A History of the World in 100 Objects
Mold Gold Cape
Feb 11, 2010
Explore the discovery of the Mold Gold Cape, an ancient gold object found in Wales. The podcast delves into the sophisticated prehistoric societies in Britain, challenging the notion of primitiveness. It also discusses the mystery behind the gold used in the Cape and the importance of preserving its context.
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Quick takeaways
- The Mold Gold Cape challenges the perception of prehistoric societies as primitive, revealing their sophistication in crafts and social structures.
- The discovery of the Mold Gold Cape suggests a large European trade network, connecting Britain to regions like Scandinavia and the Mediterranean.
Deep dives
The Discovery of the Mold Gold Cape
In a field known as Briner Ethelon, workmen discovered a stone-lined grave containing hundreds of amber beads, bronze fragments, and a skeleton. Wrapped around the skeleton was a crushed and finely decorated sheet of pure gold. The discovery caught the interest of the Society of Antiquaries, and the British Museum eventually acquired the fragments. It took years to reconstruct the divided treasure, revealing a short golden poncho or cape. The cape, dating back over 3,500 years, was made from a single sheet of gold and featured intricate bead-like patterns.
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