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HER Number: | 16048.20 |
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Name: | CAER BRAN - Bronze Age cairn, Iron Age hut circle |
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Summary
The remains of a cairn or hut circle in the centre of Caer Bran hillfort.
Protected Status
- Scheduled Monument CO98: Caer Bran
Other References/Statuses
- Heritage at Risk (National): English Heritage, South West
- Primary Record No. (1985-2009): 16048.20
- SMR No. (OS Quarter-sheet and SMR No.): SW42NW 8
Monument Type(s):
Full description
A circular feature at the centre of Caer Bran was noted by Borlase in 1754 (b7) who described it as a "little circle". Today it still survives as a circular feature though very overgrown and cut by a footpath. Weatherhill interpreted it as a hut circle and associated it with the Iron Age hillfort. The CAU survey described it as oval in shape, 18m long by 16m wide, rather than circular, with stone and earth walls 1.5m thick and standing up to 0.5m high (b4, b5).
Previously interpreted as a hut circle, it has recently been reinterperted as a Bronze Age ring cairn with an external diameter of 13.5m (b6). The wall is 0.6m high on the eastern side but only 0.15m on the west; it is approximately 1.3m wide and may have been stone faced. It has been damaged by a post-medieval track which has cut deep ruts across the interior. This may have obliterated any trace of activity in the centre of the cairn. It also makes it difficult to decide if there was ever an entrance through the wall - crucial for the interpretation of the feature.
It has also been suggested, given the mining remains in the vicinity, that it might be a shaft collar or even a pound (JAN, pers comm).
The monument is included in the Schedule.
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Site history:
1: 1973. WEATHERHILL, C
2: 1985. SHARPE, A & GERRARD, S/ CAU
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Lawson-Jones, A. & Herring, P, 1995, Caer Bran: An Archaeological Assessment (Cornwall Event Report). SCO1538.
<1> Borlase, W, 1740, Parochial Memoranda, 22 (Unpublished document). SCO2884.
<2> Russell, V, 1971, West Penwith Survey, 53 (Bibliographic reference). SCO4314.
<3> Weatherhill, C, 1981, Belerion: Ancient Sites of Land's End, 39-40 (Bibliographic reference). SCO5027.
<4> Cornwall Archaeological Unit, Field Drawing (GRE), GRE 2/23 (Cartographic materials). SCO5089.
<5> Cornwall Archaeological Unit, 198-, Drawing Archive, Hanging (GRH), GRH 68/4/SW4029 (Cartographic materials). SCO5088.
<7> Borlase, W, 1769, Antiquities Historical and Monumental of the County of Cornwall (Bibliographic reference). SCO2878.
Sources / Further Reading
--- | SCO1538 - Cornwall Event Report: Lawson-Jones, A. & Herring, P. 1995. Caer Bran: An Archaeological Assessment. |
[1] | SCO2884 - Unpublished document: Borlase, W. 1740. Parochial Memoranda. MS At RIC. 22. |
[2] | SCO4314 - Bibliographic reference: Russell, V. 1971. West Penwith Survey. 53. |
[3] | SCO5027 - Bibliographic reference: Weatherhill, C. 1981. Belerion: Ancient Sites of Land's End. 39-40. |
[4] | SCO5089 - Cartographic materials: Cornwall Archaeological Unit. Field Drawing (GRE). GRE 2/23. |
[5] | SCO5088 - Cartographic materials: Cornwall Archaeological Unit. 198-. Drawing Archive, Hanging (GRH). GRH 68/4/SW4029. |
[7] | SCO2878 - Bibliographic reference: Borlase, W. 1769. Antiquities Historical and Monumental of the County of Cornwall. |
Associated Finds: none recorded
Associated Events
Related records
16048 | Part of: CAER BRAN - Bronze Age cairn, Bronze Age hillfort, Iron Age hillfort, Iron Age hut circle (Monument) |
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