Trans Bristol Gloucestershire Archaeol Soc 114

The text of an address in honour of the late President of the Bristol & Gloucestershire Archaeological Society, delivered at Clifton Cathedral in March 1996.

A report on excavations undertaken in advance of development in 1992--93. Three Iron Age inhumations were recovered from a pit group. Iron Age finds are noted in `Worked bone', by Linda Vyner (21--2), and `Prehistoric pottery', by Jane Timby (22--3). Eleven `Roman burials' are discussed by Alistair Barber (23) -- they had few gravegoods (a domestic knife, hobnails, copper rivets, and a possible offering of a joint of meat). The seven `Anglo-Saxon burials' are covered by Roy King (29, 31--2) -- gravegoods included iron knives -- and the `Context of the Kemble burials' is considered by Carolyn Heighway (33--4). `The medieval occupation', described by Roy King (35--42), began with a phase of quarrying succeeded by a large stone building with evidence for both industrial activity and habitation. Associated finds are detailed in `Metal working debris' [blacksmithing] by Chris Salter (42), `The medieval pottery' by Jane Timby (43--5), `Medieval and later small finds' by Linda Vyner (45, 48--9). Appendices comprise `General comments on the human bone' by Terry Jackman (50--1) and `Dental analysis' by Tim Wells (51--2).

A mainly historical account of the chapel and its congregation, coupled with a description of the surviving burial ground. Tombstone inscriptions, recorded in 1991--92, are transcribed in an `Appendix' (121--9).

Various contributors provide short reports of fieldwork for parishes in the Bristol and Gloucestershire area.

An obituary that also records the death of Bernard Rawes' wife, Barbara, in August 1995.

The ditched and banked enclosure is thought most likely to be medieval, although it has been alternatively interpreted as an IA/RB oppidum or Roman military camp. It is also conjectured that the earthwork originally enclosed a much larger area.