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Two Iron Age artefacts uncovered during recent archaeological investigations at RAF Valley in Anglesey are thought to represent previously unknown elements of the Llyn Cerrig Bach assemblage, a unique series of ritual offerings that had been placed in an ancient lake or its boggy borders more than 2,000 years ago.
The first clues to this area’s prehistoric prestige came to light in the 1940s, when peat from the nearby lake was spread over parts of the airfield while expanding its runway to accommodate the American bombers that used the site during the Second World War. During these works, almost 200 bronze and iron objects were recovered, among them swords, spears, a decorated shield boss, a crescent plaque, part of a horn or trumpet, cauldron fragments, iron bars, tools, and two ‘slave gang’ chains with linked neck rings (see CA 273).
Numerous components from chariots and pieces of horse gear had also been committed to the waters, including fragments of 20–44 iron tyres from 10–22 chariots, 8 naves (hoops for binding wheel hubs), up to 16 bridle bits, 3 terret rings (rein guides), 2 lynch pins, and a short length of a chariot’s draft pole. Radiocarbon dating of this last item, as well as of spear-shaft fragments and animal bones, indicates that this was not a single hoard, but a repeated series of deposits that had been brought to the site between 300 BC and AD 100. People seem to have regarded the lake as a special place for a very long time, and the materials placed within its waters appear to have travelled long distances, with local items complemented by artefacts that are more stylistically typical of southern Britain, northern Britain, and Ireland.
Due to this important archaeological association, all MOD management plans for work on the airfield have to take into account the possibility of finding more items from the assemblage – and so, with runway maintenance scheduled last year, MOD archaeologist Richard Osgood led an investigation of the underlying peat before new tarmac was laid. This involved a metal-detecting survey (carried out under special dispensation, as metal-detecting is illegal across the whole MOD estate) undertaken by a small team of volunteers from Operation Nightingale, an award-winning initiative that uses archaeological fieldwork to boost the well-being of wounded service personnel, and veterans. Sure enough, the project revealed the presence of two artefacts that had been missed during the 1940s works, and had lain preserved in peat beneath the runway ever since.
Illuminating artefacts
Fittingly, given the predominance of horse-related artefacts within the wider Llyn Cerrig Bach assemblage, both new discoveries also represent items of horse gear. One – found during the last ten minutes of the survey – is a complete bridle bit, whose interlinked rings are still intact and articulated. Thought to date to around AD 60, its relatively small size suggests that it would have been worn by a pony, and the artefact is stylistically similar to examples from the Polden Hill Hoard, which was discovered in Somerset in the early 19th century, and contained quantities of 1st-century horse trappings and gear.
‘We are getting lots of other mid- 1st-century finds from around the island, and this adds to the picture,’ said Adam Gwilt, Senior Curator of Prehistory at Amgueddfa Cymru–Museum Wales. ‘We are getting a real boost of understanding of the history of Anglesey in this period of conflict and change – there was clearly lots of metalwork going into the ground at a time when Romans were encountering Iron Age people here.’
The other new find is a terret ring. A British chariot of this period would typically have had five such rings set along its yoke, through which the reins were fed, Adam explained. Its date is less clear than that of the bridle bit, but it is thought to reflect the later period of deposition within the lake, probably between the late 1st century BC and 1st century AD. The ring illustrates a distinctively British form of decoration, with red glass being inset on each face around its flat-ring surfaces.
Both artefacts were recently declared to be Treasure by the Senior Coroner for North Wales (West), with Oriel Môn museum in Llangefni interested in acquiring the objects with the support of Amgueddfa Cymru–Museum Wales. The MOD, as the finder and landowner, has generously agreed to waive any claim to a treasure reward for the artefacts.
‘We are proud to forego any financial reward for these artefacts, as custodians of the nation’s estate,’ Richard Osgood said. ‘Finds like these highlight the importance of long-standing partnerships like those involved in the project – and that, sometimes, your management plans just work!’
A second phase of the investigation (which is code-named Exercise Druid Sacrifice) is planned for later this year, after which Adam and Richard have offered to write a fuller account of the Llyn Cerrig Bach assemblage and our current understanding of this unique collection for a future issue of CA – watch this space.
All images: © Harvey Mills
