Registered Charity No. 105565 NEWSLETTER 134 February 2014 Registered2013 Charity No. 1055654 The Trewhiddle Hoard. Displayed in The British Museum and replica in Royal Museum,

Photo published courtesy of the British Museum.

At the AGM and in a recent Newsletter I asked members to nominate their favourite museum objects. I thought I would take the editor’s privilege to start the ball rolling with this collection of Anglo/Saxon secular and religious objects, which were found with an unknown number of coins by tin -streamers in 1774, seventeen feet below the surface under a pile of stones. Coins and some articles were lost before Phillip Rashleigh of Menabilly collected what remained of the hoard. The chalice may have been intact when it was found but many fragments have now disappeared. The remaining coins date the hoard to AD 868. The silver scourge is made of tube-knitted wire with plaits and knots terminating in a blue and white veined glass bead from which four tongues, knotted at their ends, spread. The decorated pin has a hollow head. The strap ends and belt slides are silver, but the buckle is cast in bronze. It is not known what the silver carved ornament mounts were attached to. While most of the objects are of Anglo-Saxon design there was a Celtic brooch. The chalice is the only A/S silver chalice found in Britain. It has a gilded inside and rivet holes below the rim indicate an applied rim or decorated band. The bowl and stem were riveted together. The scourge too is unique in Anglo-Saxon collections. It has been suggested that the hoard had been hidden from marauding Vikings.

It appeals to me not only for its beauty, but because so many of the objects excite the imagination, especially the scourge. Remember the villain in “The Da Vinci Code” who wore a hair shirt and scourged himself? A silver scourge surely belonged to no ordinary cleric. How did the Celtic brooch get into the collection? How did the chalice get broken? Did the miners quarrel over the hoard and how were the coins distributed amongst themselves? How did Rashleigh get to hear of the hoard? There are some stories to be told.

Mapping the Sun at the Hurlers. Iain Rowe The Caradon Hill Area Heritage Project would like to thank the landowners, site managers, graziers and local commoners for their A groundbreaking community archaeology project on Moor help and permissions, without which this event could never have taken was carried out in September. Mapping the Sun has been facilitated place. and managed by The Caradon Hill Area Heritage Project (CHAHP), which receives funding from the Heritage Lottery Project, DEFRA, Dr John P Salvatore: The newly discovered Roman and other local partners. This phase of the project has been deemed a great success, with the excavation and associated Military Supply base and Iron Age Settlement at St workshops being visited by well over 1,000 people. Loye’s College, Exeter (, 17 October 2013)

Twelve local school group visits were also facilitated and managed The story of the Roman occupation of Devon and Cornwall is slowly during the week long project by CHAHP. The children learning about unfolding, not steadily but in fits and starts, and has a very long way to life in the Bronze Age and actually visited the remains of the go before it is comprehensive. Although this is especially true in roundhouses where the builders of the Hurlers may have lived, as well Cornwall (where Steve Hartgroves is now leading a CAS project to as Rillaton Barrow, former home of the famous gold cup. Myths and investigate Roman activity), it applies to a lesser extent in Devon. Our Legends, Astronomy and Archaeology workshops were also laid on for first lecture for the winter was by Dr John Salvatore who skilfully them. guided his audience through the intriguing excavations at St Loye’s near Exeter and explained how the findings have improved the A series of guided walks during the week were well attended, as were understanding of how the Roman military operated in that area. Since the flint knapping, small finds and woad dyeing workshops on the open Roman Isca (Exeter) was the headquarters of the Roman province that Saturday. The excavation team was mainly made of volunteers, most included Cornwall these discoveries may have a wider significance. of which were local, and had no archaeological training beforehand. In the summer and winter of 2010, Exeter Archaeology undertook a Apart from the successful community aspect of the project, important full-scale, open-area excavation of the former St Loye’s College on discoveries have been made and a unique granite pavement, Topsham Road, Exeter. It soon became clear that this was a multi- excavated initially in the 1930s and under threat from erosion, has period site, with signs of Iron Age enclosures and, most intriguingly, been re-excavated, surveyed and resealed. During the excavation a part of a rectangular enclosure bearing similarities to Elginhaugh fort in Bronze Age cutting tool was found as well as other flakes of flint. We Lothian, as well as to that at Tiverton, which has been investigated by will have to wait, possibly up to three months, for the pollen sampling our President, Val Maxfield. The enclosure seemed to have been analysis to come back, which should enable us to date the building of abandoned rapidly and its ditches filled with Roman-period materials, this unique monument, which is unknown in any other part of Britain, including glass and pottery. One piece of Samian ware was stamped possibly the world. ‘NESTOR’, a potter known to be active between A.D. 55 and 65. Some items would only have been available to the Roman military, which seemed to support the theory that this was a fortification of sorts.

Yet doubts persisted. It seemed odd to have a fortification between the legionary fort at Isca itself and the defended Roman port at Topsham, especially with nearby fortlets at Ide and Stoke Hill. Moreover the layout was not quite right: it was not as regular as might have been expected; no barracks could be identified; nor were there any interval towers on the boundary; and there was no inner perimeter road (Via Segularis). The evidence hinted at some sort of military function but it lacked essential defensive features. Two discoveries edged the investigators towards a different view. Post-trenches and a series of post-pits suggested the existence of a tall, aisled building set apart from the others, rather similar to the fabrica (workshop) found in the fort at Isca. The latter had been used for bronze-working, whereas that at St Loye’s seemed more consistent with iron-working, possibly an armoury. The second discovery lent weight to this idea. Fragments of a wooden writing tablet, bearing Roman cursive text, were unearthed. Following restoration, it became possible to make out some of the writing, which read ‘VERO’ ('to Verus') and ‘ARM), possibly an abbreviation of ‘armorum custodi’ (armourer) or armentium (the armoury).

While the exact function of the site is not fully established, it does The excavation has been led by members of Cornwall Council’s Historic seem highly likely that St Loye’s was a military depot midway Environment Projects Team, who have overseen the dig, trained the between the fortress at Isca and Topsham. We will probably volunteers and kept the visitors informed. The Roseland Observatory never know what Verus and his associates called it (nor what was on site all week leading workshops and surveying the landscape they thought of the Dumnonians) but this site, so clearly and and astronomical alignments. A local Geologist has also been on site engagingly described by Dr Salvatore) was of great local st adding to a unique mix of experts who will be all adding their findings significance in the 1 century A.D. when Roman control of the to the final report, which is due to be published before Christmas region was established. 2013. Roger Smith

Woodcock Corner slate disc explored through Neolithic idealised world view; as much a map of their outlook as of how they wished to work in their landscape. replication. Criss-cross ard marks scratch the surface of parcels of land, stockades pen domesticated animals, axes cut trees and split logs and square framed houses are built.

Thomas Goskar told Hill about the remarkable properties of moving light and seeing the object in the flickering light of a flame it became reasonable, given the parallel straight edges on the misnamed ‘disc’, to prop it up against a wall on a ledge or dresser, such as was found at Skara Brae; the dancing light bringing the image to life in shadow play.

The complex other side, revealed for the first time by the fresh contrast of slate dust, appeared to be a riot of creativity, uninhibited by the fear of mistakes. The work of a younger person perhaps; but it still kept the grid formula, but springing diagonally from decorated triangles backed onto baselines which Hill interpreted as shorelines with European Bronze Age ships making fabled contacts with the Stone Age inhabitants of The British Isles and hence stimulating a rapid and remarkably homogeneous archaeological phenomenon: Grooved Ware Culture.

Graham Hill

Stonehenge Rocks!

At the Corfield Nankivel lecture this year on 5th November, members were privileged to hear an erudite and stimulating photos Courtesy of Graham Hill. lecture by Professor Timothy Darvill, Bournemouth University, one of Britain’s foremost prehistorians. In March 2013 Graham Hill was asked to copy the remarkable incised Grooved Ware object, found in a pit at the Neolithic Stonehenge is the icon of European prehistory and a World causewayed enclosure at Truro EDC site in 2012. This would Heritage site since 1986 that attracts over a million visitors a enable the less well known diagonally gridded side to also be year. The new visitor centre for Stonehenge will open soon; seen in the Royal Cornwall Museum display. check the English Heritage web site for details.

Using improvised flint tools the work took several hours with Stonehenge is essential for the understanding of the Neolithic testing after re-sharpening producing ‘tally-marks’ similar to those and Early Bronze Age of the British Isles. Most recently, Mike on a curious stone also found at the site. Parker Pearson has interpreted Stonehenge as a place for the dead. However, the site has a long and complicated history and Hill agreed with Anna Tyacke; FLO for Cornwall, that the slate Darvill believes that it was used for more than one purpose over disc at 12mm thick seemed too massive to comfortably fit the time. The earliest phase dates to c. 3,000 - 2,500 BC when a conventional description of a ‘pot lid’. simple earthwork enclosed a typical ditch outside a bank. The best parallels are an enclosure near Dorchester, Dorset, c. 3,300 The design of bold checkerboard grids deeply incised within a to 3000 BC and Llandegia, Gwynedd (3,550 – 2,650 BC). grid also made a deep impression and Hill wondered if there may be meaning in the pattern. A calendar or numerical diagram Beaker pottery, metalwork and arrowheads were arriving 2,400 – were dismissed as some of the grid lines were misaligned and a 2,500 BC. Monuments constructed used a great deal of time and gaming board suggestion had a missing cross-hatched square, labour and those such as Avebury and Silbury Hill (2,400 – 2,500 which would have been noticed when a counter was put on it. BC) appear to be ‘showing off’. The contemporary arrangement of the stones erected at Stonehenge points to a new interest in Developing Marija Gimbutas’ motif analysis ,which relates grids solar cosmologies and imbeds a calendrical system. to ‘sacred moisture’ from which life springs, the design may be a Timothy Darvill and Geoffrey Wainwright carried out a small This is all highly unusual if we consider the assemblages excavation in 2008 at Stonehenge, featured on TV. They learned recovered from other quoits, and shows that the site remained that, once the sarsens were in place, they were left there. The significant for millennia. blue stones, in contrast, were moved and knocked apart. They were also broken up and made into axes, such as those found on Jacky, James Gossip and a team of volunteers returned to the excavation, or amulets, and distributed around southern Carwynnen this year, for the second phase of the excavation Britain. between 21 and 31 October. Key discoveries included a stone kerb, two burnt deposits, prehistoric pottery and flints, and the Gerald Herbert published, in 1923, that the bluestones at butt end of a greenstone axe found at the rear of the pavement. Stonehenge were white spotted, blue green dolerite and came Large stones lying buried elsewhere in the Frying Pan Field were from the Preseli mountains, Wales. Darvill and Wainwright also excavated and scanned; some of these had intriguing researched the area and found propped stones, dolmens, stone scored lines upon their surface. circles, henges and stone pairs and stone ovals that Stonehenge features. In addition, the pattern of geology is similar to the layout of Stonehenge. There is also evidence for the extraction of stones, shaping them and moving them from the early Neolithic.

Darvill believes that the bluestones of Stonehenge and the avenue to River Avon reference the energy and magical powers of Carn Meini. This may have included acoustic responses and simulacra, particularly of the human form. Carn Meini may have been the Neolithic equivalent of ‘Mount Olympus’. The white spotted stone may represent the night sky or be related to a sacred story. It is likely that the dolerite represented healing properties.

Darvill cited Pliny the Elder and Geoffrey of Monmouth and gave The 2013 season of fieldwork ended with the re-erection of one examples of folk lore and archaeological evidence for healing of the quoit's uprights (Stone 4) on 31 October. First, the socket- associated with stones and water. He concluded that hole was investigated archaeologically - yielding measurements Stonehenge was a ceremonial place for the living to be healed in of its width and depth. Early photographs were then used to the presence of stone arrangements and water that reflected the ascertain how the stone had sat, in the early part of the 20th Preseli mountains and their curative powers. The sarsens were century. Out of the ground, Stone 4 is lozenge shaped and the ceremonial precinct for the bluestones which gave the site its appears taller than in these images where its buried-standing power and importance and meaning. The Gods presided over angle is severely acute. The team realised that the socket-hole the great occasions and were active agents for solar cosmologies was not deep enough to allow for the stone to stand straight. It and the fecundity of the people and Stonehenge. seems that the socket-hole was disturbed by the quoit's first restoration in the 1850s by Lady Pendarves; it is also possible Jane Marley that the ground level may well be lower today than during the Neolithic. Specialist machinery was used to lift and lever the 'Rediscovering Carwynnen Quoit - stone into place, stabilised by concrete and supported by Archaeological Excavations 2012 and 2013' - boulders buried around the base. Jacky showed us some Jacky Nowakowski impressive photographs of the restoration in progress. The next phase will take place between 28 April and 4 May Our lecture on Friday 16 November, held at Church 2014, when the Hall, gave members the opportunity to hear about the wonderful work ongoing at Carwynnen Quoit. The monument has been the remaining stones focus of a hugely successful community archaeology project, and will be re-erected will culminate in a complete restoration. and the capstone finally raised on Jacky first reviewed the history of the 'Giant's Quoit', and the summer reminded us of the findings from the 2012 fieldwork season. In solstice. The July 2012, test pits were dug across 'Frying Pan Field' in which the quoit stands, yielding over 600 artefacts including a Neolithic Giant's Quoit will transverse arrowhead and prehistoric pottery. On 10 September surely become a 2012, a crane was brought in to lift the capstone of the heritage icon for monument; weighing 9.8 tonnes, it is all the more remarkable to the people of wonder how it was initially raised by the Neolithic communities of Troon, and stand Troon! More than forty volunteers then helped at the Big Dig, testimony to the held between 17 September and 3 October 2012. commitment, Explorations underneath the structure revealed its original footprint, as well as a fantastic compact granite pavement. Scattered around and on the pavement area were granite balls support and hard which appear to have been purposefully collected and brought to work put in by The Sustainable Trust, Jacky, James and all the the site. A Neolithic greenstone pestle was found embedded in volunteers over the past two years. the pavement. The pavement appeared to extend beyond the area that would have been overshadowed by the quoit's Photos James Gossip, CAU. Report by Elizabeth Pratt capstone; all stones are thought to have been exposed, with no covering mound. Over 2318 artefacts (of prehistoric to modern date) were recovered during the 2012 excavation season, with a particularly high density of material at the back of the monument. Does Monument Watch need you? The structure of quoits indicates a different form Graffiti on the Black of burial custom. Their Bridge, . common features are: 1) A platform over six feet Or is it rather that long. you need 2) Support stones that Monument Watch, because it offers raise the platform over six you the opportunity feet above the ground. to do something 3) A substantial overhang from the edge of the platform to the (mildly) active for support stones. Cornwall's 4) An enclosure, or chamber, formed by the support stones and archaeology? capped by the platform stone.

CAS has won some kudos, nationally, for its countywide The evidence for excarnation is that these four features are Monument Watch; but effective monument care depends on the required. A body placed on open ground would be be year in, year out, visiting and reporting to which our Area dismembered by carnivores such as foxes. It would be an representatives and their helpers are committed. Our thousands horrific outcome if one’s kin were polluted through consumption of Scheduled Monuments, scattered over so many parishes, take by vermin. If a body were placed on the quoit then it could not be some keeping up with! They may not, as a rule, move much, but reached by foxes or rodents because of the overhang, and the finding them can sometimes be fun. height would prevent access by leaping. The corpse could be left There are always ARs who would be glad of local help with their unattended whilst scavenger birds such as kites could rapidly often-long lists of monuments, so wherever in Cornwall you live strip the skeleton. Bones freed from corruption, by now less your offer of support will be welcome. Just email or telephone attractive to carnivores, could then be placed in the chamber Peter Cornall, Convenor of the AR Group, on below, perhaps after its defences against scavengers had been [email protected] or 01726 66706. strengthened by placing wooden stakes in any gaps. These

bones have entirely dissolved in the acid rain and soil leaving There are also -listed below - some parishes without an Area Representative: if you are interested in taking on some of these, in only the later cremated bone that had been calcined by the heat. a contiguous group, and wish to know more, please be in touch Not only is transience and corruption removed by excarnation but with Peter as soon as you can. also all the individuality disappears. What is left is the essence of the group from which each member was derived and would also Parishes, ecclesiastical, which are currently Monument Watch return to bone. They would be as everlasting as the quoit. But "orphans", in no particular order :- as Cheryl Straffon wrote in Ancient sites in West Penwith: “It

would be a mistake to think of these monuments simply as ‘burial St Issey, Little Petherick, St Ervan, St Merryn, , Illogan, , Tuckingmill, , Treleigh, St Day, chambers’. Disarticulated bones of a number of individuals may Lannarth(Lanner), Pencoys, Stithians, Carnmenellis. have been placed inside and from time to time were removed and replaced by others. We may rather think of these sites as Articles from Members’ own interests. places wjere the tribe would go to consult with the spirits of their dead ancestors”. These people were peripatetic; the first CAS Member Roger Farnworth, who died last January, wrote permanent hut circles were built two millennia later. The quoits for “Meyn Mamvro”. His articles often showed an emotional could be seen over great distances as they were usually on high as well as observational response to monuments. With ground. On their wonderings around the Penwith island they permission of Cheryl Straffon, editor of “Meyn Mamvro” and could focus on the container of their tribal essence. Their ritual of Cathy Farnworth I will reproduce one of his articles, in would be to approach that crucible, maybe handle the bones and two parts, as a tribute to his memory. realize their source and destiny. Our ritual can be to see the man-made harmonies of Zennor Quoit, the balance of its lines Future Newsletters will contain other specially written and the distribution of its mass. In spite of its damage, we can essays by members. gaze on this beauty, share it and hear the same statement.

Bones and Stones – The Function and Significance of Quoits. Part 1

Quoits are the furthest we can peer back in time. Before then we’ve just got flints. Chun Quoit is much older than the first Pharoah’s tombs, almost two millennia older than the entrance graves of the Bronze Age and it doesn’t look a day older than when it was constructed. The first builders were the best builders. Unless farmers or explosives knock them down, quoits are forever. So what did they want to enshrine for ever?

Chun Quoit – built to last for ever. Zennor Quoit. Photo AFR.

Cremated bone found below quoits dates to around 3500 BCE. But the bone doesn’t date the deposition chambers themselves. NEWS programme was as given in the May 2013 Roman Period Grave and Newsletter with one exception. Sadly Brooch from St. Martin’s. Kresen Kernow – a new Fiona Roe had had to withdraw due to illness, but Rosemary Stewart became IOS. home for the stories of available to give an excellent paper on her Cornwall. research in the use of Greensand and A small stone lines chamber was Portland chert in the area. Thanks go to excavated at Churchtown Farm, St Following and application to the Heritage the staff of Tavistock Town Hall for looking Martins by CCHE, which may have Lottery Fund (HLF) in November 2012, after us so well and to all involved belonged to a child. It contained a brooch, Cornwall Council received Stage 1 funding arrangements for the event. made from copper alloy, which may have to deliver its plans for a new home for been used to fasten a cloak. The cist was Cornwall Records Office, the Cornish Henrietta Quinnell reburied with flowers and a shiny 2013 Studies Library and the Cornwall and Isles penny deposited inside. of Scilly Historic Environment Record, New Mesolithic and Neolithic combining these three fascinating sites on the Isles of Scilly. collections and services. In September Dr Duncan Garrow of The new building will bring together Liverpool University unearthed a possible primary, printed and electronic sources Mesolithic or early Neolithic settlement at into one centre at the Old Brewery site in St Martin’s Old Quay. With marine Redruth. Here the collections can be archaeologist Dr Fraser Sturt of stored, accesses and preserved, and the Southampton University, he is exploring extraordinary stories that they tell can be how Neolithic man arrived on the islands used to excite and engage old and new some 5 to 6,000 years ago. It is part of audiences with the heritage of Cornwall. the Stepping Stones project investigating a northward migration from Europe via A county-wide programme of consultation Photo from Charlie Johns CCHE seaways and islands in which nomadic about the proposed new centre will take hunter-gatherers became settled farmers. place during 2014. Initially the consultation will cover the facilities and Boleigh Fogou God lasered. services users, potential users, partners “ through Time.” and stakeholders would like to see in the The owners of Boleigh Fogou tell us that a new building. This will be followed by researcher from a Scottish University has CAS member Sheila Harper, who is well focus group sessions with various In late taken a scan of the “God” at the mouth of known as a walks leader and who has 2014 we will submit a new application for their fogou and declared the figure to be been researching the history of Newquay Stage 2 funding (for over £9 million) for not man-made, but the result of natural for many years, has contributed to the the delivery phase of the project, that is, fissures in the rock. local history series published by Amberley building the centre, moving into it and Publishing. It is a picture book, using running the combined service the first few postcards from private and public years. archives, to illustrate how Newquay has changed over time. Sections such as To find out more about the project and “Seafaring” and “Mining” remind us that it consultation programme, or keep up to was not always a holiday destination. date with news, see the web pages at Even the hotel areas have changed and http://www.cornwall,gov.uk/kresenkernow; Sheila has illustrated this by comparing sign up to our e-newsletter by emailing old pictures with modern views. It is left to [email protected]; find the project on the reader to decide if changes have been Facebook at “Kresen Kernow” or contact for the better. The books costs £14.99 and Tamsin Mallett at Cornwall Record Office, is available from local bookshops or on 01872 323127 or via through www.amberley-books.com [email protected].

Iain Rowe. St Piran’s Oratory.

The joint DAS/CAS Work may begin to uncover the Oratory, which has been under a concrete shell symposium at Tavistock since 1910 and a pile of sand since 1980. November 2013. The work, directed by James Gossip of photo courtesy Liz Pratt CCHE, depends upon permissions and This event entitled ‘Studying stone: new funding coming in time, but should begin light on the prehistoric and Roman Of course we can believe whatever our in late January or February. Southwest” was attended by some 120 own eyes should tell us! Let’s not let the members of both Societies who enjoyed a truth get in the way of a good story. See Facebook “Uncovering St Piran’s day of stimulating presentations. The Oratory” or St Piran’s Trust or CAS webs. Truro Winter Lectures Evening Mention any dietary requirements. 2013/14 21 February 2014 Julia

Thursday evening at Sorrell: CAS Field Trips. 7.30pm Truro Baptist Alan Sorrell (1904-1974): Church, Chapel Hill. The man who created Sunday 16th Feb - Historic St Truro. TR1 3BD Roman Britain. Austell, with Val Jacobs 13:30 – 16:00; meet on the steps of the 6 February 2014 ;Prof Tony Herring of U3A Market House on the north side of Niall Sharples, University Carrick has invited CAS the parish church at NGR SX 01405245. Warm clothing is likely to of Cardiff: members, who are not able be necessary. Excavations at Ham Hill to attend the Liskeard lecture, to hear Julia was an important and the hillforts of Western medieval town and was at the Britain. deliver the same talk at the heart of the industrialisation of the Kernow Club (Old British county from the 18th century 13 March 2014 Legion) Truro on Tuesday onwards. Today it is a friendly, 18th February at 2.00pm. unassuming, busy town with the Dr Chris Smart: Calstock Church and Market House as its Roman Fort CBA South West. Tony prime centre. Leading off this Blackman Memorial Talks and centre the medieval radial street AGM 12 April 2014 Pottery Workshop. pattern still remains legible together with many surviving th Registration begins at 25 January 2014 at St historic buildings. Many of these 1.00 pm Business at 1.30 East Primary School. are of good quality and use local materials to great effect, and this 11AM Talks from guest and lecture at approx. was enhanced by imported speakers including Richard 3.00. decorative stones and bricks Mikulski, CBA community which arrived with the advent of archaeologist Richard Buckley: the railway. This walk will also University of Leicester PM Pottery Workshop with Carl reveal some of the lesser known Archaeology Services Thorpe CCHE. byways of the town and will terminate at Menacuddle Holy Richard III Cost £10 including lunch. £6 for Well. students. Sunday 16th March - A Lizard Liskeard Winter More details from Miscellany, with J Gossip, of Lectures http://cbasw.org/events/ the Historic Environment Service CC 11:00 – 16:00; Meet Book by sending cheque in The Square, Manaccan SW Friday evenings 7.30pm payable to Council for British St.Martins Church Hall, 7634 2496. Limited parking so Archaeology South West for share car if possible. Some Church Street, Liskeard. £10, your name and address squidgy areas possible so and contact phone number to: wellies may be useful PL14 3AD K Collins, (Treasurer) 17 Walk from Manaccan (12th century

17 January 2014 Connaught Avenue, Plymouth. church and C19th Rev Polwhele) to Devon PL4 7BT Tregonwell Mill (discovery of CAS Arearepresentatives Titanium (Manaccanite) in 1791), Boden IA fogou and finds, Roskruge Barton (late medieval its guise as a mid C19 Designed take the first right off that road and Grade II* house), Trewothack (site Industrial Landscape (a scene of the car park is immediately on the of Medieval mansion and chapel), industry, deliberately presented for left. Carne Creek and return to aesthetic experience). The walk Manaccan (for a pint at The New will follow the route taken by the Numbers need to be restricted to Inn?) barouche of the Kendalls of Pelyn no more than 24 and we will try to and their guests, investigating the arrange for equal numbers from th Saturday 5 April. sights, sounds and sensations Devon and Cornwall. Please book which filled them with delight and online with Debbie at: TONY BLACKMAN MEMORIAL awe - whilst not getting their hands [email protected] WALK.- Craddock Moor with dirty!' th Iain Rowe. 10am to 1pm; meet at Sunday 25 May: Carnon Minions Heritage Centre car Saturday May 17th - Medieval Downs and the Lower Carnon park on the north side of the Dartmoor with Bluebells - the Valley with Sheila James (Area village at NGR SX 262713. Joint CAS/DAS walk with Rep for Feock) and Emma Debbie Griffiths, former Head of Trevarthen (from the HES). CAS Area Representative Iain the Cultural Heritage Service for 11:00 to 16:00. Meet outside the Rowe will lead a walk around the Dartmoor National Park village hall in Carnon Downs many Bronze Age sites on (where there may be some Craddock Moor. This area was a Meet at Houndtor car park (NGR available parking spaces) NGR particular favourite with Tony SX 7395 7920) at 10.45am to visit SW 8001 4035; bring a packed Blackman, and this second annual the deserted medieval settlement lunch. event in his memory, as well as at Houndtor, approx. 15 minutes visiting the better known sites, will walk over gentle moorland, plus an A walk around the Lower Carnon also follow in his footsteps and get extra 10 -15 minutes to visit a sea Valley looking at the Bronze Age off the beaten trail in search of its of bluebells (though bluebells are ceremonial landscape, medieval more elusive monuments. notoriously unreliable and we settlement sites at Tresithick, cannot guarantee them in full Penpol and Devoran, and a range Lunch at the Cheesewring Hotel bloom!) The day will finish of domestic and industrial sites of in Minions village is optional, and sometime between 3-4pm. the Early Modern period. you are advised to book in advance on 01579 362231 Lunch at Widecombe (paying car Contacts: parks); pubs & cafes available, or The walk will cover approx 6k a picnic on the green. Opportunity Secretary: Roger Smith, 18, (4miles), with some steep ascents to see Widecombe church (the & descents; suitable clothing and St Sulien, Luxulyan, Bodmin, cathedral of the moor) and PL30 5EB (01726 850792) footwear for winter moorland adjacent church house. Contacts: Secretary: Roger walking will be essential. Smith,secretary@cornisharchaeology 18, St Sulien, Luxulyan, After lunch, a short drive to the Bodmin,.org.uk PL30 5EB (01726 Contact telephone number in case deserted medieval settlement at 850792) of poor weather: 07963663102 Membership secretary: Hutholes (SX 7020 7590), about [email protected] Beale, 16, Cross St. Sunday 20th April - 'Picnic at two or three miles west of g.ukPadstow. PL28 8AT (01841 Carmears Rock' with John Widecombe. The two sites were 533098) excavated by local amateur Membership secretary: Jenny Schofield and Peter Herring Beale, 16, Cross St. Padstow. 11:00 – 16:00. Meet in the car archaeologist Mrs Minter in the Newsletter Editor: PL28 8AT (01841 533098) park north of Treffry's Viaduct 1960s and the site at Hutholes Adrian Rodda, 52, Mount in the Luxulyan Valley at NGR was re-excavated by Exeter Newsletter Editor: Adrian Rodda, Archaeology in the 1990s, with Pleasant Road, Camborne, SX 0590 5730. Bring a picnic 52,TR14 Mount 7RJ.(01209718675) Pleasant Road, lunch and enjoy the view from some interesting results. Camborne,adrian.rodda@cornisharchaeol TR14 Carmears Rock. To get to Houndtor, follow signs to 7RJ.(01209718675)ogy.org.uk Join John and Peter as they take a Widecombe from Bovey Tracey fresh look at this famous valley in and turn right approx. 5 miles later;