f892. 



NOTES AND COMMENTS. 727 



Dr. Munro, who visited the spot in October, observed that close 

 by a trench through one of the mounds, there were three oak beams, 

 lying over a bed of decayed brushwood, and evidently in situ. Each 

 ■of these beams contained either two or three mortise holes, and 

 through some of them the top of an upright pile still protruded. 

 Their resemblance to the well-known palisades of the crannogs of 

 Scotland and Ireland was too striking to admit of any doubt. They 

 •were evidently part of the marginal structures of a large area of 

 woodwork, but as yet of undetermined limits, over which several 

 •cottages with their respective hearths had been placed. 



The composition of the mound was disclosed by a succession of 

 well-defined strata of clay, charcoal, ashes, and decayed wood. The 

 total thickness of these beds was 3 ft. 6 in., and within them were 

 ■detected three separate hearths superimposed one above the other. 

 These hearths were generally formed of large stone slabs placed over 

 a bed of clay, or of small stones embedded in it in the form of a 

 pavement. Underneath the whole was the common woodwork, 

 whose surface here presented a neatly formed layer of round timbers 

 laid close together and still retaining their bark. 



So far as ascertained by trial diggings here and there, all these 

 ■mounds appear to contain a fireplace, thus probably indicating sepa- 

 rate dwellings or perhaps workshops ; and as their total number 

 amounts to between 60 and 70, extending over an area of some five 

 acres, one can form some idea of the extent of the settlement. 



The surrounding district is now richly cultivated, but, in looking 

 over an old map of the date of 1668, Dr. Munro found that it con- 

 tained a lake called the " Meare Poole," into which three streams 

 ■debouched, and from which the site of the present discovery could 

 not be far distant. That this lake had larger dimensions in earlier 

 times is probable, so that when this settlement was founded the 

 locality would have been a shallow lake or marsh. Strange to say, 

 this map represents the district lying immediately on the north-west 

 borders of the " Meare Poole," as inhabited by the Belgae. 



The articles at present found include bronze rings, fibulae and 

 one brooch ; also a few decayed iron objects. Other articles formed 

 ■of bone and horn are numerous. Pottery is abundant, but much 

 broken. Remains of a quern were discovered, and a few other stone 

 articles, including some flakes and cores of flint. Beans, wheat, rye, 

 nut-shells, &c., were found, as well as bones, presumably of domestic 

 animals. So far, however, as the excavations have yet disclosed the 

 nature of its buried treasures, the result is of special interest, owing 

 to the predominance among them of articles unquestionably belonging 

 to the period known as " Late Celtic." Hitherto nothing indicative 

 of Roman influence has come to light, neither coins nor Samian ware 

 being among the relics; and, should this pre- Roman character be 

 maintained, Dr. Munro considers that the complete excavation of 

 .the entire village becomes a national duty. 



