Llyn Cerrig Bach: A Study of the Copper Alloy Artefacts from the Insular La Tène Assemblage. By P. Macdonald. University of Wales Press, Cardiff, 2007. Pp. xvi +295, pls 6, col. pls 4, figs 26, tables 19. Price: £ 60.00. ISBN 978 0 7083 2041 9. The metalwork from Llyn Cerrig Bach, Anglesey, is one of the most important assemblages from Iron Age Britain. It was first published by Sir Cyril Fox (1947) in his seminal book, A Find of the Early Iron Age from Llyn Cerrig Bach. Macdonald’s book re-examines the copper-alloy objects from the site, including a new catalogue and illustrations. A new survey of the site and the results of recent metallurgical analysis are included in the appendices. The publication of M’s volume was timed to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the publication of Fox’s original report and the centenary year of the National Museum of Wales. It is based on M.’s doctoral research, which re-evaluated the copper-alloy objects from Llyn Cerrig Bach. The important collection of ironwork from the site did not form a part of M.’s research and consequently, unfortunately it is not covered extensively in this book. The introduction provides useful information about the site, the circumstances of the discovery of the assemblage, and existing research on the copper-alloy artefacts. Chapters 2-5 discuss the manufacture, classification and dating of the copper-alloy objects. In these chapters each object type represented in the assemblage is discussed in meticulous detail, existing classificatory schemes are re-assessed, and every example of each type of object known to the author is exhaustively listed in the text. These chapters show fantastic levels of scholarship and provide an invaluable reference resource for researchers interested in La Tène metalwork. One minor criticism is that the text is extremely dense and could possibly have been made more readable by further summarising of information in tables. The concluding chapters of this book (Chapters 6 and 7) provide an up-to-date re-assessment of the site and its significance. Chapter 6 re-examines the source and date of the assemblage. Fox’s original analysis concentrated on identifying potential regional production centres, such as north-east Ireland and East Yorkshire, as potential sources for the objects in the assemblage. M wisely avoids attempting to identify the work of different ‘regional schools’ of metalwork on the basis of the fact that although some of the objects were clearly made elsewhere, there is no reason why the majority of the objects in the assemblage should not have been made in north-west Wales. Much of this chapter concentrates on re-evaluating the dating of objects from the assemblage as a means of better understanding the nature of depositional activity at Llyn Cerrig Bach. M effectively demonstrates that the majority of datable copper-alloy objects from the site date from the fourth or third centuries BC to the mid-first century AD. A smaller second group of objects dating from the mid-first century AD to the late second century AD is also identified. This conclusion is supported by metallurgical analysis. The overall dating of the site is also confirmed by radiocarbon dates obtained from animal bone also recovered from the site. Importantly, M’s dating strengthens the argument that deposition of objects continued at the site after the Roman Conquest of Anglesey. M’s analysis also confirms Fox’s conclusion that the assemblage does not comprise one depositional act of contemporary objects. More difficult to assess is whether the assemblage is the result of a series of depositional acts or was collected over a period of time and deposited in one episode. Some of the animal bone could not be dated later than the second century AD. M argues that as the animal bone is in very good condition it is unlikely that it was curated for several centuries and he therefore concludes that the assemblage is the result of several episodes of deposition. The final chapter examines the question of why the material was deposited at Llyn Cerrig Bach and contains an up-to-date survey of similar sites from Britain and Europe. One important result of recent survey work of the site is that, like several other sites from Britain and Europe, it could be possible that the objects were deposited in a lake or bog from a wooden causeway connecting a rock platform to an island. Previously Fox had suggested that deposition took place from the rock platform. As to why the material was deposited, like Fox, M asserts that the assemblage is the result of accumulated votive, ritual acts. M’s discussion represents a more balanced assessment of the evidence advancing Fox’s discussion largely centred on Druids. One small criticism must be made over the clarity of the illustrations in this volume. Although the illustrations are clearly excellent and conform to modern conventions they are reproduced too small and appear very feint making it particularly difficult to pick out decorative details. In summary, this is a well written and meticulously researched book which successfully utilises up-to-date methods of research, such as metallurgical analysis, and exhaustive comparisons of finds made in the past sixty years, to re-evaluate Fox’s original analysis of the copper-alloy artefacts from Llyn Cerrig Bach. British Museum JODY JOY