| Title: |
Putting capes into context: Mold at the heart of a domain
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| Issue: |
Reflections on the Past: Essays in Honour of Frances Lynch |
| Series: |
Cambrian Archaeological Association Monographs
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| Page Start/End: |
210 - 236 |
| Downloads: |
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Reflections_on_the_Past_11_Needham_210-236.pdf (4 MB)
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Download
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| Licence Type: |
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International Licence
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| DOI |
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| Publication Type: |
MonographSeries
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| Abstract: |
Needham's discussion of landscape and the flows of ideas and materials leads to the proposition that Mold lay within a thriving region in the Early Bronze Age, the seeds of its prosperity probably sown during the Neolithic. A strategic position within exchange skeins facilitated the passage of stone axes from Graig Lwyd in the west and flint from the east, followed by copper and gold once metal was introduced. A further contributory factor was doubtless the combination of fertile low- and medium-altitude ground with accessible upland zones for summer pasture and relevant spiritual pursuits. The discovery and subsequent exploitation for some centuries of local sources of copper added greater diversity to the regional economy—a material with high exchange value to aid procurement of agricultural products, external materials and elite marriage partners. In this sense then, the Mold cape, undoubtedly the apparel of a very distinguished person, could also be the distinguishing insignia of a particular social group centred on the north Flintshire plateau, the flanking coastlands, the Alun and lower Dee valleys. Thus, in all its radiant glory, it would represent their success, prowess and identity. |
| Year of Publication: |
2012
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| Subjects / Periods: |
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north-east Wales
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the Mold cape
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trade
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gold
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copper
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axe hammers
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| Source: |
ADS Archive
(ADS Archive)
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| Relations: |
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| Created Date: |
31 Mar 2022 |
