Press Releases
Treasure found in Carmarthenshire
Date:
2022-05-30Three treasure finds dating from the Bronze Age to post-medieval periods were declared treasure on Friday 27th May by Mr Paul Bennett, Acting Senior Coroner for Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire. The objects were all discovered by metal-detectorists and include a Bronze Age hoard, a medieval silver brooch and a Tudor silver-gilt pendant.
A Bronze Age hoard made up of 20 artefacts (Treasure Case 20.16) was found by Richard Trew while metal-detecting in Llanddeusant Community, Carmarthenshire on 14th and 22nd November 2020. The hoard contains one large spearhead, three small spear fragments, a bracelet fragment, nine ribbed socketed axes, two plain socketed axes, one faceted axe, two sheet bronze fragments and a casting jet. These may be identified as artefact types belonging to the Late Bronze Age, buried together as a hoard around 1000-800 BCE.
Archaeologists from Dyfed Archaeological Trust and Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales carried out an investigation of the area in which the hoard was discovered, with funding support from Cadw. The results of this investigation suggest that the artefacts were buried together in a specially dug pit, seemingly far away from any Bronze Age settlement.
Richard Trew, the finder of the hoard, described the moment of discovery:-
“I felt as though I was taken back in time, no other words can describe it. I couldn’t stop laughing as I kept finding more objects. I will never forget the moment and it will be with me forever.”
Christopher Griffiths, Doctoral student based at the University of Reading and Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales and currently studying Bronze Age hoards from south-east and west Wales comments:-
“The responsible actions of Mr Trew in reporting the find and documenting the moment of discovery has meant that we are able to reveal more of the story behind the burial of this hoard. The large bronze spearhead, struck with a blunt tool and snapped in half prior to its burial, was carefully placed at the top of this hoard. It is possible that the breaking of the spearhead and the burial of the hoard was carried out during a ceremony held by a local Bronze Age community, intended as a sacrifice to the gods.”
A Tudor period silver-gilt pendant (Treasure Case 20.17) was found by David Edwards while metal detecting in a field under arable in Llangeler Community, Carmarthenshire on 12th November 2020. The pendant is heart-shaped and decorated with a bleeding wound design representing Christ’s wound. This personal ornament, a symbol of Catholic faith, dates to the mid-16th century, at a turbulent time of conflicting views held by opposed Church of England and Roman-Catholic faiths.
Dr Mark Redknap, Deputy Head of Archaeology Collections and Research, Amgueddfa Cymru- National Museum Wales said:-
“While the Reformation has traditionally been seen as a time of the rupture of medieval society and order, with iconoclasm, defaced shrines and monasteries closed to become sites of salvage or conversion, archaeological finds such as the Llangeler pendant tell us about the individual continuities and responses to faith during this period. The pendant is closely paralleled by a similar find from Fishguard & Goodwick, Community, Pembrokeshire and could represent an affirmation of faith during the Marian period of Britain’s counter-Reformation.”
A medieval silver annular brooch (Treasure Case 21.04) was found by Rafal Pacholec while metal-detecting on land under pasture in Pontyberem Community, Carmarthenshire in September 2020. The frame of the brooch is decorated with fine bands of black niello (an alloy of different metals and sulphur), and the brooch has a pin in the shape of a dagger, with distinctive ‘stirrups’ to prevent cloth from catching when worn. Through comparison with other known examples, it has been dated to the 13th or 14th centuries AD.
Gavin Evans, Museums Curator at Carmarthenshire County Council comments:-
“We very much hope to acquire these three new treasure finds from Carmarthenshire, as not only will they enrich our growing archaeological collection, but it will ensure these fascinating finds can be accessed and enjoyed by visitors near to where they were found. The hoard, with its large spear and complete axes, is visually impressive and could form a strong new display element on the Bronze Age, drawing on the story of both the finder and the archaeologists who have recently investigated the find.”
ENDS