Lake Village Research Articles

Bronze Finger-ring from Meare Lake Village

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The Meare Lake Village. A full description of the excavations and the relics from the eastern half of the west village, 1910–1933. By Arthur Bulleid L.R.C.P., F.S.A., and Harold St. George Gray, M.A., F.S.A. Vol. i. 12¼ × 9¾. Pp. xv + 105. Privately printed at Taunton Castle, 1948. 42s.

The Meare Lake Village. A full description of the excavations and the relics from the eastern half of the west village, 1910–1933. By Arthur Bulleid L.R.C.P., F.S.A., and Harold St. George Gray, M.A., F.S.A. Vol. i. 12¼ × 9¾. Pp. xv + 105. Privately printed at Taunton Castle, 1948. 42<i>s</i>.

Sheep and Swine in the Husbandry of Prehistoric Europe

Since the classic work of Rütimeyer (1) and others on the fauna of the Swiss lake villages was first undertaken nearly a century ago, a vast amount of information has been assembled about the livestock of the prehistoric farmers of north-western and central Europe. Interest at first centred on distinguishing breeds of the various species in the hope of defining the routes by which farming spread from its early homelands into the European continent. In recent years more attention has been paid to the light which can be thrown on the economy of prehistoric communities through a study of their livestock : among the chief points which it has been sought to establish are the age at which various species were normally slaughtered, the relative proportions of wild and domestic forms and the proportions in which the different species of livestock were maintained by the people under investigation.

Letters to the editor

National Municipal ReviewVolume 31, Issue 5 p. 273-273 Letters to the Editor Letters to the editor John A. Viec, John A. Viec Iowa State CollegeSearch for more papers by this authorN. J. Albert, N. J. Albert Atlantic CitySearch for more papers by this authorT. Bell, T. Bell Atlantic CitySearch for more papers by this authorGeorge R. Jarvis, George R. Jarvis Sylvan Lake Village, Pontiac, MichiganSearch for more papers by this authorWilliam B. Henderson, William B. Henderson State of MinnesotaSearch for more papers by this author John A. Viec, John A. Viec Iowa State CollegeSearch for more papers by this authorN. J. Albert, N. J. Albert Atlantic CitySearch for more papers by this authorT. Bell, T. Bell Atlantic CitySearch for more papers by this authorGeorge R. Jarvis, George R. Jarvis Sylvan Lake Village, Pontiac, MichiganSearch for more papers by this authorWilliam B. Henderson, William B. Henderson State of MinnesotaSearch for more papers by this author First published: May 1942 https://doi.org/10.1002/ncr.4110310508AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume31, Issue5May 1942Pages 273-273 RelatedInformation

Cornish Promontory Forts

INTEREST in the promontory forts of Cornwall has been much stimulated by the results of Dr. Mortimer Wheeler's excavations in Brittany. One of them, the large and evidently important fort of Trevelgue Head and Porth Island, Newquay, has been under excavation since July 3. Its investigation is being carried on under the direction of Mr. C. K. Croft Andrew on behalf of the Cornwall Excavations Committee. Excavation is still in progress, though much hampered through lack of funds; but the finds reported to date (The Times, Aug. 15), ranging from Neolithic to Early Iron Ago, fully bear out anticipation of the importance of the site, based partly on its superficial resemblance to Hengistbury Head, Hampshire, partly on the imposing character of its septuple line of defences. The main defences are now assigned to the third century B.C., when there supervened an occupation rich in artistic and metallurgical attainments. The pottery is akin to that of Glastonbury Lake Village, displaying curvilinear and lenticular decoration, as well as naturalistic leaf and vegetable forms. It would appear that in order that the outermost defences should include a native iron mine, they were given an eccentric form. At the back of the sixth, the innermost, rampart was banked the refuse of a considerable Iron Ago town. This consisted of houses, or large huts, arranged terrace-wise on the slope rising from the back of the sixth bank to the apex of the island. The best example of a house cleared as yet was occupied from about 200 B.C. to A.D. 100. It is nearly circular and 46 ft. across, the upper sector being sunk two feet deep in the soft slate rock. It shows some fine examples of dry-walling. The wall was probably never more than 4 ft. or 5 ft. high, but it was 6 ft. thick. The roof ran up from eaves which were supported on a ring of external posts, while the span, being too great for early carpenters, was supported by rings of inner posts.

Meare Lake Village

THE three habitations (Nos. xx, xxii and xxiv), which have been examined by Mr. H. St. George Gray and Dr. Arthur Bulleid in the course of the current season's investigation of the eastern division of Meare Lake Village, Somerset, by the character of the finds, more particularly those in hut No. xxii, have emphasized both the importance of the weaving industry in the economy of the inhabitants, and their appreciation of personal ornament of a colourful type. In hut xxii, in which five superimposed hearths of stone and clay have been uncovered, no fewer than twelve combs for beating down the weft and woof threads have been found, with bobbins, loom weights and a dozen spindle-whorls of stone, bone or baked clay. Among other finds were half a dozen saddle querns, hammer-stones and whetstones, a polished flint axe converted into a hammer, flint scrapers, bone awls and modelling tools, iron tools, bone gouges and handles and other objects of red and roe-deer antler, including a 'gaming piece'. A scapula, or shoulder-blade of ox, is ornamented with the dot-and-circle pattern. By far the largest series of remains, however, it is stated in a report on the excavations in The Times of September 16, may be classed as personal ornaments. These include two toggles or dress-fasteners, one finely engraved with four rows of dot-and-circles, the other of a zoomorphic character, having one end resembling the head of a fish. A remarkable large flat brooch is of bronze, of which the surface was probably inlaid with enamel. The finest of the armlets of Kimmeridge shale is carved, while jet appears in the village for the first time in the form of a bead. Another bead of amber has been found, and beads of glass are numerous, the colours being blue, dark red, yellow and black. Some of the beads of clear glass ornamented with yellow spirals were found in a group. The smallest beads (blue) are only two millimetres in diameter. Canine teeth of the dog had been pierced for suspension as a necklace. In hut xxii more pottery, mostly cooking wares, has been found than in any other dwelling.

Meare Lake Village, Somerset

WORK has been resumed at the Meare Lake Village, Somerset, for the season of 1938 under the direction of Dr. Arthur Bulleid and Mr. H. St. George Gray, and will continue until September 17. Operations this year are being concentrated on the middle area of the eastern half of the village, and at the moment, it is reported in The Times of September 2, the dwelling known as No. xxiv is under examination. In the southern section of this dwelling three floors can be seen. Two hearths have been uncovered while near by there is a third, which belongs to the lowest floor. A number of lias stones have been found lying about this hearth. One of these is in an upright position. It is conjectured that it may have been the back of a seat set around the fire. On the east side of this hearth parallel timbers of oak lie on the surface of the peat. The small finds indicate that the inhabitants of the dwelling followed the occupation of weavers. Sawn and cut lengths of red deer antler and several pieces of iron are included among the finds, as well as the rim of a bowl in bronze. Personal ornaments are represented by a spiral finger ring of bronze, and an amber bead inlaid with a spiral ornament in fused white material. Funds for the continuation of the excavations are urgently needed. It is much to be desired that the investigation of this important Iron Age site should be in no way hampered or delayed by lack of funds, for the results of investigations of the western half of the village have been prepared for publication and will be issued shortly. Their value will be impaired if investigation of the village as a whole falls short of completeness. Subscriptions may be sent to Mr. H. St. George Gray, The Castle Taunton.

188. A Lake Village in West Africa

188. A Lake Village in West Africa

Meare Lake Village

EXCAVATIONS at Meare Lake Village have been resumed by the Somerset Archaeological Society under the direction of Dr. Arthur Bulleid, and will continue until at least the middle of September. According to a preliminary report in The Times of August 29, the. stone walling overlying the timber structure, apparently the foundations of a crannog, found last year in the central part of the eastern half of the village, is being examined further. The eastern margin and the south-eastern and north-eastern portions are now in course of investigation. Work has also been begun on the southern border of the village outside a definite dwelling. Timber and oak piles are being revealed, and in a layer of black earth a number of small finds have been made, which in clude a La Tene III brooch, a few objects of bronze, an antler weaving comb, a ‘pygmy’ pottery vessel, and a small Romano-British pot of the type known as ‘Cossington’ ware.

Meare Lake Village, 1935

AN exceptionally interesting find in the excavations of the Somersetshire Archaeological and Natural History Society at Meare Lake Village of the present season, which ended on September 19, is that of a timber substructure of a remarkable and unusual character in one of the mounds. It consists of a squared arrangement of oak beams, 11J feet in length, crossed at the angles and secured by oak piles or corner posts placed vertically through the mortice holes. The arrangement was almost square, the area enclosed by the timbers being fifty-three square feet. The inner area was crossed by one large oak beam; and poles of alder and silver birch laid out in parallel order in both directions under the oak beams combined to form a raft-like structure. The earlier rectangular building on this structure would appear, judging from the position of piles around the area, to have been superseded by the more usual round dwelling, of which the superimposed hearths were found in the position and relation in which they were to be expected. A somewhat similar square timber structure was found in the west village some years ago, and traces of rectangular huts were found at five points, though not in situ, in the Glastonbury Lake Village. From the range of finds in the area of excavation of the present season, it is evident that this quarter of the village was a centre for weaving. Weaving combs, bobbings, needles of bone and no less than twenty-four spindle whorls were found. Among other objects were an iron dagger with bronze fittings, bronze finger rings, yellow paste beads, three spurs of fighting cocks, linked bronze wire and two ‘cheek-pieces' of horses' bridle bits. Among the finds from the excavations of this and previous seasons, to be exhibited in the new Wyndham Galleries of the Somerset County Museum at Taunt on, is a mounted set of the spikelets and grains of Triticum dicoccum found at Meare, with a set of its modern counterpart by its side. These have been prepared by Sir Rowland Biffen.

Meare Lake Village

EXCAVATIONS were resumed on the site of the Meare Lake Village on August 20 and will continue until September 8, or longer, should funds permit. The investigation is being carried on, as usual, under the auspices of the Somersetshire Arch ¦ological and Natural History Society, Dr. A. Bulleid and Mr. St. George Gray again being the field directors. The season's work will be directed to the exploration of two areas in the middle of the group of dwellings of the eastern half of the village. The first of these is a confused area of hummocks and hollows, of which the significance is not clear from surface indications. Apparently the mounds overlap and have been much mutilated superficially. The area is surrounded by a rough lias-stone wall, slight in height, of some 70 ft. in diameter. In a report on the work of the first week which appears in the Times of August 28, it is stated two clay floors of dwellings have been found under the stones. On the upper floor was one of the most ornate and best preserved weaving-combs of antler as yet found in the lake village remains. The second site under investigation is a dwelling mound of approximately 35 ft. diameter, which apparently has three floors, the uppermost being paved with small lias-stones. At this level, two much-defaced brass Roman coins of the fourth century were found. At lower levels, pre-Roman objects included pottery with ‘late-Celtic’ ornament, bronze finger-rings and a buckle and a brooch of La T ¨ne III type. A clear glass bead with yellow spirals was found below the floors. Among the animal remains were bones of two beavers, traces of which are rarely found in Great Britain.

Vorgeschichtliches Leben in den Alpen

THIS book, the author explains, has been written for lovers of antiquity and lovers of the Alps. It is a popularly written account of the prehistory of Switzerland from the earliest times of which traces have been found—“Die Zeit der Bärenjager”, as the author puts it—down to the end of the iron age. While it is intended primarily to interest the visitor to the country hi its prehistoric antiquities, it will be found a convenient summary of information scattered in various publications. The lake villages naturally are treated in some detail. The book is illustrated by 82 well-selected photographs and drawings.

THE PICTON LAKES VILLAGE FOR CONSUMPTIVES

Medical Journal of AustraliaVolume 1, Issue 22 p. 624-624 The Picton Lakes Village for Consumptives THE PICTON LAKES VILLAGE FOR CONSUMPTIVES First published: 01 May 1926 https://doi.org/10.5694/j.1326-5377.1926.tb39580.xAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume1, Issue22May 1926Pages 624-624 RelatedInformation

The Glastonbury Lake Village: A Full Description of the Excavations and the Relics Discovered, 1892–1907

The Glastonbury Lake Village: A Full Description of the Excavations and the Relics Discovered, 1892–1907

The Lake Villagers of Glastonbury 1

THE Lake Village of Glastonbury consisted of between eighty and ninety round huts surrounded by a stockade, and planted for security at the edge of the sheet of water, that is now represented by the peat in the marshes, extending from Glastonbury westward to the sea. The inhabitants smelted iron and made various edged tools and weapons-axes, adzes, gouges, saws, sickles, bill-hooks, daggers, swords, spears, etc. They also smelted lead ore from the Mendip Hills,. and made net-sinkers and spindle-whorls. They probably carried on the manufacture of glass beads and rings and other personal ornaments. They were also workers in tin and bronze. It is likely that the beautiful Glastonbury bowl was made in the settlement, since unused rivets of the same type as those of the bowl have been commonly met with. They were expert spinners and weavers, carpenters and potters,. using the lathe in both industries. The discovery of a wooden wheel, with beautifully turned spokes, proves that they possessed wheeled vehicles, while the snaffle-bits of iron imply the. use of the horse. Their commerce was carried on partly by land, and the possession of canoes gave them the use of the waterways. They were linked with other settlements by the road running due east from Glastonbury, that formed a part of the network of roads traversing the country in the prehistoric Iron age, more especially with the lead mines and the fortified oppida, or camps, of Mendip and of the rest of the county. They were also linked with the Bristol Channel by a waterway along the line of the river Brue, and along this was free communication with the oppidum of Worlebury, then inhabited by men of their race.

The Lake Villages in the Neighbourhood of Glastonbury 1

The Lake Villages in the Neighbourhood of Glastonbury 1

Forthcoming Meeting of the British Association

THE preparations in Bristol for the meeting of the British Association on September 7 proceed apace, and local interest is now thoroughly aroused. The material for the handbook is nearly all in the hands of the editor (Dr. Bertram Rogers), and most of it in type. Among the contributors we note the names of E. J. Lowe, F.R.S. (Meteorology), C. Lloyd Morgan (Geology and Prehistoric Archaeology), A. Bulleid (Glastonbury Lake Village), A. T. Martin (Roman Archæology), J. Larimer (History), J. R. Bramble (Architecture), Dr. D. S. Davies (Sanitation), J, W, White (Botany M. McCurrich (Docks and Tides), J. Holman and H. J. Spear (Economics).

Lake Villages in Switzerland

IT is satisfactory to find that the correspondents of some of the daily journals are now in the habit of giving scientific information to their readers. The following is taken from the Standard:—