Press Releases

The collar and one of the bracelets were found by Mr Brian Gibbison and Mr Adrian Pearce, while metal detecting in the Boverton area on 23 July 2005.

A second bracelet was discovered soon after, when archaeologists working for the Portable Antiquities Scheme in Wales and Amgueddfa Cymru — National Museum Wales investigated the find-spot. Small fragments of human bone found with the artefacts indicate they were grave goods, which had been badly disturbed through more recent farming activity.

The collar, decorated with an enamelled design, belongs to a type of heavy neck ornament found in western and northern Britain. Of Celtic style, it dates from the end of the Iron Age when the Silures tribe were resisting the advance of the Roman Army in south east Wales. The decorated bronze bracelets are a matching pair and date from the same period as the collar, probably between AD50-75.

Adam Gwilt, Curator of the Iron Age Collections at Amgueddfa Cymru — National Museum Wales said: ‘This set of high prestige ornaments, which was found with a burial, is a very significant new discovery in terms of the Iron Age of Wales. It helps us to understand the styles and identity of the Silures tribe, who were living through this time of cultural conflict’.

Other cases declared are a hoard made up of nineteen bronze artefacts including sword fragments, socketed axes, a winged axe and casting pieces, a sixteenth century silver gilt pin head and a plain silver Medieval brooch from the thirteenth or fourteenth century.

National Museum Wales will seek to acquire these artefacts following their independent valuation. It is hoped that the collar and bracelets will be displayed at National Museum Cardiff.

Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales operates seven national museums across Wales. These are 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.

Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales celebrates its centenary in 2007. For more details go to the .

Entry to all museums is free thanks to the support of the Welsh Assembly Government.

For more information, contact:

Gwenllïan Carr, Head of Press and Public Relations, Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales – 07974 205 849.