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Middle Bronze Age bronze ribbed bracelet fragment

This is a small curved mid-section strip fragment of bronze with rib and groove decoration. Based on comparison with similar artefact finds elsewhere, this probably once belonged to a ribbed bronze bracelet. The fragment has three ribs and two grooves on its outer face running in parallel with the direction of the bracelet hoop. The virtually identical size and decoration present on a second fragment in the hoard (2016.31H/12) strongly suggests the two fragments once belonged to the same bracelet, although no clear join can now be found.

This bracelet is identified as an example of a known class of Middle Bronze Age bracelets, known as Type Ramsgate, found across south-west and southern England. The first known example from Wales, these have been securely dated to the ‘Ornament Horizon’ belonging to the Taunton metalworking phase of the Middle Bronze Age (1400-1275 BCE).

Dyma ddarn bach crwn o ran ganol wedi’i wneud o efydd gydag addurnwaith rhesog a rhigolog. O’i gymharu ag arteffactau eraill a ddarganfuwyd mewn mannau eraill, mae’n debygol bod hwn yn perthyn i freichled efydd resog ar un adeg. Mae gan y darn dri gwrym a dwy rigol ar ei wyneb allanol yn gyfochrog â chyfeiriad cylch y freichled. Mae’r ffaith bod maint ac addurnwaith darn arall yn y celc (2016.31H/12) bron yn union yr un fath yn awgrymu’n gryf bod y ddau ddarn yn perthyn i’r un freichled ar un adeg, er na ellir gweld uniad clir nawr.

Mae’r freichled hon yn enghraifft o ddosbarth adnabyddus o freichledi Ramsgate o Ganol yr Oes Efydd, sydd i’w gweld ledled de-orllewin a de Lloegr. Y darnau hyn yw’r enghraifft gyntaf rydym yn gwybod amdani yng Nghymru, ac maen nhw wedi cael eu dyddio’n bendant i’r ‘Haenlin Dlysau’ sy’n perthyn i gyfnod gwaith metel Taunton yng Nghanol yr Oes Efydd (1400-1275 CC).

This rich and varied group of bronze and gold objects was once carefully buried together as a hoard group. Dating to the Middle Bronze Age (1400-1275 BCE) it includes fragments from at least two twisted bronze neck-rings, a variety of bronze and gold bracelets and a large bronze dress-pin, also buried with a bronze dagger and a palstave axe. A first for Wales, similar ornaments and hoards have been found across southern England and northern France. This suggests that the original wearer maintained long-distance cultural connections and shared common stylistic trends.

Cafodd y gwrthrychau efydd ac aur cyfoethog ac amrywiol hyn eu claddu gyda’i gilydd yn ofalus fel celc ar un adeg. Maen nhw’n dyddio o Ganol yr Oes Efydd (1400-1275 CC) ac yn cynnwys darnau o ddwy dorch efydd droellog o leiaf, amrywiaeth o freichledau efydd ac aur a phin gwisg efydd mawr, a oedd hefyd wedi’u claddu gyda dagr efydd a bwyell balstaf. Dyma’r tro cyntaf i dlysau a chelc o’r fath gael eu canfod yng Nghymru, ond mae rhai tebyg wedi’u canfod yn ne Lloegr a gogledd Ffrainc. Mae hyn yn awgrymu bod y sawl a oedd yn eu gwisgo’n wreiddiol yn cynnal cysylltiadau diwylliannol ar draws pellter hir ac yn rhannu steil gyffredin.

TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION Probable ribbed bronze bracelet fragment of Ramsgate Type. Small fragment, probably once belonging to a ribbed bronze bracelet. The curvature of the hoop fragment suggests an original internal diameter in the 50-60mm range, consistent with a small bracelet. The fragment has three ribs, and two grooves on its outer face, running in parallel with the axis of the hoop. One rib is central and the other two define the margins of the hoop. The ribs are approximately 1.5-2.0mm wide, each rib crest approximately 5.0mm from the top of the next. The interior surface of the bracelet is flat. While no conjoin exists between this fragment and fragment 12, it is probable that they once belonged to the same bracelet. Areas of corrosion and pitting are evident on the exterior surface, while the breaks appear worn. Original surfaces have a dark grey-green patination, while corroded surfaces have a lighter green patina.