The Saxon and Mediaeval Palaces at Cheddar: Excavations 1960-1962 9781407310596, 9781407323350

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BAR 65 2012 RAHTZ THE SAXON AND MEDIEVAL PALACES AT CHEDDAR

B A R

The Saxon and Medieval Palaces at Cheddar Excavations 1960–62

Philip Rahtz

BAR British Series 65 2012

The Saxon and Medieval Palaces at Cheddar Excavations 1960–62

Philip Rahtz with contributions by F. W. Anderson, L. Biek, G. C. Boon, D. Charlesworth, R. H. M. Dolley, E. Eames, J. Evans, A. Garrard, I. H. Goodall, G. W. Green, W. Greenwood, B. Hartley, P. Hembry, E. Higgs, F. Neale, D. P. S. Peacock, R. Powers, J. T. Smith, R. Tylecote, D. Walsh, D. M. Wilson edited by S. M. Hirst

BAR British Series 65 2012

Published in 1979 by BAR Publishing, Oxford BAR British Series 65 The Saxon and Medieval Palaces at Cheddar © the estate of Philip Rahtz 1979 and 2012 First published in 1979, reprinted in 2012 with a new preface The Author’s moral rights under the 1988 UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act are hereby expressly asserted. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be copied, reproduced, stored, sold, distributed, scanned, saved in any form of digital format or transmitted in any form digitally, without the written permission of the Publisher.

ISBN 9781407310596 paperback ISBN 9781407323350 e-format DOI https://doi.org/10.30861/9781407310596 A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

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PREFACE TO THE 2012 EDITION This re-publication of Cheddar has been prompted by the unavailability of the original, published over a quarter of a century ago. Unlike much historical scholarship, the archaeological report on a site is primary data and therefore needs itself to be read before turning to re-interpretations. It is also appropriate in the context of the recent re-evaluation of the British and Saxon palace of Yeavering, after a similar interval since publication (one hopes that Yeavering itself is still in print!) (Frodsham and O’Brien eds 2005; HopeTaylor 1977). In the intervening years since publication, Cheddar has frequently been cited and reviewed, not least as the most extensively-excavated of the royal complexes of the pre-Conquest period. Here I would like to draw attention to the most contentious of these re-evaluations, by John Blair (Blair 1977), where he discusses both Cheddar and the remarkable royal complex at Northampton. He bases his arguments on a close study of my monograph together with archival material and the comment of other scholars in the field. His main thrust is to emphasise that Cheddar’s importance, in his view, was originally as a minster, represented by the present church of St Andrew, itself on the site of a Roman villa complex (Hirst and Rahtz 1973); and that the palace attested by the written sources and archaeological evidence was a secondary development of the early tenth century, set up in the north-western part of the minster complex. I do not agree with the chronological revisions he made, although we remain close friends. The nub of the issue in Blair’s re-interpretation and alteration of the periodisation comes down to the analysis (rather than evidence) of four stratified coins in a major ditch complex; also to both the dating of one brooch and interpretation of how it came to be found where it was found. The point of citing this is again to emphasise the role of the excavator and author of an archaeological site, who has had many months if not years of constantly thinking about and considering the implications of all the data found: the excavator-and-author is in the best position to interpret the excavation, and, unless he/ she agrees with a re-interpretation, this should be viewed with scepticism. It is to be hope that the Yeavering re-evaluation will stimulate a similar reconsideration of Cheddar. Blair 1977

J. Blair, ‘Palaces or Minsters? Northampton and Cheddar Reconsidered’, Anglo-Saxon England 25 (1996), 97-121.

Frodsham and O’Brien eds 2005

P. Frodsham and C. O’Brien eds, Yeavering, People, Power and Place (Tempus, Stroud, 2005).

Hirst and Rahtz 1973

S. Hirst and P. Rahtz, ‘Cheddar Vicarage 1970’, Somerset Archaeology and Natural History 17 (1973), 65-96.

Hope-Taylor 1977

B. Hope-Taylor, Yeavering: An Anglo-British Centre of Early Northumbria (London, HMSO, 1977).



ERRATA

p.288 – heading should read: ROMAN COINS (R.C.)

by G.C. Boon

p.397 – entry for Burrow 1976 should read: I.C.G. Burrow, ‘Brean Down Hillfort, Somerset, 1974,’ Proc. Univ. Bristol Spelaeol. Soc. 14.2 (1976), 141-154.

Contents

page

LIST OF FIGURES LIST OF TABLES LIST OF PLATES ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS SUMMARY

CHAPTERI:

X

xi xii xv

INTRODUCTION ANDHISTORICALBACKGROUND

The historical background Pre-Anglo-Saxon Somerset Anglo-Saxon Somerset The Witenagemot and the royal court Cheddar, Wedmore and Axbridge The relevance of the Axbridge Chronicle by F. Neale The archaeological and historical background of Cheddar The Bishop's manor at Cheddar by P. Hembry Notes to Chapter I .

CHAPTERII:

ix

1 3 3

4 6 8

10 12 19 22

THE SITE, ITS EXCAVATION AND CHRONOLOGICAL SEQUENCE 29

Geology by G.W. Green .. Soils Topography Excavation circumstances and methods . Method of excavation Recording system. Abbreviations The chronological sequence by periods Summary Introduction Pre-Conquest coins, copper alloy, and pottery dating. Pre-period 1 Period 1: pre- c 930 Period 2: post- c 930 to late 10th or early 11th century Period 3: late 10th to 11th century, probably pre-Conquest Period ·4: later 11th to early 12th century Period 5: early 13th century Period 6: later 13th century to c 1600 Period 7: 17th century and later Notes to Chapter II

]._

29 29 31 35 38

41 43 44 44 44 45

48 49

53 57 60 62 65

67 68

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