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Historic England Research Records

Charterhouse Warren Farm Swallet

Hob Uid: 194741
Location :
Somerset
Mendip
Priddy
Grid Ref : ST4936054570
Summary : A cave on Charterhouse Warren Farm excavated 1972-6 and 1983-6. The cave comprises a large vertical shaft which has a side passage near the top. It is situated on the west side of a small dry valley. Excavations have revealed a stratified sequence of deposits ranging from the Neolithic through to the Roman periods. Finds include an almost complete Beaker plus a few sherds from another, a mimiature pottery vessel of probable Early Bronze Age date, two possible Grooved Ware sherds (though they may also be Bronze Age barrel urn), several "sponge finger" stones of slate, two large quartzite hammerstones or pounders, a bone pin, an antler spatula, and a collection of flints including a dagger, scrapers and knives. Human bones of possible Neolithic/Early Bronze Age date, some of which feature cut-marks. A collection of Iron Age and Romano-British inhumations were found in the side chamber near the top of the swallet. Also present among the animal bones were remains of aurochs, which represent the latest known survival of this species in Britain.
More information : About thirteen human skeletons, Iron Age pottery
including a Belgic form, Samian and other RB pottery, a shale
bracelet, sandal nails and a bronze ring revealed by excavations in
1972 in a probably cave entrance at ST 49405450 on Charterhouse
Warren Farm. (1)

Tratman describes the feature as a swallet and locates it at
ST 49305460, at the head of a side valley leading north into
Velvet Bottom. His grid reference agrees with his statement that
the cave lies north of barrow T 155 (ST 45 SE 40) and his sketch map,
though not clear, appears to substantiate it. (2)

Swallet sited ST 49365457 (plan). In 1971 human and animal bones,
the former representing about 30 individuals, and an RB burial were
found. In 1974 2 Bos Primigenius (Aurochs ) skulls were found ...
(Detailed discussion, with the conclusion that the species survived
in Britain at least up to IA or RB times). (3)

Excavations by cavers since 1972 in the fill of the swallet have
revealed a stratified sequence from the early Bronze Age to the Roman
period. Bones of a variety of animals including man have been found,
together with a plano-convex flint knife or dagger, sherds of a
decorated BA beaker, a halberd-shaped flint and a number of slate
'sponge fingers' similar to those from Overton Hill Barrow, Wilts
(PPS 1966) 130. (4)

The `bone chamber' at Charterhouse Warren Farm Swallet Beaker site was surveyed at large scale. Dating of sediments and bones, analysis, and survey work continue. (5)

Sources :
Source Number : 1
Source :
Source details : Everton, R and W. Blagdon
Page(s) : 23
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : 7, 1972
Source Number : 2
Source :
Source details : MS Field Work Log Book 1972 152-3 (E K Tratman) (Sketch map of site)
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :
Source Number : 3
Source :
Source details : Everton, RF. A Bos primigenius from Charterhouse Warren Farm, Blagdon, Mendip.
Page(s) : 75-82
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : 14(1), 1975
Source Number : 4
Source :
Source details : Cook, N
Page(s) : 109
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : 121, 1977
Source Number : 4a
Source :
Source details : Chappell, RA. 1976. Charterhouse Warren Farm Swallet in the Bronze Age: a tentative reconstruction. Wessex Cave Club Journal vol 14(165), 59-62.
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :
Source Number : 5
Source :
Source details : (S Hobbs, M Paganuzzi)
Page(s) : 359
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : 17(3), 1986
Source Number : 6
Source :
Source details : Levitan, BM et al. Charterhouse Warren Farm Swallet, Mendip, Somerset. Exploration, Geomorphology, Taphonomy and Archaeology.
Page(s) : 171-239
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : 18(2), 1988
Source Number : 7
Source :
Source details :
Page(s) : 100
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : 19
Source Number : 8
Source :
Source details :
Page(s) : 123-4
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Monument Types:
Monument Period Name : Late Neolithic
Display Date : Late Neolithic
Monument End Date : -2200
Monument Start Date : -2900
Monument Type : Cave
Evidence : Subterranean Feature
Monument Period Name : Early Bronze Age
Display Date : Early Bronze Age
Monument End Date : -1600
Monument Start Date : -2600
Monument Type : Cave
Evidence : Subterranean Feature
Monument Period Name : Iron Age
Display Date : Iron Age
Monument End Date : 43
Monument Start Date : -800
Monument Type : Cave, Inhumation
Evidence : Subterranean Feature, Sub Surface Deposit
Monument Period Name : Roman
Display Date : Roman
Monument End Date : 410
Monument Start Date : 43
Monument Type : Inhumation, Cave
Evidence : Subterranean Feature, Sub Surface Deposit
Monument Period Name : Uncertain
Display Date :
Monument End Date :
Monument Start Date :
Monument Type : Cave
Evidence : Subterranean Feature

Components and Objects:
Period : Late Neolithic
Component Monument Type : Cave
Object Type : KNIFE, HUMAN REMAINS, ANIMAL REMAINS, SCRAPER (TOOL), DAGGER, VESSEL
Object Material : Flint, Pottery
Period : Early Bronze Age
Component Monument Type : Cave
Object Type : VESSEL, KNIFE, LITHIC IMPLEMENT, DAGGER, HUMAN REMAINS, ANIMAL REMAINS
Object Material : Pottery, Flint, Slate
Period : Iron Age
Component Monument Type : Cave, Inhumation
Object Type : VESSEL, HUMAN REMAINS, ANIMAL REMAINS
Object Material : Pottery
Period : Roman
Component Monument Type : Inhumation, Cave
Object Type : BRACELET, VESSEL, HUMAN REMAINS, ANIMAL REMAINS
Object Material : Shale, Pottery
Period : Uncertain
Component Monument Type : Cave
Object Type : HUMAN REMAINS, ANIMAL REMAINS
Object Material :

Related Records from other datasets:
External Cross Reference Source : SMR Number (Somerset)
External Cross Reference Number : 2/40/168
External Cross Reference Notes :
External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : ST 45 SE 60
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :
Related Activities :
Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1972-01-01
End Date : 1981-12-31