Press Releases

A Late Bronze Age hoard (Treasure Case 23.48) was discovered by Matthew Poole on Wednesday 13 September 2023, while metal-detecting on a field in Llantwit Major Community, Vale of Glamorgan. The hoard was first reported to Mark Lodwick, Coordinator of the Portable Antiquities Scheme in Wales (PAS Cymru) and was then reported on by expert curators based at Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales. 

The hoard includes nine complete bronze socketed axes and a bronze casting-jet, a reservoir of metal from a mould, created during the bronze casting process. The socketed axes are all of the same South Wales Type, a typical axe form in south-east Wales with three-ribbed decoration on their upper faces. The hoard was buried towards the end of the Bronze Age around 1000-800 BC or nearly three thousand years ago. 

Matthew Poole, the finder, said: 

“I was out metal detecting on farmland, with permission from the landowner, and I was quite eager to find something of interest to show on the finds table at my club meeting that very evening. To my total amazement, I discovered the first axe head, only a few inches under the surface, which gave an incredible signal on my metal detector. I know how incredibly important it is to record the whole recovery process and to log how each item was positioned. I left the soil on each artefact to let the museum conservation team clean and learn hidden details from this.

Finding history is my passion and with determination and persistence I do very occasionally find some truly amazing artefacts and help rewrite the history books for generations to come.”

Adam Gwilt, Senior Curator: Prehistory at Amgueddfa Cymru, said: 

“This hoard of socketed axes, all with ribbed decoration, adds significantly to a great abundance of this type of axes buried in the Vale of Glamorgan at the end of the Bronze Age. This area around Llantwit Major was one of concentrated settlement and occupation at this time. Many of these axes were never prepared for use before they were buried. This suggests that their careful selection for burial in this hoard, probably during a social and ritual ceremony, was as important to this Bronze Age community as was their practical use as wood-cutting tools.”

Amgueddfa Cymru is interested in acquiring this hoard for its collection, after it has been independently valued by the Treasure Valuation Committee. 

● A semi-worked gold fragment of Middle or Late Bronze Age date (Treasure Case 22.43) was discovered by Peter Halford on Sunday 24^th April 2022, while metal-detecting during a rally on a field in Llanmaes Community, Vale of Glamorgan. The small gold fragment had been hammered flat but was not part of a finished and recognizable artefact. Its gold, silver and copper metal composition was analysed and this helped to identify it as being of Bronze Age date. Cowbridge District Museum is interested in acquiring this Bronze Age gold fragment for its collection. 

● A semi-worked gold fragment of Middle or Late Bronze Age date (Treasure Case 23.54) was discovered by Stuart Humphrey on Thursday 14^th September 2023, while metal-detecting on a field in Llantwit Major Community, Vale of Glamorgan. The small gold fragment had been hammered but was not part of a finished and recognizable artefact. Its gold, silver and copper metal composition was analysed and this helped to identify it as being of Bronze Age date. Cowbridge District Museum is interested in acquiring this Bronze Age gold fragment for its collection. 

● A group of Roman silver coins (Treasure Case 21.06) was discovered in Caersws Community, Powys by Julie Hughes and Mark Gore while metal detecting in early 2021. The coins are denarii dating to between 127 BC and AD 61. Y Lanfa (Powysland Museum) in Welshpool have expressed interest in acquiring these coins for their collection. 

● An early medieval silver ingot (Treasure Case 23.63) was discovered by Gareth Willliams on 12^th August 2023 while metal-detecting on arable land in Cornelly Community, Bridgend. The ingot, which is finger-shaped and cut at one end, is of ninth- to tenth century date. Porthcawl Museum have expressed interest in acquiring this ingot for their collection. 

● Two medieval silver coins (Treasure Case 23.53) were discovered by Steve Picton while metal detecting in Tonyrefail Community, Rhondda Cynon Taf on 24th September 2023. The coins, a pair of near identical groats, were struck in 1351-1352 during the reign of Edward III (reigned 1327-1377). Rhondda Cynon Taf Heritage Service and Pontypridd Museum have expressed interest in acquiring these coins for their collection.

● A Bronze Age hoard of three bronze socketed axe fragments (Treasure Case 22.48) was discovered by Jay Edwards on Wednesday 21^st September 2022, while metal-detecting in a field in Llangynidr Community, Powys. The three, axe blade-end fragments may be dated to the Late Bronze Age, between 1150 BC and 800 BC, around 3,000 years ago. 

● A post-medieval silver coin (Treasure Case 23.46) was discovered by Nick Mensikov while metal detecting in Pentyrch Community, Cardiff on 4th August 2023. The coin is a threepence of Elizabeth I (reigned 1558-1603), which was minted in the 1570s and later gilded and pierced to convert it into a piece of jewellery.