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Late Iron Age iron bridle bit
Iron rein-ring and side-link both plated with copper alloy. The rein-ring is thin, distorted, and badly worn but approximately circular in shape and cross-section. Part of a continuous, decorative, wavy pseudo-seam, which mimics leatherworking, survives on the outer edge of the rein-ring. It is not certain whether this was produced by punching up the copper alloy plating or soldering on a wire to the rein-ring; although the punch marks were probably not capable of producing such a feature there is no evidence of solder either. There are no stop-studs. The side-link has a segmented shape mimicking the form of cast copper alloy examples. The inner-eye of the side-link head is set off-centre probably to compensate for wear; some of which has occurred. Possibly from the same three-link bridle-bit as acc. no 44.32/49ii
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Site Name: Llyn Cerrig Bach, Cae Ifan Farm
Notes: Found during the construction of an airfield at RAF Station Valley. Some certainly, the rest probably, from a wet meadow which formed the margin of Llyn Cerrig Bach. The exact depth below the grassy surface at which the objects were deposited is not known. The bog was excavated to a maximum depth of 20 feet. A few objects were found on the spot, after the peaty deposit had been won from the boggy margin of the lake. The rest, with the exception of 44.32/58, were found on that portion of the adjacent aerodrome on which the peat from this site had been spread. Animal bones were associated with the deposit and many metal objects were stained with vivianite.