When St. Cuthbert’s Swallet was discovered, the two large streams entering the cave flowed in routes extensively altered by the lead mining industry, and susceptible to change. The sink of the larger stream moved by 50 m around 1970 and about 20 years later the route of this stream changed completely, joining the second stream about 160 m from the Main Stream Sink. The distribution of the streams changed, the Entrance Pitch is now considerably wetter than previously, and the characteristics of Plantation Inlet Stream have changed considerably. Distribution changes between the Soakaway Sink and Pulpit Passage are described. As a result of the major stream change the chemical characteristics of water at the major sinks and many of the inlets in the cave have changed significantly. Minor inlets and the problem of water flowing from The Lake are considered.

This paper comprises three separate texts, compiled from the unpublished archive of the late V.I. Stepanov. The texts all discuss the examination of both structure and texture during the study of mineral aggregates. The first text demonstrates how the Curie Universal Principle of Symmetry can be used in the study of mineral aggregate structures and textures. By this means some mineralogical problems were solved, for example: so-called “collomorphic” aggregates of lussasite and chalcedony crystallise from real solutions, not gels. During this study, it was found that the structure of an aggregate is determined by the position of the growth centres of individuals and by the kinetics of the crystallisation process, not by the phase state of the crystallisation medium. A study of metasomatic substitution by todorokite in marine volcanic tuffs confirmed this. It was also found that different structures may form during synchronous crystallisation of a homogeneous aggregate. Application of the Curie Principle to the whole crystallisation space revealed a new and more exact definition of texture. The second text examines the factors affecting the morphology of cave mineral aggregates. These are: crystallisation kinetics, method of transfer of the feeding solution, and mass-transfer symmetry in the medium of crystallisation. The typical forms of subaerial aggregates and ensembles are described. Some paragenetic ensembles have such distortions of structure, texture and morphology that they are best described as hybrid textures; names for these textures are suggested. A new term “kora” is proposed for an association of aggregates generated by the same crystallisation environment in all the space of synchronous crystallisation. The third text proposes that the term “typomorphism” should be returned to its original meaning: occasional and individual features in the morphology of minerals. An example is given of the very varied and individual corallite textures that grow in the subaerial conditions of karst caves.

Bos Swallet was excavated initially by pupils of Sidcot School, first as a cave dig and later as an archaeological dig. Subsequent excavations by Dr. H Taylor in 1956-8 on behalf of the Society were interpreted as showing the site had been disturbed by mining in historic times and the archaeological finds were re-deposited. Re-examination of the records confirms suspicions that this was not so. Two main phases of activity were present, a late Beaker occupation and a ‘boiling site’, most probably of Middle Bronze Age date, with minor Early Neolithic activity also.

Bos Swallet was first explored by boys from the nearby Sidcot School in the 1940’s. It was subsequently extended by digging by members of this Society from 1994 to 1996. It is considered to have been formed in parallel to the nearby swallet caves of Rod’s Pot and Drunkard’s Hole. It may have been an active stream sink until as late as the 18th century.

Two new finds were made during the Society’s annual visit to Co. Clare in 1997. These were: an additional inlet to Branch Passage Gallery in Poulnagollum and an extension to the main stream passage in Poulnagree. These two passages are described and some comments made on their geomorphic history. The inlet to Poulnagollum is a short passage fed purely by percolation water. The streamway extension, beyond Sump 1, in Poulnagree is a perched, strike controlled passage and may be related to the unexplored passage that feeds the Inlet Sump.

This paper describes the results of continuing investigations of caves and rockshelters in the Wye Valley. Excavations near the entrance of King Arthur’s Cave produced an insitu assemblage of Later Mesolithic artefacts while further finds of Final Upper Palaeolithic type were made in the lower units. Work inside the cave established the disturbed nature of the sediments and examination of two further nearby caves proved archaeologically unproductive. AMS radiocarbon results from Madawg Rockshelter confirm evidence of Later Mesolithic activity at this site.