surface at the wider end of the fragment is worn with green corrosion, suggestive of the blade being possibly broken in antiquity, although the angularity of the break edge suggests that it may have suffered some damage whilst it was buried in the ground. The break at the narrower end of the blade reveals a reddish-brown core, it has less green corrosion than the other break, suggesting it may have happened more recently. The surface of the blade fragment is smooth, with the exception of five small dents and scratches on one face. It is a mid-copper green colour with lighter green in the more corroded areas. Some small specks of bronze show through the green patinated surface.

NMGW-CDE50B: FLAT AXEHEAD
An incomplete Early Bronze Age cast copper alloy flat axe of undeterminable type, dating from c. 2200 to 1800 BC. The axe is incomplete due to surface loss. It has a surviving length of 76.79mm. The blade end is crescentric in shape, it has a surviving blade width of 44.79mm. From the blade, the body of the axe narrows in shape, and terminates in a rounded butt. The axe is broadly lenticular when viewed in profile, although heavy corrosion has altered its shape. The axe has a heavily textured surface caused by corrosion; it is copper-green in colour with areas of reddish brown in the recesses.

NMGW-FC3F4D: CHISEL
An incomplete Late Bronze Age cast copper alloy tanged chisel, probably of Wilburton or Ewart Park metalworking industry, dating from 1150 to 750 BC. The object comprises of part of the tang and a significant part of the blade. The chisel tang is oval in cross-section, and has a surviving length of 19.03mm from the break to the collar. The break is worn and heavily patinated suggesting damage in antiquity. The tang flares as it reaches the collar which is sub oval in form. From the collar the blade chisel flares, beginning at 8.33mm wide and expanding to a surviving width of 13.78mm. The blade has a surviving length of 32.28mm. Both the blade faces and blade edges are corroded with no original surface or edge facets remaining. The chisel is heavily corroded and pitted with a mid-green patina.

NMGW-2DED9C: SPEARHEAD
A fragment of cast copper alloy spearhead dating from the Middle to Late Bronze Age (c. 1500BC-800BC). The fragment represents only the very tip of the spearhead and is heavily corroded. The loss of diagnostic features due to damage means it is impossible to assign this fragment to a precise type and date range. The spearhead fragment is triangular in plan, with an irregular terminating break 42.7mm below the tip. The majority of the original surface is missing along with the blade edges and original tip, but what remains is straight edges tapering to the tip, with a prominent midrib extending to the blade tip. This midrib gives the spear head a near-lozenge section. The midrib does not typically extend to the tip in the earliest spearheads, so this is diagnostic of a Middle to Late Bronze Age date (Chris Griffiths, Pers. Comm.) Patches of original surface remain on both faces of the spearhead, with a dark brown patina preserving toolmarks. The original surface has delaminated from the remainder of the surface, leaving a powdery blue green to green corroded surface. Length: 42.7mm Width: 21mm Thickness: 6.7mm Weight: 10g

NMGW-095467: HOARD
1.0 Discovery, reporting & findspot investigation (AG, CG & CE) A Late Bronze Age hoard was discovered by Craig Hearne and Kieran Slade on 13th January 2020 while metal-detecting on a field under pasture in Llangeitho Community, Ceredigion. Initially, 17 artefacts were reported as part of this find with a further 9 artefacts found scattered within ploughsoil in the immediate vicinity during January and February 2020, which were also reported and added to this hoard find. A second hoard of 38 fragments from a minimum of 25 artefacts, with a central findspot located approximately 10m away from this hoard was also found on 13th January 2020 by the finders and is the subject of a separate ongoing treasure case (Treasure Case 20.01). Full details of the findspot (NGR) and addresses of the finders and landowner are provided on the Treasure Receipt form for this case. The discovery was first reported to staff at Dyfed Archaeological Trust on 15th January 2020. The seventeen main hoard artefacts and seven dispersed artefacts found within ploughsoil (Nos. 1-17 & 19-25, below) were handed in to the National Museum Cardiff for safe-keeping and treasure reporting on 27th January 2020. Two items (Nos. 18 & 26, below) were subsequently handed in on 17th February 2020. The finders first reported their discovery to H.M. Coroner for Ceredigion on 28th January 2020 and a treasure receipt was subsequently sent to the coroner on the 31st January 2020. Most of the artefacts (Nos. 1-17, below) were found together in the same metal-detector pit at approximate depths of 10-30cm (4-12 inches) below the surface. Additional artefacts (Nos. 18-26) were discovered within the topsoil at shallower depths (approximately 10cm deep, below the surface), scattered within a distance of c.5-15m from the detector pit. One socketed gouge (No. 18 below) was discovered approximately 5-15m to the east, towards the field boundary. In addition, a piece of copper casting waste (No. 26 below) was discovered approximately 5m to the south-west, approximately halfway towards the location of the second Late Bronze Age hoard (Treasure 20.01). Finally, small copper alloy crumb fragments (No. 27, below) were discovered during Dyfed Archaeological Trust’s excavation of test pit 2, confirming the location of this hoard. Staff from Dyfed Archaeological Trust undertook an archaeological findspot investigation in the area of the two hoard finds (Treasure Cases 20.01 and 20.02) with emergency grant assistance provided by Cadw. This involved geophysical survey in the area of the find, undertaken on 18th February 2020, and hand-excavation of two test-pits over each of the two detector pits from which the two hoards were retrieved, undertaken on19th February 2020. This revealed no further artefacts belonging to Treasure Case 20.02. 2.0 Identification and listing of hoard artefacts (AG & CG) Type Portree large plain socketed axe– complete, eroded blade edge (md find 1) Type Portree plain socketed axe – complete, eroded surfaces (md find 16) Type Portree plain socketed axe – complete, eroded surfaces (md find 15) Type Portree small plain socketed axe – near complete, mouth and upper face fragments missing (md find 10) Type Portree small plain socketed axe– near-complete, loop missing, eroded mouth and blade edge (md find 3) Type Portree, small slender and plain socketed axe– near-complete, mouth damaged, eroded blade edge (md find 14) Type Portree, Variant Kalemouth plain socketed axe – complete (md find 7) Type Portree, Variant Kalemouth plain socketed axe – complete, eroded mouth and blade edge (md find 8) Type Portree, Variant Kalemouth plain socketed axe– near-complete, damaged mouth, loop missing, eroded blade edge (md find 12) Large Plain Socketed Axe with Type Sompting, Tower Hill Variant affinities – near-complete, missing mouth and upper face fragment (md find 4) Small Plain Slender Socketed Axe – near-complete, mouth fragment missing, loop missing, eroded surfaces (md find 2) Small South Wales type ribbed socketed axe – large three-quarter fragment, upper face and mouth section missing, eroded blade-edge (md find 11) South Wales type ribbed socketed axe – near-complete, half of mouth missing, broken loop, eroded surfaces (md find 13) South Wales Variant type ribbed socketed axe – complete (md find 5) Croxton Type ribbed socketed axe – near-complete, upper face and mouth section missing (md find 9) Ribbed socketed axe with South Wales Variant / Croxton Type affinities - near complete, mouth section missing, heavily eroded surfaces (md find 6) Plain socketed gouge – complete, eroded mouth (md find 17) Plain socketed gouge – large fragment, part of mouth and socket wall missing, heavily eroded blade surface, eroded surfaces (later dispersed ploughsoil find) Small leaf-shaped sword blade fragment- eroded blade edges and surfaces (dispersed find) Casting jet – single runner form - eroded surfaces (dispersed find) Casting jet – single runner form – eroded surfaces (dispersed find) Casting jet – single runner form (dispersed find) Casting Jet – single runner form – eroded upper face edges and tapering base end (dispersed find) Casting jet – single runner form - eroded upper face edges and tapering base end (dispersed find) Casting jet – double-runner form – eroded upper face edges (dispersed find) Copper casting waste – amorphous unworked fragment, fresh and non-corroded surfaces, original metal surface visible (later dispersed find) Small copper alloy crumb fragments – unidentifiable to artefact type (discovered during DAT excavation of test-pit 2, context 2004)

NMGW-EAB5C7: SPEARHEAD
Dimensions: length 84.7mm; length of blade 39.2mm; max. surviving width of blade 14.2mm; external socket diameter 14.9mm; internal socket diameter 12.4mm; approx. length of side-loops 10-10.4mm; depth of socket 53.8mm; weight 21.62g Middle Bronze Age bronze socketed spearhead of Davis’ Group 6: Developed side-looped (2012), and probably dating to the Acton Park-Taunton metalworking assemblages (c. 1550-1250 BC). The spearhead is complete and relatively short in overall length, with a short and slender leaf shaped blade. The midrib is pronounced and lozenge shaped in cross-section, extending to the tip of the blade. The sides of the midrib are straight and gradually diverge towards the base of the blade before merging with the socket. Two narrow and diametrically opposed side-loops are visible along either side of the socket, positioned approximately two-thirds of the way up the length of the socket. The side-loops are narrow and short. One side of the socket is straight and diverges slightly towards the socket mouth, whilst the other side is slightly concave and bulges out towards the socket mouth. A small sub-circular shaped hole is also visible through the irregularly shaped side of the socket, the edges appearing rounded and within the patinated surface. Both the small hole and the irregular shaping of the socket end are likely to represent minor casting flaws, neither of which would have impacted the use of this spearhead in antiquity. Fine striations are visible running parallel to the midrib, likely representing preparation for use in antiquity. Original surfaces survive well and have a dark green-brown patina. Some loss of original surfaces can be seen across the midrib, blade edges and the socket, revealing green sub-surfaces. A few scratches are visible across the spearhead which break through the original surface. This spearhead can be confidently identified as belonging to Davis’ Group 6, developed side-looped spearheads (2012, 66-110). The short length, leaf shaped blade and lozenge shaped cross-section of this spearhead means that it may be further identified as belonging to Davis’ 6E Leaf (2012, 98-101). The range of radiocarbon dates associated with Group 6 spearheads suggests that they had a long period of currency and use, spanning from the end of the Arreton phase to the Wilburton phase (c. 1600-1150 BC) (ibid., 108-110). Most Group 6 spearheads however are likely to date from Acton Park and Taunton industries (ibid., 109). REFERENCES Davis, R. 2012. The Early and Middle Bronze Age spearheads of Britain. Praähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung V. Band 5. Chris Griffiths Jan 2024

NMGW-68D7B6: HAMMER
A complete cast copper alloy socketed hammer head of middle to late Bronze Age date (c.1500-700 BC). The hammer is long and narrow, sub-rectangular/sub-trapezoidal in plan and section (total length 85.2mm). One end contains a socket with a sub-rectangular, almost circular and slightly expanded mouth (external dimensions 14.6mm tall x 14.3mm wide*, internal dimensions of mouth 11.1mm tall x 12mm wide x appx.12.1mm deep) with a narrow moulded collar (8.5mm long). The sides of the hammer are straight and taper very gently from the collar (dimensions just after collar: 10.3mm wide x 10.5mm thick) to the working face/striking end, which is rectangular in section (dimensions of working face: 8.2mm wide x 4.5mm thick). There is a slight concavity/notch in the middle of the striking face, possibly from use. The faces are mostly flat and gradually convergent, with a very slightly raised uneven central ridge running the length of both faces. There is a slight curvature to the hammer in profile with one face that has a slightly steeper slope c.11mm before terminating in the working face. The opposite face has a sub-oval hole in the centre, possibly a casting flaw (4.6mm long x 2.3mm wide). A casting seam runs along the entire length of the object on both sides and is rough/unfinished max object 17.1mm at the seam of the mouth). The metal has an uneven medium and light green dull patina with traces of black surface coating mostly concentrated on the sides. The object weighs 32.44g. Although not directly parallel, similar objects were recovered from the Bishopsland Hoard in County Kildare, Ireland (Eogan 1983: 226 fig.10 no.16). Broadly similar objects are also recorded on the PAS database e.g. BERK-CA241B, NMS-7D35CC, SOM-B048D1, LON-80850F, LANCUM-5AC798, WAW-75FD95. References: Eogan, G. 1983. Hoards of the Irish Later Bronze Age. Dublin: University College Dublin. The metal has an uneven medium and light green dull patina with traces of black surface coating mostly concentrated on the sides. The object weighs 32.44g. Although not directly parallel, similar objects were recovered from the Bishopsland Hoard in County Kildare, Ireland (Eogan 1983: 226 fig.10 no.16). Broadly similar objects are also recorded on the PAS database e.g. BERK-CA241B, NMS-7D35CC, SOM-B048D1, LON-80850F, LANCUM-5AC798, WAW-75FD95. References: Eogan, G. 1983. Hoards of the Irish Later Bronze Age. Dublin: University College Dublin.

NMGW-3A90AA: DIRK
Middle Bronze Age bronze dirk, probably of Group III weapons with a damaged butt The dirk is near-complete with some peripheral damage to the butt (with a length of 121.3mm and a weight of 31.0g). The apex and shoulders of the butt are corroded and rounded (with a width of 31.1mm and a thickness at the apex of 0.8mm). There are the remains of a rivet hole on one side (with a diameter of 5.9mm) and probably the corroded remains on another on the opposite side. It is now unclear whether the butt has significantly eroded around the rivet holes or whether the dirk has a reworked butt. Below the shoulders, the sides are concave and convergent (for approximately 20mm). The blade is then near straight and slightly convergent (for approximately 40mm with a width of 17-14mm) before converging to the tip. The blade is of lozenge section (with a maximum thickness below the butt of 4.5mm) with a weak mid-rib, beginning as a rib on the butt. Blade facets are evident and are better preserved near the tip. The blade edge is thin and sharp with a number of nicks, although it is unclear whether these occurred in antiquity. Non-destructive, X-ray fluorescence metallurgical analysis identified the alloy as being a clean bronze, with few impurities. The surface is heavily-pitted with the suggestion of a black patina, elsewhere the surface has a pale to mid-green corrosion and there is no surviving evidence for a hilt mark on the surface The dirk is difficult to confidently fit into the typological scheme as outlined by Burgess and Gerloff (1981)[1] but would seem to best fit the Group III weapons with damaged or reworked butts. Group III blades belong to Taunton Metalworking industry of the Middle Bronze Age, corresponding with Needham’s (1996)[2] Period 5, dated to 1500 – 1150BC. [1] Burgess C.B. & Gerloff S., 1981; The Dirks and Rapiers of Great Britain and Ireland, Praähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung IV. Band 7.

NMGW-A4C317: SWORD
One of three fragments of a Late Bronze Age copper-alloy leaf-shaped sword. The morphology indicates that the sword is of Ewart Park Type, a widespread type which belongs to the Ewart Park Metalworking Assemblage (c. 1000-800 BC) (Needham 1996; Needham et al. 1997). This is the third fragment, representing the lower blade- other fragments are recorded as NMGW-A49E88 and NMGW-A4A891. The sword is incomplete, missing the terminal end of the hilt and the majority of the mid- and lower blade. There is a clear refit between the lower hilt and upper blade fragments, whilst the tapered lower blade fragment is felt on the balance of probability to have also once belonged to the same original object. The third fragment is described in detail below: Fragment 3 - tapered lower blade fragment. Dimensions: surviving length 35.5mm; surviving widths 18.2mm (upper break) and 10.0mm (lower break); thicknesses 5.8mm (upper break) and 4.5mm (lower break); surviving weight 10.9g No clear refit can be established between this fragment and Fragment 2 (above). The sides of the blade are near-straight and converge towards the lower break edge. The blade has a lenticular shaped cross-section. The upper break edge is straight, with a soil covered surface. The remains of a possible beveled edge are visible down one side, with a maximum surviving width of 1.7mm. The tip of the sword is missing. Original surfaces have a grey-green patina. Light green powdery surfaces are visible along the damaged blade edges.

NMGW-58EDC3: FLAKE
Prehistoric flint flake, distal fragment of a cortical flake, made on unpatinated grey flint.

NMGW-8EC6E8: TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
Prehistoric flint assemblage, consisting of 55 pieces including a utilized blade, cooking pot body sherd, unfinished arrowhead, flakes, spalls, knapping debitage, natural flint, natural chert, gunflint, blades, retouched blade, core, scrapers, bifacially retouched flakes, leaf-shaped arrowhead, barbed and tanged arrowhead and knife or fabricator. Some of the flint is burnt.

NMGW-8FF741: TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
Prehistoric flint assemblage, consisting of 509 pieces including leaf shaped arrowheads, arrowhead roughouts, knives, denticulated scrapers, scrapers, Ecaille Cores, single platform blade cores, multi-directional cores, core, blades, flakes, knapping debitage, natural stones, double platform blade cores, core rejuvination flakes, Natural flints, Awls, Utilized blades, Levallois flake, spall, natural quartz and a discoidal knife

NMGW3195: POT
Lead pot-mend? Lead or lead alloy waisted casting sub-circular in shape, dished on one face (20 x 16mm) and slightly domed on the other (32 x 24mm). No trace of attached pottery. Weight 27.9 grams

NMGW3290: BROOCH
Fragment of a cast copper alloy brooch. Only the upper part of the bow, part of the flat plate that forms the head of the brooch and the central lug which accommodated the spring mechanism survive. Most of the surviving part of the bow is decorated with a wide, longitudinal groove which contains two way ridges that skeumorphically imitate stitching. The uppermost part of the bow immediately adjacent to the head of the brooch is decorated with an incised St Andrew's cross motif. There is no surviving trace of enamel. The edges of the flat plate which forms the head of the brooch are lost; however, the surviving part of the plate is consistent with it originally forming a semicircular shape that extended downwards. Surviving length 18mm, weight 4.3 grams. An example of a Wroxeter type brooch (Hattatt 1987, 145-147, fig.48) dated, perhaps too precisely, by Hattatt to the first half of the second century AD (1989, 96).

NMGW369: FIXTURES AND FITTINGS
Lead, or lead alloy, fitting or mount consisting of a small tapering rectangular strip, perforated in the middle, broken at its narrowest end and finished with a rounded terminal at the complete end. Length 29mm, width 8mm. Date and specific function uncertain

NMGW-9B8D57: FLAKE
Prehistoric flint utilized flake with a length of 50.9mm, a width of 67.8mm, a thickness of 8.5mm and a weight of 23.6g.

NMGW-9E6215: KNIFE
Prehistoric flint knife fragment measuring 28.2mm length, 15.9mm width, 3.1mm thickness and weighing 1.8mm

NMGW-9E6D56: BLADE
Prehistoric flint Utilized blade measuring 37.8mm length, 17.5mm width, 4.7mm thickness and weighing 3.6g

NMGW-9E79E5: BLADE
Prehistoric flint Retouched blade measuring 26.2mm length, 9.5mm width, 4.2mm thickness and weighing 1.1g

NMGW-9E80A3: DEBITAGE
Prehistoric flint knapping debitage

NMGW-9E86D2: FLAKE
Prehistoric flint natural

NMGW-B8D218: BUCKET
Iron vessel escutcheon of uncertain date The escutcheon is near-complete and comprises a plate and integral loop, and has an overall surviving length of 101.4mm and weighs 55.0g. The plate gradually thins towards its base (2.5mm – 6.9mm) and has a convex profile suggesting it was attached to curved vessel, such as a cauldron. The plate may originally have had a lozenge shape and a rounded break at the base may suggest an attachment rivet hole. Another sub-square protrusion near the shoulder suggests another attachment rivet. The rivet on the opposing shoulder has been lost. The loop has a diameter of 26.3mm (11.1mm internal) and is of sub-square section with a thickness of 7.2mm. The escutcheon is not diagnostic and is therefore difficult to confidently date.