Bronze Age Gold from Wales
Early Bronze Age gold disc
The Banc Tynddol sun-disc represents a rare artefact, not just in Wales, but across Britain. It was found in a grave during an archaeological excavation in 2002, near to the Bronze Age copper mine at Copa Hill, Cwmystwyth. The disc is thought to have been a button, once attached to the clothes of the dead person. Dating to around 2450-2150 BCE, it is one of the earliest gold objects known from Wales, the other pieces being the Llanllyfni lunula and the Mold Cape.
Gold sun disc, 2450-2150 BCE. One of the earliest gold ornaments from Wales. The Banc Tynddol 'sun-disc' was found in a grave. It was a button attached to the clothes of the dead person. The line and dot circles on this sun-disc were impressed into the gold from the reverse side.
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Find Information
Site Name: Banc Tynddol, Cwmystwyth
Notes: Burial association. The disc was found in 2002, during archaeological excavation of a Roman and Medieval lead smelting site by Simon Timberlake on behalf of the Early Mines Research Group. Concerns over possible survival of undicovered associated artefacts and a possible burial led to further excavation of the site during March 2003, with funding provided by NMW. This led to the discovery of a grave cut containing human remains beneath the find place, though there were no further associated burial goods in the grave.