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Bronze Age artefacts, which date back 3,000 years, will be the first of their kind to be displayed in Pontypool Museum after being presented as part of the Torfaen Treasure Day on Friday, 7 April 2017 from 2pm.

The hoard consists of five Bronze Age artefacts, including three socketed axes and two spearheads. The treasure was discovered in November 2014 by Mr. Gareth Wileman while metal-detecting in the area of Trevethin, Torfaen and was subsequently declared treasure in 2016 by H.M. Coroner for Gwent.

This prehistoric hoard and a decorative gold finger-ring of late 16th or early 17th century date and found in the area of Henllys, Torfaen in 2013, will be presented to the community.  The Rt. Hon Lord Paul Murphy of Torfaen, President of the Torfaen Museum Trust, will open the event, followed by guest speakers from Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales and local MP, Mr Nick Thomas-Symonds.

Mark Lodwick Co-ordinator of the Portable Antiquities Scheme for Wales (PAS Cymru) said:

“The Trevethin hoard is a significant Bronze Age discovery in this area of Wales, where little was previously known. The quick reporting to the Portable Antiquities Scheme in Wales by Gareth enabled us to carefully excavate the find-spot and ensured that we can now better understand these communities living in the Torfaen area 3,000 years ago.”

The hoard is being acquired by Pontypool Museum with grant funding from the Saving Treasures: Telling Stories Project. This project, funded via the Collecting Cultures programme of the Heritage Lottery Fund, is acquiring archaeological objects discovered by members of the public for public museum collections across Wales. The project is also encouraging communities to engage with their pasts and portable archaeological heritage, by funding a programme of community archaeology projects led by staff in museums throughout Wales.

Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales operates seven museums across Wales National Museum Cardiff, St Fagans National History Museum, National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon, Big Pit National Coal Museum, Blaenafon, National Wool Museum, Dre-fach Felindre, National Slate Museum, Llanberis and the National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 

The Torfaen Museum Trust, which runs Pontypool Museum, is an independent charity.