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ramblingon

is all about excursions in the countryside including caving and digging trips, walks and thoughts.

Simmonds, V. 2014. An overview of the archaeology of Mendip caves and karst. Mendip Cave Register & Archive (MCRA). (currently being revised, 2016)

An overview of the archaeology of Mendip caves and karst is freely available online at www.mendipgeoarch.net and in the archaeology section of the Mendip Cave Register & Archive at www.mcra.org.uk

Home Close Hole, nr. Wigmore Farm, Mendip Hills

2015 Posted on Sat, June 13, 2015 17:41:55

7th June 2015

With Paul Brock

Got an invite to go over and take a look at the very recent discoveries in this cave. the entrance is a descent by fixed ladder through concrete pipes and into a largely blasted passage with a number of fixed aids in the drops. The breakthrough point is a fine 80 foot pitch, rigged for SRT (single rope technique), in dolomitic conglomerate – it’s colourful. From the bottom of the pitch there follows a good deal of walking/stooping/crawling passage. At the the upstream end of an inlet I spent a while digging through a low, wet grovel in gravel and silt to enter a small chamber (c. 3m long x 2m high x 2m wide) that ended in another low grovel that I didn’t follow. We then proceeded to take a look at a couple of leads in a massive boulder collapse (has some similarities to a talus cone), I suggested that an accurate survey of the area would give a better idea of how to approach exploration here. We made our way back towards the pitch stopping on route to follow a longish gnarly passage where the quite considerable sound of falling water can be heard but not seen through a currently impenetrable slot, needs some chemical persuasion. We returned to the pitch and made our way out to the surface.

At the surface we were greeted by Tony Audsley, Chris Batstone, Slug, Alice and Caroline who had prepared tea and scones with jam and cream – very civilized. Tangent arrived on his bike, he was supposed to be joining us underground but was looking somewhat worse for wear. After getting changed and finishing tea we all made our way to the Queen Vic for more refreshment.

An enjoyable Sunday afternoon.



26th April 2015

2015 Posted on Sun, April 26, 2015 16:46:29

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.



19th April 2015

2015 Posted on Wed, April 22, 2015 07:18:33

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.



9th April 2015

2015 Posted on Thu, April 09, 2015 17:05:19


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!



Easter Monday walk

2015 Posted on Tue, April 07, 2015 05:53:54


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



More of the day job!

2015 Posted on Mon, March 30, 2015 06:56:34

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.



25th March 2015

2015 Posted on Wed, March 25, 2015 21:20:17

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.



More from the day job!

2015 Posted on Wed, March 25, 2015 06:08:50

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.



Ham Woods

2015 Posted on Tue, March 24, 2015 06:12:14

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!



2nd March 2015

2015 Posted on Tue, March 03, 2015 11:05:58

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.



23rd February 2015

2015 Posted on Tue, February 24, 2015 05:46:31

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.



19th February 2015

2015 Posted on Sun, February 22, 2015 08:03:43


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.



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