County Spotlight – Avon

Posted on by Emma Mills

This week, our spotlight is on the small but historically mighty Avon. This area encompasses the City of Bristol, as well as northern parts of Somerset. The river Avon and its luscious surrounding areas have attracted human habitation for thousands of years. For example, this fantastic Middle Bronze Age hoard (GLO-6535E4) was found in the parish of Dundry, and is now on display at the Bristol City Museum & Art Gallery.

Collection of objects photographed together. Two long copper objects with severe corrosion, small handle on the right side and a wedged end. Seven corroded copper fragments. One gold ring, circular tube bent in a circular fashion. One small gold flat band.
Hoard of objects dating from between 1300-1000 BC. GLO-6535E4. Found in North Somerset and documented by Bristol City Council. Copyright: Portable Antiquities Scheme, License: CC-BY-SA.

In the Iron Age, hillforts began to appear around the Avon Gorge. Take a look at some of these glimmering Iron Age coins found in the Avon area. You can find out more about Celtic coinage at the Oxford University Celtic Coin Index website.

Small silver coloured coin, with patterns showing a leaf on the obverse, and horse and stars on the reverse.
Iron Age Celtic coin. CCI-610042. Found in the City of Bristol and documented by the Portable Antiquities Scheme and Oxford University. Copyright: Portable Antiquities Scheme, License: CC-BY-SA.
Small silver coloured coin, with faint patterns on the obverse, and abstract stars and people on the reverse.
Iron Age Celtic coin. CCI-66027. Found in Bath and North East Somerset and documented by the Portable Antiquities Scheme and Oxford University. Copyright: Portable Antiquities Scheme, License: CC-BY-SA.
Small silver coloured coin, with abstracted patterns on both sides.
Iron Age Celtic coin. CCI-800007. Found in Bath and North East Somerset and documented by the Portable Antiquities Scheme and Oxford University. Copyright: Portable Antiquities Scheme, License: CC-BY-SA.
Small silver coloured coin, with patterns showing circles on the obverse, and potentially a horse and stars on the reverse.
Iron Age Celtic coin. CCI-820037. Found in Bath and North East Somerset and documented by the Portable Antiquities Scheme and Oxford University. Copyright: Portable Antiquities Scheme, License: CC-BY-SA.

The Bristol area was also occupied by the Romans. These two objects unearthed near Avon betray a certain Roman sensibility. The first is of the mythological beast Capricornus. Half goat half fish, this finely decorated figurine uses its hoofs to paddle through the water (SWYOR-29B362). The second is a somewhat NSFW knife handle of two lovers (GLO-481969). You can still visit Kings Weston Roman Villa, the only bath suite in Bristol and home to a fantastic mosaic floor.

Copper and green coloured animal, with a fish tail and a goat's upper body. It's front legs are outstretched in a swimming motion.
A cast copper alloy, probably Roman figurine of a Capricornus, dating between AD 43-410. SWYOR-29B362. Found in North Somerset and documented by the West Yorkshire Archaeology Advisory Service. Copyright: Portable Antiquities Scheme, License: CC-BY-SA.
A long handle, divided into two sections with a gap in the middle. The two sections depict a man on the left, and a woman on the right. They are connected by the woman's legs, outstretched towards the man, with her feet resting on his shoulders. She sits on a stool.
A Roman folding knife, the cast copper-alloy handle of which is an erotic scene. Found in North Somerset and documented by the Bristol City Council. GLO-481969. Copyright: Portable Antiquities Scheme, License: CC-BY-SA.

In the Medieval period, a mysterious mythology surrounding the Avon Gorge emerged. It was said that long ago, two giants called Vincent and Goram were competing to drain a lake. They had fallen in love with Avona, a girl from Wiltshire. Goram began to dig Hazel Brook Gorge, but fell asleep after too much beer. Meanwhile, Vincent finished Avon Gorge and drained the lake, winning Avona’s heart. Infuriated, Goram threw himself into the Bristol channel and turned to stone. You can still see his head and shoulder in the water, now known as the islands of Flat Holm and Steep Holm. While we’ve not found any archaeological evidence of Vincent and Goram’s labours (yet), these gorgeous Medieval gold rings – one in an abstract heart shape and the other set with a green gem – could have once been love tokens. 

Gold finger ring, with a raised setting, and small red stone.
A complete Medieval gold ‘stirrup’ finger-ring dating between AD 1200-1300. Found in North Somerset and documented by Somerset City Council. SOM-84A403. Copyright: Portable Antiquities Scheme, License: CC-BY-SA.
Partial gold finger ring, with a flower motif and zig-zag patterns on the band.
An incomplete silver gilt finger ring dating between AD 1400-1550. Found in North Somerset and documented by Somerset City Council. SOM-FE5673. Copyright: Portable Antiquities Scheme, License: CC-BY-SA.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this little gander through early Avon. There’s much more to see on our database – check out the post-Medieval period if you’re interested in Bristol’s significant maritime history. If you’re in the area and have a find to report, you can contact our wonderful Finds Liaison Officer for Gloucestershire and Avon, Kurt Adams. kurt.adams@bristol.gov.uk.