An Iron Age sword found in Builth Wells has been confirmed to be dating 300BC.

The sword is now situated at Builth Wells Heritage Centre. The centre received the sword over a year ago by a man who had been given it thirty years before.

The man told the centre that he had kept it in a drawer and forgotten about. The sword had been dug up in the Builth Wells area.

Unaware of what the rusty looking implement was, the heritage centre took it to Y Gaer in Brecon who in turn sent it to Cardiff Museum, where it was kept for a year X-raying and analysing.

The item is coroded but is represented by the blade and tang. The museum in Cardiff discovered the sword’s tip and sides of the blade were missing from corrosion damage. They said the end of the tang is distorted, bent and crumpled

The centre has been told it is only one of three ever found in the UK. It is likely that it was originally 330 to 440 mm, which defines it as a ‘short sword.’

The sword is very similar to the one found at Twyn-y-Gaer Cymyoy; which is better preserved than the one found in Builth.

The only other one was found in an Iron Age burial of a young man in Rudston , East Yorkshire.

Sue Morrison from Builth Wells Heritage Centre said: “It is very exciting news. We have recently received it back from Cardiff. A massive thanks to the team at Cardiff Museum, especially Dr. Adelle Bricking. The sword is now safely in situ in the Builth Wells Heritage Centre.”

The public can view the Iron Age sword at 14 High Street, Builth Wells in the Heritage Centre.