Archaeological Sites in Cornwall
Cornwall has a rich archaeological heritage with sites identified from as distant as the Paleolithic Era (Old Stone Age) of pre 8000BC. Axeheads from this period have been found in Cornwall evidencing the presence here of the earliest hunter-gatherers.
Mesolithic sites (Middle Stone Age) have been identified in Cornwall at Dozmary Pool on Bodmin Moor. Along many parts of the North Cornish Coast, flint working was prolific, notably at Trevose Head and at Land's End.
Around 4500BC the Neolithic period (New Stone Age) began and it is from this period that the earliest monuments survive. The people of the Neolithic period had a knowledge of agriculture and constructed permanent settlements. Carn Brea is believed to date from this period. This settlement within a tor enclosure is sited on the summit of a very prominent rock strewn hill which commands excellent views over the surrounding countryside.
Chamber Tombs such as Lanyon Quoit on the Land's End peninsula and Trethevy Quoit at St Cleer in East Cornwall are just two of the numerous huge stone burial chambers characteristic of the Neolithic period which can be seen in Cornwall.
Neolithic pottery, polished axeheads and leaf shaped arrowheads have been found dating from around 3900BC.
The late Neolithic and Bronze Age saw the introduction of the constructing of stone circles, standing stones (menhirs) and stone alignments. Monuments such as the Merry Maidens stone circle near Penzance, the Dry tree menhir on Goonhilly Downs and the Men an Tol (Cornish for holed stone) on the Land's End peninsula are examples of the many monuments which can be found right across Cornwall.
Lanyon Quoit
The Iron Age is also well represented in Cornwall with courtyard house settlements at Chysauster and Carn Euny, both near Penzance.
Hill forts, cliff castles, fogous, enclosed settlements, all characteristic of this period, are numerous throughout Cornwall.
For a more complete picture of Cornwall's archaeology please see the list of archaeological sites below and any of the numerous publications on the archaeology of Cornwall.
Archaeological sites are Scheduled Monuments and protected by law. Please respect the sites when you visit and don't cause any damage or leave litter behind.
If you want to get involved in helping to protect these ancient sites, a number of organisations exist throughout Cornwall who regularly undertake clearance work around sites to keep them accessible to the public and to monitor their condition. Most of these organisations rely on vounteers to help with this work and would be very happy for you to join one of their volunteer clear up days. Please see them listed in the websites below.
Why not visit Cornwall to experience the sites for yourself.
Books can be purchased online by clicking on the links below:
The Old Stones
The Megalithic Portal
Archaeology of Cornwall
Caradoc Peters
Belerion Ancient Sites of Land's End
C Weatherhill ISBN 090672001X
Journey to the Stones Mermaid to Merrymaid
I Cooke ISBN 0951237101
The Old Stones of Land's End
J Michell ISBN 0855113707
Cornwall's Archaeological Heritage
Cornwall Archaeological Unit. ISBN 0906294215
Prehistoric Cornwall The Ceremonial Monuments
J Barnatt ISBN 0855001291
Cornwall's Archaeological Heritage
ISBN 0906294525; 32 pages
Cornovia - Ancient Sites of Cornwall & Scilly
ISBN 1871060311; 136 pages
Carew's Survey of Cornwall 1602
ISBN0850253896; 200 pages
Antiquities Historical and Monumental of the County of Cornwall
1769 W Borlase Reprinted 1973 ISBN 0854098526
Industrial Archaeology of Cornwall
AC Todd P Laws 1972 ISBN 0715355902
An Introduction to the Archaeology of Cornwall
C Woolf 1970 Bradford Barton
The Archaeology of Cornwall and Scilly
H Hencken 1932 Methuen and Co Ltd
For other books of archaeological interest please click on the following link
Archaeology of Cornwall
Some books may only be available for reference at Kresen Kernow, the Cornwall Archive Centre at Redruth.
Websites
Cornwall Archaeological Society
Cornwall Ancient Sites Protection Network
If the information on this website has been useful to you please consider a donation.
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Map of Archaeological Sites locations in Cornwall Use the + scale on the left of the map to zoom in on an area. Click on a marker to see the name of the location and click the box to go to the information about that place. To zoom out click - on the scale. (Map integration by www.choughmountain.design) |
