The Mold Cape

Yesterday, I went to see the Mold Cape as it's on display at present in Wrexham Museum, something which doesn't happen often as its usual home is the British Museum, London.




























Three thousand, seven hundred years old, the thinking now is that it was made for a woman. Of course!
Having lived most of my life in the suburbs of cities, it is very refreshing to have facilities near to hand these days. So, the hospital and dentist are within walking distance, should I wish to walk there, as is the town itself, although a bit further away, and yet, turn the other way and we are within a hop, skip and jump of Snowdonia and are surrounded by green fields and countryside.
So I do appreciate the fact that the museum, albeit fairly small, is so close and accessible - and entry is free! What more could one ask for?

9 comments:

Yorkshire Pudding said...

What more could one ask for? More information about the amazing cape!
..The gold cape was found in 1833 by workmen (accounts vary: either during the filling of a gravel pit or while they were quarrying for stone).
The cape was within a Bronze Age burial mound in a field named Bryn yr Ellyllon, the Fairies' or Goblins' Hill. The gold cape had been placed on the body of a person who was interred in a rough cist (stone-lined grave) within a burial mound. The preserved remains of the skeleton were fragmentary, and the cape was badly crushed. An estimated 200-300 amber beads, in rows, were on the cape originally, but only a single bead survives at the British Museum. Also associated with the cape were remains of coarse cloth and 16 fragments of sheet bronze which are likely to have been the backing for the gold: in places the gold was riveted onto the bronze sheeting with bronze rivets. There also were two gold 'straps' among the artefacts found. An urn with large quantities of burnt bone and ash was 0.6–0.9 m from the grave.
The cape's breadth is 458 mm, just over 18 inches. It was designed to fit someone of a very slight build and although the gender of the person buried in this grave remains unclear, the associated finds are likely, by comparison with similar contemporary graves discovered, to be those accompanying the burial of a woman.

Jennytc said...

A lot more information than the BBC article gives. Thanks, YP.

Flighty said...

What a wonderful artefact. Thanks to YP for the interesting facts. Flighty xx

Jennytc said...

Well worth seeing, Flighty.

Cro Magnon said...

How come I've never heard of this! I thought at first that it was an Egyptian artefact. She must have been a highly regarded person. Fabulous.

Jennytc said...

I have to confess, I didn't know about it either till I came to live in Wales, Cro.

ZACL said...

I was about to ask for more information when I saw the great detail that YP gave. It is a lovely object.

I was in Wrexham a few years ago, I had no idea it had a museum. I found a great kitchen gadget shop though - on of the best I have ever had the chance to rummage around. We then went onto Betysw Coed, (hope spelling is close) where sprog got some well-fitting new all terrain walking sandals at one of the well stocked outdoor gear shops.

Jennytc said...

If you come to Wrexham again, ZACL, let us know - we can meet up for coffee. :)

Carol said...

Fascinating piece of craftsmanship and history. Love the new look to your blog.

Plaster board and dust

So, we're still no further forward on the British Gas smart meter front and I've given up making non-existent appointments with them...