Mold gold cape: Bronze Age site's 'exciting' new finds

The new finds might be older than the Bronze Age gold cape found on the site

An archaeological dig on the site where a priceless Bronze Age gold cape was found has unearthed new finds.

It had been thought nothing was left at the site at Mold, Flintshire after it was last excavated in 1953.

But a community dig led by archaeologists has now turned up tiny burned fragments of bone and small pieces of pottery.

They could turn out to be older than the Mold Gold Cape which was made 3,700 years ago from a single sheet of gold.

The cape, which was discovered in 1833, is one of the British Museum's most prized artefacts and it has been on show at Cardiff and Wrexham this summer.

It was found with a skeleton in a burial site.

The latest discovery could mean the site had some significance further back than many expected, according to archaeologist Mark Lodwick, who is finds co-ordinator for Wales for the Portable Antiquities Scheme.

This manages artefacts unearthed by the wider community.

"The cape is one of Britain's, one of Europe's best artefacts in fact, it's a fantastic object," said Mr Lodwick.

"But the site where it was found has been neglected somewhat and it has been great to work with the community to fill in some of the gaps".

Mr Lodwick, who is normally based at the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff, has been working with colleague Alice Forward, a community archaeologist and they believe the community dig may have unearthed fragments which pre-date the cape.

"We might have small remnant pieces of the early Bronze Age monument," he said.

"We've got to take them back to the museum for proper examination but at the moment it's looking very exciting."

"What we might have is earlier use of the land."

A suspected burial site belonging to the early medieval period, is also thought to have been discovered nearby.

But it will not be excavated during this dig as the whole excavation site is to be closed on Saturday.

And Mr Lodwick said that may mean experts returning to the site in the future to explore further.