Somerset Archaeology and Natural History

The results of archaeological fieldwork undertaken on a multi-period site at Field Farm, on the southern edge of Shepton Mallet, Somerset, in response to a major residential greenfield development. SH

Kelston is an ancient, civil and ecclesiastical parish that lies to the west of Bath and forms a rough square that extends from a frontage on the River Avon to the top of Lansdown. The traditional view is that Kelston is not in Domesday Book for Somerset. This article investigates why it should be.

After examination at the County Museum in Taunton, doubts were raised about the provenance of the polished stone adze with suggestions that it might be an ethnographic import. Petrological analysis confirmed that the adze was likely to be an import from the South Pacific and was made from volcanic stone probably from a Pacific island such as Polynesia. SH

Round up of archaeological work taking place in Somerset during 2008 including Somerset County Archaeological Officer's Report for 2008. Sites include: South Cadbury Environs Project; Axbridge, Moorland Street, Charter Court; Bath, Southgate; Glastonbury Abbey; Nether Stowey; Sutton Montis to Weston Bampfylde; Ashwick, Beacon Hill Wood; Pawlett, Walpole landfill site; Priddy, Priddy Circles; Shepton Mallet, 49 and 51 Compton Road; Shepton mallet, Field Farm; Bathwick, Bath, 17 Henrietta Road; Westbury-sub-Mendip, Cowleaze; Wraxall; Axbridge, The Co-op; Batcombe, Spargrove Manor; Bickerall, Playstreet; Brent Knoll, St Michael's Church; Burnham-on-Sea, St Andrew's Church; Catcott, 7 Manor Road; Cheddar, Lower North Street; Congresbury, Refectory Orchard; Glanstonbury, 22 Benedict Street; Glastonbury, 80 High Street; Glastonbury, Abbey Barn; Milborne Port, Milbrook Mews; Montacute, St Michael's Hill; Somerton, Market Place; Staple Fitzpaine and Curland, Neroche Forest; Taunton Castle; Tintinhull, Tailes Farm; Watchet, West Street; Wells, Cathedral; Wells, College Road; Wells, The Liberty; Cheddon Fitzpaine, Hestercombe Gardens; Crewkerne, Hermitage Street; Dunster Castle; East Coker, Key Farm; Langport, Bow Court, Bow Street; North Petherton, Junior School; Otterford, Warren House, Priors Park Woods; Pitcombe, land to the west of Lime Kiln Lane, Hadspen; Portbury, The Old Mill; Rode, Church Row Farm; Stogursey, Acland-Hood Arms; Stogursey, Fairfield House; Westbury-sub-Mendip, Deer Park; Westbury-sub-Mendip, Lodge Hill; Winscombe, Bull Baiting Plot; Wraxall, Tynesfield; Aller, South Lake Moor; Ansford, St Andrew's Church; Bath, James Street West; Burrowbride, Curry Moor pumping station; Catcott, 5 Weare's Lane; Chard, Phoenix Hotel; Cheddar, Wedmooor Road; Combe St Nicholas, Combe Beacon; Flax Bourton, Saint Michael and All Angels Church; Forton to Penny Street; Glastonbury Abbey; Henstridge, land to the south of Quarry Farm; Ilminster, Dillington House; Lower Claverham; South Petherton, Hele Lane; South Petherton, North Street; Stanton Drew; Steart, Thirteen Acre and South Clyce outfalls; Taunton, Corporation Street; Wellington, Wrangway; Wells, 5 High Street; Wells, Reservoir Lane; Yeovil, Vagg Lane. SH