The Uley Shrines: Excavation of a ritual complex on West Hill, Uley, Gloucestershire 1977-9 (Archaeological Report / English Heritage)

With contributions by Justine Bayley, Sarnia Butcher, Lynne Belt, Graham Cowles, Andrew David, Brenda Dickinson, John Drinkwater, Maureen Girling, Margaret Guido, Mark Hassall, Martin Henig, Michael Heyworth, Elizabeth James, Catherine Johns, Bruce Levitan, Glenys Lloyd-Morgan, Beverley Meddens, Jennifer Price, Fiona Roe, Juliet Rogers, Richard Reece, Alan Saville, Lyn Sellwood, Vanessa Straker, Roger Tomlin and Alwyne Wheeler. Ebook (PDF) published 2014. These excavations at Uley, provide evidence for a sequence of activities from Neolithic times to the seventh or eighth century AD. Standing stones or massive posts, the focus of an oval enclosure, in a sacred clearing, were replaced at the end of the Iron Age, by enclosed timber shrines and pits containing votive objects. In the early second century AD these were replaced by a Romano-Celtic temple, enlarged in the mid-fourth century. Around the temple were living quarters, guest accommodation and shops. A cult of the god Mercury is implied by a cult statue, figurines, altars, a series of inscribed lead tablets, and animal remains. In the early fifth century, a timber hall or church was built over the temple site. Its replacement was in stone and also of Christian character. Demolition deposits produced fragments of window glass of seventh or eighth-century date. More ephemeral structures were then built before the site was finally given over to agriculture. There is discussion of other sacred sites in long-term use, the cult and plan of the Roman temple, other temples in use at the end of the Roman period, and the impact of early Christianity. Preface v Acknowledgements vi List of illustrations ix List of tables xii Summaries xiii 1. The site 1 2. The prehistoric enclosure and shrines 13 3. The Romano-British temple complex 33 4. The latest Roman and post-Roman shrines 63 5. The coins 80 6. Votive objects: images and inscriptions 89 7. Votive objects: the inscribed lead tablets 113 8. Votive objects: weapons, miniatures, tokens, and fired clay accessories 131 9. Personal objects: jewellery and equipment 149 10. Structural and functional materials: building components and fittings, tools, vessels, metalworking, and surface finds 179 11. Pottery 219 12. Biological and environmental analysis 250 13. Synthesis 303 Postscript 336 Appendix A. Index to archive 337 Appendix B. Saxon, Medieval, and post-Medieval Uley 339 Appendix C. Illustrations of animal bone anomalies referred to in fiche 344 Bibliography 346 Index 353 Report on the excavations of the ritual complex on West Hill, Uley, Gloucestershire, from 1977-79, which showed that the site was a focus of continuing religious activity from the Neolithic period to the 7th or 8th century AD. The wide variety of finds, now in the British Museum and fully catalogued and illustrated here, trace the history and use of the site. By Ann Woodward And Peter Leach ; With Contributions By Justine Bayley ... [et Al.]. Includes Index. Microfiches In Envelope. Summary In French And German. Bibliography: P. 344-352.