During excavation of the lead smelting site in 2002 a small (39 mm diameter) gold foil disc was found lying upon the surface of the earlier ground level close to one of the medieval hearths.

On closer examination this turned out to be a very unusual and important find: a Copper Age/ Early Bronze Age ‘sun disc’, a unique object to the region and perhaps the earliest gold artefact from Wales.

This is an example of early Bell Beaker gold work, the thin foil disc decorated with a simple repoussé design of concentric rings and dots, rather similar in some respects to the designs found on some of the so-called ‘basket-earring’ hair tress ornaments accompanying important Beaker burials.

Excavation of grave,
Banc Tynddol

Originally the disc may have been worn attached to a cloak or shroud.

In March 2003 the area of this find was re-investigated and a heavily disturbed grave-cut was discovered lying almost directly beneath the findspot.

Some filmy traces of degraded bone but no other grave goods were discovered. The grave faced west down the ‘V’ of the Ystwyth Valley and towards the distant horizon.

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