Abergele Bronze Age Hoard arrives at Conwy Culture Centre
Conwy Museums Service has purchased a spectacular hoard of Bronze Age artefacts thanks to funding from Arts Council England/V&A Purchase Grant Fund and The Headley Trust.
The hoard was discovered by Colin Rivett in April 2017, while metal-detecting in Abergele. He very responsibly left most of the artefacts buried in the ground and contacted Mark Lodwick, Co-ordinator of the Portable Antiquities Scheme in Wales (PAS Cymru) as a first point of contact for advice. An archaeological findspot investigation of the hoard was undertaken soon after, by a small team of archaeologists led by Mark Lodwick of PAS Cymru with the help of the finder, enabling careful investigation and recording of the burial context and recovery of the hoard artefacts as part of an ongoing treasure case (Treasure Case 17.07). The hoard was couriered to Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales, where its specialist curator Adam Gwilt reported on the hoard for the Coroner.
The hoard was later declared treasure by H.M. Coroner for North Wales (East & Central) in February 2022 and couriered to The British Museum, where it was independently valued through the Treasure Valuation Committee.
Following successful fundraising activity, the hoard was acquired and handed over to the county’s Museum Service.
The hoard consists of thirteen artefacts dated to the late Bronze Age (1200-700BC) and provides new evidence for Late Bronze Age occupation in Conwy County. There are also links to be investigated with the Great Orme Bronze Age copper mine, which is around 12 miles from the hoard find spot.
Once conserved, the artefacts will go on display at Conwy Culture Centre and outreach events are planned, particularly with schools and groups from the Abergele area.
Rachel Evans, Museum Development and Accreditation Support Officer said: “We are immensely excited to bring this Bronze Age hoard home to Conwy County. It enriches the history of Bronze Age North Wales and offers new stories of what people were doing here during this time. We are thankful to our brilliant funders for this opportunity to have the objects on display for the people of Conwy.”
Cllr Aaron Wynne, Conwy’s Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure said: “We’d like to thank our funders for enabling us to acquire this fantastic collection for the people of Conwy County for future generations to enjoy, and thanks to Amgueddfa Cymru for supporting us to make this acquisition.”
To find out more about Conwy Culture Centre, visit: www.conwyculture.com
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Posted on 29/08/2023