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Summary

Carn Brea is a multi-phase site with evidence for activity ranging from the Mesolithic to the Post-Medieval period.

Protected Status

• Conservation Area: CARN BREA
• Scheduled Monument CO79: Carn Brea Castle

Other References/Statuses

• Heritage at Risk (National)
• Primary Record No. (1985-2009): 18163
• SMR No. (OS Quarter-sheet and SMR No.): SW64SE 113

Monument Type(s):

• TOR ENCLOSURE (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2501 BC)
• HILLFORT (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)

Full description

Carn Brea is a multi-phase site with evidence for occupation and other activity, ranging from the Mesolithic to the Post-Medieval period. The earliest occupation of the hill is represented by finds of microliths and other Mesolithic flints (18163.1).

The site was first studied by Borlase, whose 1754 publication attributed the site to the Druids. A plan and further descriptions were made by Wilkinson in 1860. Peter and Burnard undertook fairly extensive excavations, mainly in the central 'saddle' but also on the eastern summit, in 1895 (b4, b5). Some unrecorded excavations, apparently on the eastern summit, were made by Blight in the 1920s (b12). The OS surveyed the hill in 1970 (h1). Excavations directed by Roger Mercer followed from 1970 to 1973, mostly in and around the eastern enclosure but also at points on the 'saddle' and the ramparts (h3, b12). A full survey of the hill was made by the Cornwall Archaeological Unit in 1985 (h7).

Mercer's excavations demonstrated that the enclosure on the eastern summit and the internal rampart across the southern hillslope were constructed, occupied, attacked and abandoned in the early Neolithic. Two radiocarbon dates provide a start and end date range for the walls; sample BM-825, taken from below the wall indicates that it was built at some time prior to 3900-3650BC and sample BM-824, taken from above the wall, shows that it was in a state of collapse shortly after 3600-3350BC (b12). The other ramparts and the enclosure on the western summit were not examined but it is likely that these too were Neolithic in origin, as they form a cohesive system of enclosure of the hilltop. The field system on the southern slopes of the saddle has also been dated to the early Neolithic, and much pottery, and many stone and flint artefacts have been found (18163.21-.28). Evidence from the Bronze Age consists essentially of single finds or hoards of tools or weapons, including two barbed-and-tanged arrowheads from Mercer's excavations (18163.31-.34).

It is probable that the Neolithic ramparts were repaired and re-used in the Iron Age, with some possible additional new elements. Up to twelve round houses on the 'saddle' are also of this period, and Iron Age pottery, a quernstone and spindlewhorls were found in excavating the settlement. In addition, several stray finds and hoards of gold and bronze coins and other Iron Age artefacts have been recorded from the hilltop (18163.4-.48).

There are some Romano-British artefacts from the C19 and C20 excavations, but most finds of this period consist of bronze or gold coins and hoards, loosely provenanced (18163.51-.59). There is little to indicate Post-Roman/Early Medieval occupation.

The Basset family built a castle on the eastern summit, which may also have served as a hunting lodge for the associated deer park and as a chapel in the later middle ages (18163.71-72). This was rebuilt as a hunting lodge in the C18 and has for some years been a restaurant.

Post-Medieval sites include a well, a possible pillow mound, and the Basset memorial (18163.81-.84). Folklore relating to the giant of the hill was recorded in the C19 (18163.85).

--------------------------------
Site history:
h1: 1970. NVQ/OS
h2: 1970. ANK/OS
h4: 1979. SHEPPARD, PA/IAM
h5: 1981. SHEPPARD, PA/IAM
h6: 1983. SHEPPARD, PA/IAM
h7: 1985. SG, AS/CAU
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Borlase, W, 1754, Antiquities Historical and Monumental of the County of Cornwall (Bibliographic reference). SCO2878.

Lysons, D & S, 1814, Magna Britannia, VOL 3, CORNWALL (Bibliographic reference). SCO3885.

WILKINSON, G, 1860, CARN BREA (OR CARN BRE), VOL 13, 15-43, 56 (Unedited Source). SCO6134.

Peter, TC, 1896, The Expoloration of Carn Brea, VOL 12, 92-102 (Article in serial). SCO5139.

BURNARD, R, 1896, THE EXPLORATION OF CARN BREA (Unedited Source). SCO6572.

Page, W (Editor), 1906, Victoria History of the County of Cornwall, 34 (Bibliographic reference). SCO4068.

Hencken, HO, 1932, The Archaeology of Cornwall and Scilly, 128-130 (Bibliographic reference). SCO3489.

Henderson, C, 1935, Essays in Cornish History, 162 (Bibliographic reference). SCO3501.

Harvey, J (Ed), 1969, Itineraries of William of Worcestre, 21 (Bibliographic reference). SCO3466.

Mercer, R, 1972, The Excavation of the Neolithic Settlement, Carn Brea, 1972: interim note (Cornish Archaeology 11, 1972), 8 (Article in serial). SCO3931.

Ordnance Survey, 19--, OS Card Index (Unpublished document). SCO5189.

Mercer, R, 1981, Excavations at Carn Brea, Illogan (Article in serial). SCO3929.

Sharpe, A, 1986, Carn Brea (Cornwall Event Report). SCO2047.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• ECO2230 - Neolithic Settlement at Carn Brea
• ECO2244 - Carn Brea
• ECO2286 - Carn Brea, Illogan, Cornwall
• ECO269 - Carn Brea

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