ON LAKE VILLAGES NEAR GLASTONBURY. 335 



Lake Villages near Glastonbury .—Repori of Committee (Sir W. 

 Boyd Dawkixs, Chairman; Mr. A. Bulleid, Secretary; Mr. H. 

 BaT;Four, Mr. Willoughby Gardner, Mr. F. S. Palmer, Mr. 

 H. J. E'. Peake) appointed to investigate the Lalie Villages in the 

 neighbourhood of Glastonbury in connection ivith a Committee of 

 the Somerset ArchcBological and Natural History Society. 



The Committee for exploring the Lake Villages in Somerset heg to report 

 that after a lapse (jf seven years the e.xcavations at Meare were reopened on 

 Monday. August 29, 1921,' under the direction of Messrs. A. Bulleid and 

 H. St. George Gray, aiid were continued for th.ree weeks. 



The Meare Lake Village consists of two distinct groups of mounds extend- 

 ing over portions ot six pasture fields. Up to the time when war broke out 

 the excavations had been restricted to the mounds in one of the fields of the 

 western group, and some twenty dwellings had been explored, together with 

 the ground around and between them. 



Last year work ^vas carried on in the easternmost field of the west groun. 

 and also a small portion of ground on which the directors' shed stood in the old 

 excavation field part of Mound IX. 



The field in which the excavations are now being carried on belongs to the 

 t^omerset County Council, who have given every facility for the work, and the 

 Committee wish to express their heartiest thanks for the help they have received 

 from that body. 



Portions of the following dwelling mounds were examined : i.e. Mounds IX. 

 XXI. XXIII, XXIV. and XXXVIII. 



The usual structural arrangement of timber for the foundation underlying 

 the clay floors was met with, but so far no additional information was obtained 

 regarding the size, shape and construction of the dwellings. As yet no palisad- 

 ing has been discovered surrounding the village, nor a causeway leading to the 

 high land. 



Among the .smaller objects of interest discovered the following may be 

 mentioned. 



nroDzc — 'Miniature chopping-axe with socket-hole, an amulet or toy (the 

 first of the kind found in the Lake Villages). Two miniature axes with handles 

 fall of bronze) were found by General Pitt-Rivers in Bokerley Dyke. Others 

 have been found at Silcliester. 



Fibula of La Tene III type; and another of the first half of 1st century, A.D. 



Two bars, or rods, of a kind not found previously. 



Child's finger-ring of one-and-a-half coils : and a full-sized spiral finger-ring. 



Several rivet-heads, similar to those which ornament the bronze bowl found 

 at the Glastonbury Lake Village. 



Tin. — "Wheel-shaped ornament, or amulet, precisely similar to one found in 

 the same dwelling (No. IX) in 1914. Two lumps of tin ore. 



Iron. — Fragments apparently of two spear-heads, small cold-chisel, &c. Also 

 a long bar, with one end considerably expanded and flat, length 26^; inches. 

 We know of no similar objects except the five undescribed specimens found at 

 Hunsbury {Assoc. Architect. Socs., XVIII, PI. vii, figs. 3. 4). 



Crucibles. — Parts of three, including the greater part of tlie largest crucible 

 found in the village. 



Glass. — Several globular beads and ring-beads ; mostly of opaque yellow 

 paste. One specimen is of dull purple glass. Others are of clear glass with 

 streakings of lemon and orange colours. 



Kimmerldge S/inle. — A large number of ' finds ' of shale were made, including 

 half an armlet (Halstatt type), ornamented, a plain armlet (in halves), and 

 parts of two armlets with rivet-lioles for repair at bolli ends. 



Antler. — Amongst the many worked pieces of antler are tlie following : Four 

 weaving-combs, two of them in excellent condition ; cheek-pieces (mostly broken) ; 

 knife-handles; a heavy pin, much worn; a pin with an expanded end, for 

 personal decoration (perhaps used as a hair-pin) ; a number of short strips or 

 lengths of antler, shaped by means of a knife (precise use unknown). 



1922 A A 



