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Fen Pits. By H. H. Winwood, M.A., F.G.S. 



(Bead Jan. 12ih, 1881J. 



Some members present this afternoon may remember an 

 excursion made in the spring of 1877 to certain excavations on 

 the table hind about three miles from Wincanton, called Pen Pits. 

 The nature and origin of these pits were discussed at the time by 

 our Vice-President, and allusion was made to the many theories 

 respecting them, which have occupied the attention of antiquaries 

 from the time of Sir Eichard Colt Hoare up to the recent learned 

 and ingenious attempt of Mr. Kerslake to prove that in these 

 pits we see the remains of a " Primaeval British Metropolis," the 

 long-lost but famous ancient city of " Cair Pensauelcoit." The 

 subject was again discussed during a visit of the Somerset 

 ArchiBological and Natural History Society in the summer of the 

 foUo^ving year, 1878, but no further advance was made in the 

 way of clearing up the doubts which surround the question. It was 

 felt however absolutely necessary that steps should be taken to 

 get at the secret which lay at the bottom of these pits, if possible. 

 For tliis purpose a representative Committee was formed of 

 members of the latter Society, strengthened by the addition of 

 the names of General Lane Fox (now Pitt-Eivers), Professor 

 KoUeston, and Professor Boyd Dawkins. After a preliminary 

 report sent in by the latter as to the geological character of the 

 ground, the Committee actively set to work in the autumn of 

 1879, under the guidance of General Lane Fox, and did what 

 ought to have been done long before, i.e., made, so far as they went, 

 an accurate and scientific investigation of a portion of these pits. 

 It is the result of these excavations and the conclusions arrived 

 at by the Committee, with the exception of one or two 

 dissentients, which I purpose laying before you this afternoon. 



In the first place, however, let me describe the physical features 

 of the ground. . About three miles from Wincanton, on the road 

 to Mere, is an elevated ridge of the Greensand formation running 



Vol. IV., No. 4. 



