The Archaeological Work of the Ubss: the First Twenty Years
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Education and Activities
Mendip Rocks! Framework Consultation Event 25th January 2014 The purpose of this one day event was to consider ideas for improving the understanding and management of the Mendip Hills geology and the wildlife and historic landscape that it has shaped. A significant amount of research, activities and management has already been undertaken by a wide range of individuals and organisations. This one day event started to look at the following ; How can we better share this information? What further research and information is required to engage land managers, decision makers and local communities in the caring for key features and sites? What information, interpreted in interesting ways, would add to the visitor experience and encourage visitors to explore further? The event was attended by 32 people representing a range of interests: Name Organisation Andy Mallender Mendip Hills AONB Unit Sarah Jackson Mendip Hills AONB Unit Dr Gill Odolphie Somerset Earth Science Centre Ruth Worsley Somerset Earth Science Centre Robin Thornes Quarry Faces Barry Lane Wells and Mendip Museum Bob Corns Natural England Michele Bowe Somerset Wildlife Trust Alan Gray Mendip Cave Registry Lila Morris Somerset Wildlife Trust Bob Croft Somerset County Council Ed Goodall AONB Volunteer Ranger Jane Abrahall AONB Volunteer Ranger Chris Binding Robin Bradbury Coleford Parish Council Paul Bryan Mendip Hills AONB Unit Barry Clarke Doulting Parish Council Christopher Couldry Tim Corner Bristol Regional Environmental Records Centre Nick Croxson English Heritage Gill Davies -
COUNCIL of SOUTHERN CAVING CLUBS a Constituent Member of the British Caving Association
` COUNCIL OF SOUTHERN CAVING CLUBS A constituent member of the British Caving Association Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on Saturday 6th May 2006 1. ATTENDANCE (11, 9 eligible to vote) Alan Gray (CSCC Chairman, ACG), Steve King (CSCC Secretary, SBSS/SMCC Obs), Chris Binding (CSCC C&A Officer, Cheddar CC), Alan Dempster (Avon Scouts), Phil Hendy (Wessex CC Obs), Alan Butcher (SMCC), Les Williams (CSCC Equipment Officer, Wessex CC Obs), Tim Francis (MCG), Dave Cooke (Wessex CC), Rob Norcross (Moles CC), Graham Price (Cerberus SS). 2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE (5) Chris Whale (CSCC Treasurer, SBSS), Andrew Atkinson (CSCC Bolting Coordinator, UBSS), Andy Sparrow (CSCC Training Officer, Cheddar CC), Graham Mullan (UBSS), Linda Wilson (UBSS). 3. RATIFICATION OF MEMBER CLUBS The Secretary explained that as of 31st March 2006 two Clubs that had been Members in 2005 (Avon Scouts Caving Section & Wessex Cave Club) had not renewed their membership, though Avon Scouts had subsequently rejoined ahead of the Meeting. At this point DC explained that the WCC had decided to use their BCA Membership to affiliate to the DCA and handed over a cheque to the Secretary as payment for Secondary Membership of the CSCC. This was duly accepted. There were no other applications for membership. The Secretary said that with these late additions, membership of the CSCC stood at 31. The list of Member Clubs recognised by the CSCC as of the date of the Meeting is reproduced in Appendix 1. If your Club is not listed and you think it should be, please contact the Secretary. With representatives of 9 Clubs present the AGM was pronounced as quorate. -
Mendip Hills AONB Survey
Mendip Hills An Archaeological Survey of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty by Peter Ellis ENGLISH HERITAGE Contents List of figures Introduction and Acknowledgements ...................................................1 Project Summary...................................................................................2 Table 1: New sites located during the present survey..................3 Thematic Report Introduction ................................................................................10 Hunting and Gathering...............................................................10 Ritual and Burial ........................................................................12 Settlement...................................................................................18 Farming ......................................................................................28 Mining ........................................................................................32 Communications.........................................................................36 Political Geography....................................................................37 Table 2: Round barrow groups...................................................40 Table 3: Barrow excavations......................................................40 Table 4: Cave sites with Mesolithic and later finds ...................41 A Case Study of the Wills, Waldegrave and Tudway Quilter Estates Introduction ................................................................................42 -
The Prehistory of Mendip
The Prehistory of Mendip A weekend study tour by the Prehistoric Society led by Dr Jodie Lewis (Worcester University) Friday 15th–Sunday 17th August 2008 £120 In a new experiment for the Prehistoric Society we offer a ‘budget’ field study tour of the Prehistory of the Mendip Hills. There will be nothing ‘budget’ about the archaeology but the tour will be based at Bath Youth Hostel. The building is described as ‘a beautiful Italianate mansion in its own gardens’ and has just undergone extensive refurbishment (http://www.yha.org.uk/find-accommodation/south-west-england/hostels/Bath/ index.aspx). It is situated on the edge of the city about 1½ miles from the train/bus stations. Details of buses will be provided and we will arrange timed pick-ups from the railway station. The price will include two nights bed and breakfast in 3-star dormitory accommodation, transport and entry to all sites and packed lunches. Evening meals are not included but there are hundreds of eateries in Bath to suit every budget and there is plenty of nightlife as well as a beautiful city to explore in the evenings. The Mendip Hills boast a huge variety of archaeological sites including, probably most famously, the Cheddar Caves with their Palaeolithic and Mesolithic content, as well as henges, long barrows, exptensive barrow cemeteries, Iron Age hillforts and much more. The tour will be led by Dr Jodie Lewis, a leading expert on the archaeology of Mendip who is currently conducting a programme of fieldwork at Priddy Circles henges and other sites in the area. -
A Bibliography of Somerset Geology to 1997
A selection from A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF SOMERSET GEOLOGY by Hugh Prudden in alphabetical order of authors, but not titles Copies of all except the items marked with an asterisk* are held by either the Somerset Studies Library or the Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society June 1997 "Alabaster" in Mining Rev (1837) 9, 163* "Appendix II: geology" in SHERBORNE SCHOOL. Masters and Boys, A guide to the neighbourhood of Sherborne and Yeovil (1925) 103-107 "Blackland Iron Mine" in Somerset Ind Archaeol Soc Bull (Apr 1994) 65, 13 Catalogue of a collection of antiquities ... late Robert Anstice (1846)* Catalogue of the library of the late Robert Anstice, Esq. (1846) 3-12 "Charles Moore and his work" in Proc Bath Natur Hist Antiq Fld Club (1893) 7.3, 232-292 "Death of Prof Boyd Dawkins" in Western Gazette (18 Jan 1929) 9989, 11 "A description of Somersetshire" in A description of England and Wales (1769) 8, 88-187 "Earthquake shocks in Somerset" in Notes Queries Somerset Dorset (Mar 1894) 4.25, 45-47 "Edgar Kingsley Tratman (1899-1978): an obituary" in Somerset Archaeol Natur Hist (1978/79) 123, 145 A fascies study of the Otter Sandstone in Somerset* "Fault geometry and fault tectonics of the Bristol Channel Basin .." in "Petroleum Exploration Soc Gr Brit field trip" (1988)* A few observations on mineral waters .. Horwood Well .. Wincanton (ca 1807) "Ham Hill extends future supplies" in Stone Industries (1993) 28.5, 15* Handbook to the geological collection of Charles Moore ... Bath (1864)* "[Hawkins' sale to the British Museum... libel -
COUNCIL of SOUTHERN CAVING CLUBS a Constituent Member of the British Caving Association
COUNCIL OF SOUTHERN CAVING CLUBS A constituent member of the British Caving Association Minutes of the Open Meeting held on Saturday 4th February 2006 1. ATTENDANCE (14, 9 eligible to vote) Alan Gray (CSCC Chairman, ACG), Steve King (CSCC Secretary, SBSS Obs/SMCC Obs), Chris Binding (CSCC C&A Officer, Cheddar CC), Alan Dempster (Avon Scouts), Alan Butcher (SMCC), Les Williams (CSCC Equipment Officer, Wessex CC Obs), Tim Francis (MCG), Andrew Atkinson (CSCC Bolting Coordinator, UBSS), Dave Cooke (Wessex CC), Chris Whale (CSCC Treasurer, SBSS), Rob Norcross (Moles CC), Kayleigh Gilkes (UBSS Obs), Andrew Wright (UBSS Obs), Frank Doherty (UBSS Obs). 2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE (3) Andy Sparrow (CSCC Training Officer, Cheddar CC), Graham Mullan (UBSS), Linda Wilson (UBSS). 3. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING Chris Whale’s affiliation was given as UBSS instead of SBSS. The Minutes were otherwise agreed to be a true and accurate record. The Minutes were signed by the Chairman. 4. ACTIONS FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING Item 8.3 - SMK to write to the CHECC Clubs in the region. Done. Item 9 – CW to prepare end-of-year accounts and submit to CO for scrutiny. Taken under Item 8. Item 10.3 – CB to confirm the Box Mine access understanding with the other parties. Taken under Item 9. Item 10.6 – Member Clubs to nominate Leaders for the Lost Cave of Loxton. Done. Item 10.8 – SMK to inform the SMCC that the Gibbets Brow capping will be funded. Done. Item 10.9 – CB to inform the BCA C&A Officer about the ABP initiative. -
Natural Sinkholes Affecting the Priddy Circles, Mendip
Proc. Univ. Bristol Spelacol. Soc, 1986, 17 (3), 355-358. ARCHAEOLOGICAL NOTES NATURAL SINKHOLES AFFECTING THE PRIDDY CIRCLES, MENDIP by W. I. Stanton NGR ST 5452 ABSTRACT Many of the surface depressions in and around the Priddy Circles (Neolithic henge monuments) are shown to be natural sinkholes, not mine workings as had been assumed. The construction of Circle no. 3 involved levelling several pre-existing sinkholes, but the ground remained liable to subsidence. Unsatisfactory ground conditions may have been one of the factors that led to the abandonment of the whole ceremonial site before the Circles were completed, The Priddy Circles, four large Neolithic henge monuments, were described by Tratman (1967) following excavations by the Society, 1956 to 1961. In his paper Tratman often referred to pits and hollows close to the Circles, in some cases affecting the actual earthworks, as being the work of miners. He did not cite evidence in support of this assumption, nor did he mention the possibility that some of the hollows might be natural. Probably he accepted the opinion of local landowners that miners were responsible for almost any hollow in the ground surface of that part of the Mendip plateau. The present writer carried out a field by field survey of surface topography in the Chancellor's Farm orefield (Stanton, 1982, Fig. 2) from 1984 to 1985 and extended it into adjacent areas. Within the orefield itself some of the existing depressions appear to be natural hollows, not the work of miners. The evidence for this assertion includes the smooth rounded forms of the depressions, the absence of tip heaps and the presence of complex snail holes (Stanton, 1986) in limestone outcrops low down in the depressions. -
Mendip Hills Festival of Archaeology
Mendip Hills Festival of Archaeology Discover the fascinating history and archaeology of Wells and the Mendip Hills with open days, talks, walks and other events 12 – 27 July 2014 For the fifth year, the Museum will be co-ordinating a Mendip-wide programme of special events as part of the national CBA Festival of British Archaeology. Visit www.archaeologyfestival.co.uk for full details of the national event. Full details of the Mendip Hills Festival are also available on our website – www.wellsmuseum.org.uk/mendip-hills-festival-of-archaeology-2014 The Museum itself will be organising a number of events including Time Team-style geophysics days, a Finds Identification Day, a Medieval pottery handling day, as well as visits to excavations in Ebbor Gorge and Priddy, to a Grade II Listed farmhouse, and a Cold War underground bunker. The annual Mendip Hills Historic Environment Day will also take place during the Festival on Saturday 19 July. Tickets are now available. Time Team-style geophysics on Cathedral Green, Wells Tuesday 8 July, Friday 18 July and Tuesday 22 July 11am to 4pm Museum staff, members of CHERT, and volunteers will be undertaking a geophysical survey of Cathedral Green, in partnership with the Cathedral Office. There will be practical opportunities for people of all ages, including children, to get involved. Several archaeologists and historians have suggested that there may be a Roman road crossing the Green and its use as a burial ground may also be revealed in the results. Join us at any time 11am to 4pm. No charge. The Charterhouse Mineries Saturday 12 July at 2pm From a panoramic view point of this minery, members of CHERT will explain the various stages of lead processing from pre-history to the Industrial Age, some 2000 years of technical progress. -
Upper Pitts 1992-1994
WESSEX CAVE CLUB CAVING LOGBOOK 1992 - 1994 Acq. No. No. Page Date Cave Area Notes Survey Significant 00526 1 1 31/01/1992 Eastwater Cavern Mendip 00526 2 1 29/01/1992 Flower Pot Mendip 00526 3 1 31/01/1992 Hunters' Hole Mendip 00526 4 1 01/02/1992 Swildon's Hole Mendip Round Trip, Four, Lower Fault Chamber 00526 5 0 02/02/1992 Ogof Ffynnon Ddu Wales Two 00526 6 1 01/02/1992 Swildon's Hole Mendip Mud Sump 00526 7 1 01/02/1992 County Pot Yorkshire 00526 8 2 04/02/1992 Wheel Pit Mendip Surface 00526 9 2 04/02/1992 Waldegrave Swallet Mendip Surface 00526 10 2 04/02/1992 Cuckoo Cleeves Mendip 00526 11 2 05/02/1992 Swildon's Hole Mendip Blue Pencil Passage 00526 12 2 05/02/1992 Flower Pot Mendip Dig 00526 13 2 07/02/1992 Welsh's Green Swallet Mendip 00526 14 2 09/02/1992 Longwood Swallet / August Hole Mendip 00526 15 3 12/02/1992 Flower Pot Mendip Dig 00526 16 3 12/02/1992 Eighteen Acre Swallet Mendip Dig 00526 17 3 14/02/1992 Swildon's Hole Mendip Black Hole, Sump II 00526 18 3 15/02/1992 Swildon's Hole Mendip Upper Series photography 00526 19 3 15/02/1992 Swildon's Hole Mendip Short Round Trip 00526 20 3 16/02/1992 G.B. Cave Mendip Bat Passage 00526 21 3 15/02/1992 Swildon's Hole Mendip Pirate Chamber 00526 22 4 20/02/1992 Swildon's Hole Mendip 00526 23 4 15/02/1992 Peak Cavern Derbyshire White River Series 00526 24 5 16/02/1992 Tilly Whim Caves Dorset Survey 00526 25 5 22/02/1992 Swildon's Hole Mendip Four 00526 26 5 21/02/1992 Pinetree Pot Mendip 00526 27 5 22/02/1992 Longwood Swallet / August Hole Mendip 00526 28 5 22/02/1992 Swildon's Hole Mendip 00526 29 5 22/02/1992 Little Neath River Cave Wales 00526 30 6 22/02/1992 Swildon's Hole Mendip Two 00526 31 6 23/02/1992 Swildon's Hole Mendip Hensler's Dig (dig) 00526 32 6 27/02/1992 Flower Pot Mendip 00526 33 7 29/02/1992 St. -
Digital Trauma Analysis in the Tollense Valley, Germany Number 90
THE NEWSLETTERAST OF THE PREHISTORIC SOCIETY P Registered Office: University College London, Institute of Archaeology, 31–34 Gordon Square, London WC1H 0PY http://www.prehistoricsociety.org/ Micro-traces of a major Bronze Age conflict: digital trauma analysis in the Tollense valley, Germany Human skeletal remains can shed light on the life, state Our palaeomechanical studies focus on the efficiency of the of health and death of prehistoric individuals and even weapons that killed them, the bone trauma they suffered and on the socio-cultural structures of past communities. In the way they were fighting. In the following, we outline a the Bronze Age, a violent mass conflict in the Tollense methodological process of non-invasive, digital trauma analysis valley in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, north-east and simulations of the injury mechanisms. We developed Germany, claimed the lives of many mainly young men. this approach to provide additional data supplementing the ongoing archaeological and anthropological investigations of this unique site, but it can be applied to the study of interpersonal conflicts more generally. In 1996, amateur archaeologists Ronald and Hans-Dieter Borgwardt recovered human bones and a first wooden club sticking out of a bank of the river Tollense. Among the bones, a humerus with a flint arrowhead still embedded suggested interpersonal violence. Since then, intense investigations (excavations and metal detector surveys) have been carried out at several sites over a 3 km stretch of the river Tollense, on land and under water. So far, more than 11,000 skeletal remains, for the most part disarticulated, have been recovered, intermingled with some animal bones and several Bronze Age weapons. -
COUNCIL of SOUTHERN CAVING CLUBS a Constituent Member of the National Caving Association
COUNCIL OF SOUTHERN CAVING CLUBS A constituent member of the National Caving Association Minutes of the meeting of the CSCC held on Saturday 6th December 2003 at the Hunters' Lodge, Priddy. 1. ATTENDANCE a) Andrew Atkinson (UBSS), Tyrone Bevan (BEC), Chris Binding (CHCC, CSCC Secretary), Alan Butcher (SMCC), Dave Cooke (WCC, CSCC NCA Rep), Alan Dempster (Avon Scouts), Tim Fell (SBSS Secretary), John Flanagan (ISG/WAYA), Martin Grass (BEC, CSCC C&A), Alan Gray (ACG, CSCC Chairman), Doug Harris (ACG Rep.), Lee Hawkswell (MCG), Graham Mullan (UBSS), Rob Norcross (Moles), Graham Price (CSS Rep.), Jonathan Roberts (MCG, CSCC Treasurer), Andy Sparrow (CHCC, CSCC Training), Tom Stearn (guest, NFU Insurance expert), Chris Whale (SBSS Chairman), Les Williams (WCC, CSCC Equipment), Linda Wilson (UBSS). b) Apologies: Mick Hawkins, Graeme Hope, Steve King. 2. ALTERATIONS TO MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING AND TOPICS ARISING. (The italicised numbering adjoining each point below refers to the relevant numbering in the previous minutes) 2.1 3.7 BANWELL BONE CAVE: The information in the latest edition (1999) of Mendip Underground "write to Mr. Sargent or Mr. Haynes" is correct. Apologies to Messrs. Irwin & Jarratt. 2.2 3.7 BLEADON CAVERN: Chris Richards is a leader for Bleadon Cavern. However, the owners of the land (the Coles brothers) are reluctant for cavers to cross their land for two reasons - the insurance factor and also during the last year a trailer was stolen, hence a concern about strangers on their land. Doug Harris is to negotiate to see whether he can take on a role as a leader for this site since he knows both the Coles and Chris Richards. -
Blaise Castle and Kings Weston Down
Mike’s Bristol Walks Walk Twenty-Three: Blaise Castle and Kings Weston Down Shirehampton and Avonmouth. Nearby Walk Twenty-Three: Blaise Castle Station Road, Henbury, is served by more and Kings Weston Down direct buses running to Cribbs Causeway via Westbury-on-Trym. Last updated: September 2020 Approx. Time: 3 hours The sprawling Blaise Castle Estate is a great Approx. Distance: 5.3 miles asset to north Bristol, providing a large and diverse country park within the city limits. As The Route well as recreational grassy areas, the estate has extensive woodlands, a lovely river valley Our route starts at the main Blaise Castle and one of the best children’s playgrounds in Estate car park on Kings Weston Road, next to the whole city. There are also several built a broad and attractive grassy area, bordered features of interest, including the original by woodland, which is the recreational heart house (now a museum), a castle folly and an of the estate. historic mill. Nearby Kings Weston Down is also part of the estate, a linear landscape feature in an elevated position. This walk takes in most of the main built and natural features of the estate. Outside the estate, it also includes Henbury village and the fairytale oddity of Blaise Hamlet. The walk does not include the section of the estate to the east of the Hazel Brook valley, a quieter area which is worthy of further exploration to discover it on your own – including two interesting lodges on the main drive. The open grassy area at the entrance to Blaise In order to include the full length of Kings Castle Estate Weston Down, the circuit includes a fairly long on-road section, most of which is not that Take the footpath from the southeast corner exciting; however, an optional shortcut is of the car park, passing an interesting provided that cuts much of it out, at the cost sculpture of a dog made from machine parts of missing out on most of the Down.