Long Hole And Slitter Cave |
| Hob Uid: 194590 | |
Location :
Somerset
Sedgemoor
Cheddar
|
| Grid Ref : ST4668053870 |
| Summary : The Slitter originally comprised a steep scree slope which led up to Long Hole Cave, which is located some 150 feet up the cliff face at Cheddar. Numerous finds came from both, though many discoveries of the 19th and early 20th century are poorly recorded, if at all. In the early 20th century, much of The Slitter was removed without record. Excavations by Gough in 1887-8 recovered Roman finds from both, including human remains, iron spearheads, pottery, and coins "sealed together in little heaps" - late 4th/early 5th century in date. Prior to 1934, a Bronze Age palstave was recovered from the Slitter. The majority of the finds from the site are in the museum at Gough's Cave (ST 45 SE 10), although the human remains were presented to the museum of the University of Bristol Speleological Society. Among the coins possibly attributed to the cave is bronze coin of Rome of circa 500 AD. The coins have become confused with those from Gough's Old Cave (ST 45 SE 114), but at least 375 in total appear to have come from Long Hole and the Slitter, ranging from Nero to the early 5th century (plus the coin of 500 AD noted above), with a particular emphasis on the period 306-395. Roman pottery is represented by at least 18 vessels each from the Slitter and Long Hole. Copper alloy objects include finger rings, bracelets and steelyards. Other Roman finds include part of a rotary quern, plus iron spearheads and some spindle whorls. |
More information : [Name ST 467 538]Long Hole [T.I.]. (1)
ST 4667 5389. The Slitter and Long Hole Cave. The former consisted
originally of a steep scree slope (part destroyed when building
the Cave Man Restaurant) leading up to long Hole Cave, alias 'The
Roman Cave' some 150' up in the cliff face.
R.B. occupation of Long Hole cave is attested by finds made by
Gough, 1887/8 and subsequently in the Slitter below. These include
human remains (of at least 15 individuals, aged 4-45), iron
spears, pottery, etc. and coins of late Emperors' 'sealed together
in little heaps'. Boon lists 376 coins dating from the 1st-4th
cents. found here and in Goughs Old Cave, and comments that the
Bronze coins making the Valentinian total, 284, probably came from
a hoard.
A post A.D. 395 coin of Arcadius and a quasi-autonomous bronze of
Rome, C. A.D.500, is included in the collection, now in the museum
at Goughs Cavern. It is not possible to associate the coins
specifically with either find spot. (C.F. ST 45 S.E. 10, Goughs
Cavern).
Before 1934 the slitter deposit yielded a bronze palstave: The human
remains from here were presented U.B.S.S. Museum, 1951. (1-5)
The entrance to the Long hole is at ST 46685387. The majority of
the finds from this cave are displayed in the museum at Gough's
Cavern.
Positioned at 1:2500. (6)
Additional reference. (7) |