Cornish Archaeol 31

The discovery of prehistoric copper mines in Wales and Ireland dating from the second millennium BC has been described as one of the major recent discoveries in Bronze Age archaeology. Five `primitive mines' have been excavated during the past few years yielding tools of stone, bone and wood, as well as numerous radiocarbon dates. Approximately thirty possible sites have also been identified on the basis of a residual presence of stone cobble hammers. All this suggests local exploitation of copper resources during the Early Bronze Age on a previously unsuspected scale. This paper examines some of the evidence for prehistoric mining in Britain and also what we know of the technology, skills and quality of life of some of its protagonists. Since there is a strong probability that the ores of Cornwall would have been exploited at this period the evidence described here is an indication of what should be sought in the county.

The Cornish fogou has long been the subject of much academic discussion, not least regarding its possible purpose within later Iron Age society. However, it has in general come to be known as an `enigmatic' structure and its probable function has never been considered in a detailed manner. An investigation was subsequently undertaken considering the three proposed theories of storage, ritual function, and refuge. Although storage has been the favoured interpretation to date, an examination of previous study leads to the conclusion that their only effective role lay in concealment, acting as a refuge for certain commodities and/or people.

Limited excavations in 1987 in advance of building work showed the site to be a Romano-British univallate enclosed settlement (or round) of the second to early-fourth centuries AD. A Phase I enclosure, probably early-second century AD (but possibly Iron Age) was replaced, probably during the second century, by a larger more strongly defended Phase II enclosure. Associated with the Phase I enclosure was a sub-circular ring gully, interpreted as a house site. In Phase II this was overlain by a well defined working area: three successive hearths formed the focus of three sub-phases of activity (probably second to third centuries), associated with pits, post-holes and lesser hearths. One of the functions was probably smithing: smithing slag, hearth bottoms and tuyère blocks came from this and the following phase. A lead ingot from the working area, with marks of pieces being cut off it, also gives the impression of a low-key farm workshop level of activity. Adjoining the working area and broadly contemporary with it were three probable houses, in each case a large shallow hollow only partly within the excavated area. House A was second century, houses B and C probably third century. In the late-third century and perhaps early-fourth century this part of the site was used for the dumping of rubbish both in the house hollows and over the working area. These midden areas produced most of the artefacts (pottery, stone objects, iron fragments, glass) and most of the environmental and technological samples. Dating for the site came from radiocarbon dates and the pottery evidence. The pottery was overwhelmingly local gabbroic wares with a small proportion from south east Dorset, south Devon and elsewhere. Iron objects though poorly preserved suggest the general use of iron implements. Stone objects included a bowl, a weight, a shale spindlewhorl, part of a rotary quern and pebbles showing signs of use, perhaps for food processing, leather and cloth finishing. Fossil pollen did not survive but charred plant remains gave an impression of the crops available -- barley and wheat -- and provide an indication of the contemporary environment and land use. Although appearing to be basically a farming settlement, with evidence of crop production and basic smithing activity, the site is thought, because of drastic change in the size of the enclosure and the scale of the defence, and because of aspects of the pottery evidence, to be of relatively high status. There are details of geophysical, geochemical and auger surveys, along with specialist reports on: the `Charred plant macrofossils' by Vanessa Straker (89--92); `Radiocarbon dating' (92--4), `The pottery' (94--106) and the `Stone objects' (106--13), all by Henrietta Quinnell; `The glass' by Lesley & Roy Adkins (113--14) and `Slag and other technological finds' by Justine Bayley (114--16). Finally there are three appendices: `Appendix 1 charred plant macrofossils: contexts' (119); `Appendix 2 ironwork: contexts' (120); and `Appendix 3 technological samples: contexts' (120).

Reports the discovery of a south-western adaptation of the Mid Bronze Age Taunton phase variety, dated to approximately 1400--1200 BC.

A six week excavation provided the opportunity for further investigation of an Early Christian cemetery. Cist graves of adults and children were unearthed, and much pottery including imported wares was discovered, along with evidence for graveside fires of a potentially ritual nature. The foundations of an early stone building were uncovered during this season. Further investigation will reveal whether these remains are the remnants of a pre-Conquest church.

Details a standard earthwork castle of late-eleventh or early-twelfth century origin. The result of a recent survey identified the castle's bailey to the west of the main ringwork defence. The site was first described and surveyed by MacLauchlan in 1852, and surveyed again by the Ordnance Survey Archaeological Division in 1976. Suggestions as to who built the castle are put forward, though there is no conclusive evidence. A later shift in manorial focus to nearby Tintagel served to obscure historical records of Bossiney's origins.

Reports the theft and recovery of the Trevorry or Sandyway cross and the discovery of the Menawinck cross, both in Lanlivery parish. In addition, the discovery of an uncommon Latin style cross at Tregrylls in Lesnewth parish and the Lamorrick cross in the parish of Lanivet. There are also short notes on other Cornish crosses.

A tribute to the Cornish antiquarian and archaeologist, honoured with the traditional titles First and Last Bard and First and Last Antiquary of the parish of Sennen.