ramblingon

Early-purple orchids (Orchis mascula) in the wood above Hallowe’en Rift. A widespread and locally common orchid of woodland, scrub and grassland, especially on neutral or calcareous soils.

Paris quadrifolia (Latin); the common names are herb paris,
true lover’s knot, devil-in-a-bush (English); cwlwm cariad (Welsh). All
parts are poisonous. Photographed in Harptree Combe. It doesn’t always
have paired [or four] leaves.

Spent the morning at Priddy Circles with Adam Stanford of Aerial-Cam taking a photographic record using a quad-copter. Just fantastic to see it work and the resulting images!

In Blackrock, Cheddar a squirrel torments the dog while we were out for a walk on Easter Monday.

It took three of us most of the day to clean the long section and to hoe the surface clean ready for photographs. This appears to be a filled natural depression, possibly a sinkhole in the chalk, there is a considerable area of burnt clay, some scant pot sherds and some worked flints. Location is in Dorset, Scales are 3 x 2 metres.

Another sinkhole collapse has appeared close to Priddy Circle No. 1 at NGR ST 53813 52569 (hand held GPS: accuracy 7m). The opening is c.0.6m x 0.5m and 0.7m deep, it appears to ‘bell out’ below ground surface. The collapse is situated in a depression that has been back-filled sometime in the past and is on the west side of Priddy Circle No.1.

Recently excavated this curious crescent shaped group of features associated with a circular group of pits suggested to be a henge. The group is inside the larger group of pits on the NW side and might represent some kind of screen (?) to entry from that side into the henge (?). Located in Dorset, geology is chalk.

This viaduct in Ham Woods near Shepton Mallet used to carry the Somerset and Dorset railway track over the valley. Also used to be a good place for bridge jumping!

An interesting conundrum this one. Which comes first?

A ‘V’ shaped ditch aligned c.NE<>SW with associated pit to the NW and another ditch on the SE side. Hopefully all will become clear as recording proceeds! Geology is Clay-with-Flint Formation overlying Chalk. Scales are 1 metre.

Another evening trip over to Templeton’s to assist the quest to extend South Shaft. The winch is working so kit was transported easily to the required spot. A very satisfying echo can be heard at the dig face.

Decent worked flake recovered during excavation of a linear ditch with c.NE<>SW alignment on a site in Dorset. Geology comprised Clay-with-Flint Formation overlying Chalk. Scale in cm.

Visited the Fussells Iron Works near Mells in Somerset. Operating in the 18th and 19th century’s the foundry manufactured agricultural edge tools – billhooks, scythes, etc. but not exclusively so. For further information visit the Fussells Iron Industry website.