Bronze Age Gold from Wales

Late Bronze Age gold penannular lock ring

Eight lock-rings are currently known from Wales, though are typically considered an Irish ornament form. Other Welsh examples have been found in the hoards from Gaerwen (Isle of Anglesey) and Rossett 2 (Wrexham), as well as a single find from Newport (Pembrokeshire). Currently, around 75 examples are known from Britain, Ireland and France.

Collection Area

Archaeology & Numismatics

Item Number

54.82/2

Find Information

Site Name: Pigeon's Cave, Great Ormes Head

Collection Method: Chance find
Date: 1898

Notes: Hoard. Two gold lock-rings were found with a bronze palstave and a bronze socketed implement near the Pigeon’s Cave on the Great Orme in 1898. The hoard was supposedly found by two youths amongst the debris at the back of a large loose rock. The account of discovery is recorded by Savory (1958, 56-57) following a newspaper report from 1898 and the exact relationship of the hoard to Pigeon’s Cave is unclear. The Pigeon’s Cave is situated near the sea, and it is unlikely the hoard was associated with a burial.

Acquisition

bequest, 29/3/1954

Measurements

internal diameter (mm): 14.0
external diameter (mm): 29.7
maximum thickness (mm): 9.0
Weight (g): 3.12
minimum width (mm): 3.0 (of gap)

Material

Gold
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