Bronze Age Gold from Wales

Built of five tiers of copper alloy sheeting, of which one circular sheet forms the base, three the sides and the fifth comprising the shoulder, everted flange and rolled rim, the sheets being riveted together with round- and truncated conical-headed rivets. Owing to gaps it is impossible to tell how many pieces were used in each tier, but the fifth contains two. The beaded rim is bent round a core of heavier tubular strip. The grooved ring-handles are copper alloy strips riveted to the shoulder, which are passed through slots in the flange. The straps, which are cast to imitate plaited work, have expanded T-shaped ends which engage against the slots in the flange and prevent excessive movement.

This cauldron could hold about 50 litres of stew, enough to feed over 100 people. It was suspended by its handles over a fire during special feasting events. It was designed to impress. Sheets of bronze were hammered to shape by hand, then carefully riveted together.

Cauldrons were prized across Atlantic Europe as communal feasting vessels. This one was carefully buried in the lake at Llyn Fawr, in the Cynon Valley. It was found as part of a hoard, buried in peat.