Details

Picken's Hole is situated north-east of Rackley on the east side of the
south-east ridge of Crook Peak, 27m above the present valley floor and 8m
below the plateau. The monument consists of a very small cave and a more
extensive rockshelter which follows the rock escarpment on either side of the
cave. The cave, which is 4m long and has an entrance c.1.5m high and 1.5m
wide, has almost wholly been excavated and there is little remaining of
archaeological interest except for stalagmitic deposits on the cave wall.
Outside the cave mouth is a large excavated area but there are still
substantial areas of intact deposit on either side and running parallel with
the rock outcrop. Excavations by the University of Bristol Spelaeological
Society between 1961-7 and sampling for dating purposes in 1980 have revealed
a sequence of deposits outside the cave dating to the last glaciation. The
deposits are known to contain fauna spanning the period 25-37,000 radiocarbon
years ago in association with Middle Palaeolithic artefacts. It would appear
from the distribution of finds that the occupation follows the rock face on
both sides of the cave entrance and is scattered over a relatively wide area.
The monument, therefore, includes the stalagmitic deposits of the cave
interior and the deposits outside the entrance for a distance of 15m and
extending laterally 30m on either side of the cave.

MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

Palaeolithic caves and rock shelters provide some of the earliest evidence of
human activity in the period from about 400,000 to 10,000 years ago. The
sites, all natural topographic features, occur mainly in hard limestone in the
north and west of the country, although examples also exist in the softer
rocks of south-east England. Evidence for human occupation is often located
near the cave entrances, close to the rock walls or on the exterior platforms.
The interiors sometimes served as special areas for disposal and storage or
were places where material naturally accumulated from the outside. Because of
the special conditions of deposition and preservation, organic and other
fragile materials often survive well and in stratigraphic association. Caves
and rock shelters are therefore of major importance for understanding this
period. Due to their comparative rarity, their considerable age and their
longevity as a monument type, all examples with good survival of deposits are
considered to be nationally important.

The 21 sites in Somerset form the densest and one of the most important
concentrations of Palaeolithic cave sites in the country. Picken's Hole is of
particular importance due to the presence of rare Middle and Early Upper
Palaeolithic artefacts and the survival of human and faunal remains. Although
partially excavated and, to some degree, disturbed by badgers, substantial
archaeological deposits remain.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Books and journals
Barrington, N, Stanton, W I, Mendip: The Complete Caves and a View of the Hills, (1977)
Campbell, J B, The Upper Palaeolithic of Britain, (1977)
Tratman, E K, 'Proceedings of the University of Bristol Spelaeological Society' in Picken's Hole, Crook Peak, Somerset: A Pleistocene Site, , Vol. 10, no.2, (1964), 112-15
Other
ApSimon, AM, Picken's Hole, Compton Bishop, Somerset..., In Press

Source: Historic England