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HER Number: | 21806 |
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Name: | PORTHCOTHAN VALLEY - Prehistoric rock cut chamber, Early Medieval rock cut chamber |
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Summary
A cave, known locally as 'Long Vugha' extends into the hillslope of a side valley at Porthcothan.
Protected Status: None recorded
Other References/Statuses
- OS No. (OS Quarter-sheet and OS No.): SW87SE 7
- Primary Record No. (1985-2009): 21806
- SMR No. (OS Quarter-sheet and SMR No.): SW87SE 25
Monument Type(s):
Full description
A cave, known locally as 'Long Vugha' extends into the hillslope of a side valley to the south of the main Porthcothan valley. It is about 15m long, 3.0m high, around 2.0m wide at floor level, and smoothly triangular in cross-section. It has a narrow round entrance. Traces of tool marks visible over much of the interior indicate that it has been shaped with sharp metal picks. Layers of travertine have been deposited over the roof and walls, and also over the floor in some places, indicating that the cave must be quite ancient, though it is clearly an excavated feature and not a fogou. Vugha is the Cornish word for cave, and is also the root of the word fogou. A natural fault plane bisects the cave, and is responsible for the formation of a small side cavity. It seems likely that it was originally a much smaller natural cave which has been excavated and enlarged, probably in medieval or post medieval times. It might be linked with smuggling, and it is said to have been used by the Home Guard during WW2. Dating is problematical however; the find of a Neolithic polished flint axe in (or in the vicinity of) the Vugha (PRN 21823) has been interpreted as providing evidence for an early prehistoric origin, and though unlikely this cannot be discounted.
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Site history:
1: 1978. SHEPPARD,PA/CCRA
2: 2003. SH/CAU
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<1> Borlase, W, 1769, Antiquities Historical and Monumental of the County of Cornwall, 292 (Bibliographic reference). SCO2878.
<2> Polwhele, R, 1803, History of Cornwall, VOL 1, 128 (Bibliographic reference). SCO4140.
<3> Tithe Award, 1840s, St Eval, FIELD NOS 101A, 103, GREAT VUGA (Bibliographic reference). SCO4879.
<4> UNKNOWN, 1865, UNKNOWN TITLE, VOL I, 4, 64-65 (Unedited Source). SCO6197.
<5> Polsue, J (Editor), 1867-72, Lake's Parochial History of Cornwall, VOL 1, 372 (Bibliographic reference). SCO4139.
<6> Kelly, 1883, Kelly's Directory of Cornwall, 982-983 (Bibliographic reference). SCO3769.
<7> Henderson, C, 1930, A Survey of Cornwall, CH 9, 55 (Bibliographic reference). SCO5121.
<8> Hencken, H O'N, 1932, The Archaeology of Cornwall and Scilly, 150, 296 (Bibliographic reference). SCO3489.
<9> Sheppard, PA, 1978, St Eval Checklist, VOL 17, 116 (Article in Journal). SCO4412.
<10> Balmer, H, 2003, The Porthcothan "Fogou", No51, 22-24 (Article in Serial). SCO5099.
Sources / Further Reading
[1] | SCO2878 - Bibliographic reference: Borlase, W. 1769. Antiquities Historical and Monumental of the County of Cornwall. 292. |
[2] | SCO4140 - Bibliographic reference: Polwhele, R. 1803. History of Cornwall. VOL 1, 128. |
[3] | SCO4879 - Bibliographic reference: Tithe Award. 1840s. St Eval. FIELD NOS 101A, 103, GREAT VUGA. |
[4] | SCO6197 - Unedited Source: UNKNOWN. 1865. UNKNOWN TITLE. JRIC. VOL I, 4, 64-65. |
[5] | SCO4139 - Bibliographic reference: Polsue, J (Editor). 1867-72. Lake's Parochial History of Cornwall. VOL 1, 372. |
[6] | SCO3769 - Bibliographic reference: Kelly. 1883. Kelly's Directory of Cornwall. 982-983. |
[7] | SCO5121 - Bibliographic reference: Henderson, C. 1930. A Survey of Cornwall. CPRE. Thompson, WH (ed). CH 9, 55. |
[8] | SCO3489 - Bibliographic reference: Hencken, H O'N. 1932. The Archaeology of Cornwall and Scilly. 150, 296. |
[9] | SCO4412 - Article in Journal: Sheppard, PA. 1978. St Eval Checklist. Cornish Archaeology. 17. VOL 17, 116. |
[10] | SCO5099 - Article in Serial: Balmer, H. 2003. The Porthcothan "Fogou". Meyn Mamvro No 51. No51, 22-24. |
Associated Finds: none recorded
Associated Events: none recorded
Related records: none recorded
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