A pair of rare artefacts dating back around 3,400 years have now been declared treasures by antiquity experts.
The two bronze mould valves were discovered by George Borrill, a metal detectorist, in North Wales and are believed to have been used during the Bronze Age. Mr Borrill, from Llandudno Junction, discovered the rare artefacts while metal-detecting on rough pastureland in Conwy on August 12, 2017.
Before Mr Borrill's discovery, only 17 similar moulds had previously been identified throughout the whole of the UK. Upon discovering the items, Mr Borril reported his findings to Dr Susie White, Finds Officers for the Portable Antiquities Scheme in Wales, with curatorial staff at Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales declaring it a treasure.
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An inquest held at Ruthin County Hall today (June 1) saw Kate Sutherland, assistant coroner for North Wales, record the findings as treasure. The moulds are approximately eight inches in length while featuring a single midrib decoration with a side-loop.
Adam Gwilt, Principal Curator for Prehistory at Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales said: “This is a significant new archaeological find for Wales. Moulds such as these are quite rare across Britain.
"They offer us great insights into the bronze casting traditions operating in North Wales during the Middle Bronze Age. The growing evidence for moulds and palstave hoard finds in this area suggests that a range of bronze palstaves with midrib decorations were made here and were then exchanged and transported over long distances at this time, to their place of use.
"It is likely that the nearby Great Orme Bronze Age copper mines, some of the most important prehistoric mines in Europe and in their heyday during the Middle Bronze Age, provided the local source of copper for bronzesmiths. Tin from Cornwall was accessed, to mix with the molten copper to form these bronze artefacts.
"This matching pair of moulds appears to have been deliberately buried, rather than being recycled at the end of their lives, perhaps during a symbolic act of returning these powerful objects to their place of origin.”
Following its own independent valuation by the Treasure Valuation Committee, Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales hopes to acquire the newly confirmed treasure.
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