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) |