Golden Mold Cape on show just up the road

* The golden Mold Cape. 

 

The Mold Cape, one of the British Museum’s top 10 treasures and one of Wales’s most iconic archaeological objects is now on display at Wrexham County Borough Museum.

 

The cape was found by workmen digging stone from a stone cairn just on the eastern outskirts of the town in October 1833.

It was brought to the notice of the antiquarian authorities by the local vicar and in the absence of a museum in Wales was acquired by the British Museum shortly afterwards.

Research into the cape and its significance has continued ever since. It is now thought to date to the Early Bronze Age between about 1900 and 1600BC, and to have been associated with a female burial.

This summer’s exhibition is only the second time the complete reconstructed cape has returned to north east Wales. Its first visit to Wrexham Museum in 2005 attracted over 11,000 visitors. This visit is in association with Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales.

The museum has attempted to place the cape in its archaeological context by looking at other sites of similar date in the immediate area. The exhibition will also reveal for the first time the results of recent research into the cape and its place and significance within wider understanding.

Councillor Neil Rogers, Leader of Wrexham County Borough Council, said: “I am delighted that the cape is making a return visit to Wrexham Museum.

"The cape is one of Wales' most important cultural artefacts and I would urge everyone to take the time to see the amazing cape for themselves.

"I would also like to thank both the British Museum and Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museums Wales for facilitating the loan and in the case of the latter for working so closely with Wrexham Museum to develop the exhibition itself."

Capes Beads & Burials will be open to the public   until Saturday September 14.

The museum will open from 10am until 4pm on Saturdays to cater for the expected crowds and will also be open on the August Bank Holiday.

The Mold Cape Spotlight Tour has been financially supported through the Art Fund Prize as part of the British Museum’s Partnership UK programme.

The Capes, Beads and Burials exhibition has been jointly funded by Wrexham County Borough Council and Amguedda Cymru – National Museum Wales.