Registered Charity No. 105565 NEWSLETTER 142 October 2016 Registered220162016 Charity No. 1055654

Tregeseal Stone Circle, St Just. NG387324. The eastern circle of a line of 3 similar to the Hurlers, . All that remains of the central circle are four stones incorporated into a hedge. The western circle disappeared centuries ago. September is a good month to visit the Moors. Photo AFR.

The President’s piece from Nicholas Johnson.

Professor Charles Thomas, founder member, former President, Vice- President, and Honorary Editor of our Society died 7 April this year, aged 87 and was buried in Gwithian Churchyard following a service in Gwithian Chapel. The Chapel had been bought by the Thomas family to prevent it closing, and it seems entirely appropriate that he should now rest in the village so closely associated with his family and archaeological roots.

A very large audience gathered at St Mary’s Methodist Church, in July to hear Professors Rosemary Cramp and Peter Fowler, the broadcaster Kate Adie, his son Martin Thomas and myself speak on many aspects of Charles’ very busy life. This was followed with a reception hosted by the Royal Institution of , an organisation he held in very special regard. Over the summer I have been involved in the transfer of his archaeological excavation archives, books, and manuscripts to the Royal Institution of Cornwall at the Royal Cornwall Museum. I have been helping Angela Broome and Oliver Padel sort through many hundreds of books and journals, and Sara Chambers, Jacky Nowakowski and Carl Thorpe sort through the archives and finds from the Gwithian excavations as well as other material from Tean, Fenton –Ia, Merther-Uny and Tintagel in Cornwall, and further afield from the island of Lundy, and the Scottish islands of Ardwall, Whithorn, and Iona. This has been a privilege, a great sadness and also a revelation. The first two feelings need no further explanation, but some of the revelations are worth recording here. Without wishing to pre-empt the full tribute that will be published in the next Cornish Archaeology, I think it is worth giving a flavour of what an extraordinary man Charles Thomas was.

Having had the pleasure of visiting Lambessow on many occasions I was aware that Charles had amassed a huge library. What I hadn’t appreciated was that he also had amassed a staggeringly large and nationally significant collection of military insignia consisting of over 100,000 items. He was a compulsive collector. Luckily for us he was also an inveterate cataloguer and as many of us remember he loved making lists. His library was fully catalogued, his archaeological collections were catalogued, his publications, no matter how small, were catalogued, his thousands of buttons, badges, shoulder flashes and his regiments of lead soldiers were all identified, described and catalogued, his many hundreds of slides and photographs were marked and identified, and the Thomas family archive has been catalogued. In fact every purchase he ever made was meticulously listed with its price and dealer. He had catalogues of lists and lists of catalogues and all were updated regularly. Everywhere were hundreds and hundreds of typed up labels stuck onto artefacts, files, and boxes whether boxes of photo negatives or boxes of spare arms, legs or ‘heads with turbans’ for his soldiers. We found sets of card indexes that record Early Christian Inscribed stones around the Britain and Ireland, and the place names of Scilly. His trusty portable typewriter cannot have ever been silent. He never moved on to computers and his catalogues and lists stand as a fascinating reminder of how research was carried out in the pre electronic age, and for this reason will now be absorbed into the RIC collections. Sorting out the archaeological material was relatively straightforward, even if the tobacco tins and wooden fruit crates containing many artefacts need re-packing! Whilst the militaria has now gone to auction, the sorting through the books and periodicals was a huge task and it was heartbreaking to see this great library broken up. However over 100 boxes of material are now with the RIC and will make a great addition to its library and collections.

With the passing of time it is easy to forget just how active a member of CAS he was. I give a few examples here to illustrate this. Whilst a lecturer in Edinburgh and then Professor at Leicester he edited the West Cornwall Field Club Proceedings and then Cornish Archaeology from 1952 to 1975, a staggering 24 years. During that time he not only wrote the editorials, contributed articles, short notes, excavation news, and book reviews but also many of the Society’s field and site guides. In addition he was responsible for three important initiatives all published in the journals that indicate his ability to gather together and organise huge amounts of data.

1. In 1958 he encouraged the West Cornwall Field Club and later CAS, to be the first archaeological society in the country to publish parish checklists of archaeological sites and monuments and he himself went on to compile the checklists for Gwithian, Gwinear and . Parish Checklists were an important influence in the later development of Sites and Monuments Records (now Historic Environment Records) that underpin archaeology today. 2. He initiated the Cumulative Index of Cornish Archaeology annual Index in 1952 with a retrospective list of all archaeological publications since 1932. This continued for 20 years amounting to an astonishing 1118 archaeological references. His lists of published material from 1932-72 give us a real insight into the width and depth of his interests and the access he had to libraries in Edinburgh, Leicester, at the Royal Institution of Cornwall and of course at his various homes. It is easy to forget that in a pre- computer age these bibliographic reference lists were an essential part of research. 3. In addition, when he took on the editorship of Cornish Archaeology he began to compile an annual Digest of Cornish Periodicals from 1960 to 1974. These 12 lists comprised a summary of each periodical for that year and the range usually covered more than a dozen periodicals and reflected his eclectic yet broad interest in Cornish history, culture and natural history.

His library contained a battered leather-bound book with hand-written yearly lists of everything he had ever published since 1948. Whilst the number of articles, books, pamphlets, guides and reviews are prodigious it is the breadth of subject that is particularly striking. Whilst much of the subject matter is well enough known- prehistoric archaeology, Post-Roman and Early Christian archaeology, and Inscriptions; what is less well known are his many articles concerning the development of professional archaeology, military insignia and military units in Cornwall and elsewhere, local folk-lore and dialect studies, nationalism and politics in Cornwall, the history of Methodism, the importance of local history studies and last but not least poetry and fiction.

As well as being editor of our journal he also excavated with the Society during the summers at St Dennis Hillfort, and Castilly Henge. In 1962 he rediscovered St Ia’s Chapel and Holy Well, Troon and partially excavated the site in 1966 using his Early Christian Archaeology extra mural class from Truro. He also used students and CAS members to investigate the Medieval chapel built inside an Iron Age Round at Merther Uny, Wendron in 1968. He never quite lost his interest in megalithic tombs and was very pleased to be able excavate the Early Bronze Age entrance grave at Bosiliack, Madron in 1984.(See Picture) Typically in the months before he died he was actively involved in our project to re visit the Mesolithic site on North Cliffs, Camborne where he had first started collecting flint tools over 50 years ago. He was also looking forward to examining the 7th century inscription on a newly discovered Inscribed Stone in West Cornwall and was excited about the upcoming excavations at Tintagel.

One way of cherishing his memory is to keep our Society active and looking forwards. It is particularly heartening that the Society has been organising work at North Cliffs, Camborne, at the Iron Lode near Restormel Roman Fort, at Carvossa, and members are also involved at the excavations at Tintagel and The Hurlers. This has been a very busy summer.

Lastly I would like to congratulate Adrian on producing our Newsletter over so many years, and in acknowledging this great contribution, we must recognise that he now wishes to pass on the baton. So please, if you wish or you know of anyone who might be keen to take on this interesting and vital part of our work, then contact Adrian to have a chat.

Pip Richards

Pip sadly passed away on Saturday 7th May and was buried within view of Carwynnen Quoit on Saturday 14th May. It was a private ceremony, but on 3rd July Pip’s Field, as it is now known, was a scene for a celebration of her life by many people whom she had inspired and influenced. Pip was known to CAS members for her heroic efforts to raise money from HLF and other charities, including CAS, to raise Carwynnen Quoit which had fallen in the 1960s. Her charity, “The Sustainable Trust” commissioned CAU to excavate the area around the quoit while she acted as project manager. To Pip there were no limits to the possibilities of such a project. Her own interests ranged across dowsing, studies, all aspects of the natural world, music, poetry and storytelling. She showed us what could be done to involve schoolchildren and adults in the mystery and romance of archaeology. Her drive and energy were recognized by the CBA and the Cornwall Heritage Trust. Jacky Nowakowski will deliver a lecture on Pip’s achievements for CAS in March 2017. (See the Lectures flyer.) CAS Excavations on the North The broccoli crop in the field had not all test pits. Anna Tyacke attended each day Cliffs. 2016 been harvested by the time digging to receive the finds and discussed them commenced on Monday 15th August. For with the finders, also explaining how finds When Charles Thomas was digging at a couple of days the test pits were are recorded by their context and date of Gwithian he organised a team to explore restricted to the eastern edge of the field, discovery. Andy Jones encouraged the the Valley and the North Cliffs where the smallest flint scatter of the three best digging techniques so that the week to identify rounds, barrows and scatters of that had been recorded by Charles was became a good learning experience for all Mesolithic flints tools. Flint scatters were located, while harvesters whipped around the volunteers. discovered along the coastal paths and in the rest of it. Very little was found in this A week, which had begun with warm ploughed fields. Throughout his life area. By Wednesday all the diggers had sunshine, ended with rough winds and Charles would lead his family and friends access to the most promising of the flint threat of storms for the Open Day on the to fieldwalk the most promising areas. His scatter areas, which did not disappoint 20th. Despite the ominous weather several collection was recently donated to the when it came to more flint and stone tools. CAS members visited and were intrigued Royal Cornwall Museum, where a team of by the quality of the finds. Such delicately volunteers under the direction of Anna contrived flint tools must have been hafted Tyacke and with training from Anna for use, though many fitted perfectly Lawson-Jones sorted the flint and stone between finger and thumb. It was a rush tools. There were in excess of 23,000 to finish on the last day, but the rain held flints and 2000 stones. off until the last spade of soil refilled the This obviously included debitage and last test pit. apparently unused pebbles from the beaches below the North Cliffs. The vast majority of the flint tools were identified as from the Mesolithic period. The majority of The test pits were far apart in the broccoli field. stone tools were made from a kind of gritstone known as greywacke. There is a However, the soil in the field was quite greywacke outcrop to the west of Hell’s shallow and the plough had dug into the Mouth and the selected stones were sea natural subsoil, a slatey shillet head smoothed pebbles collected from the deposit. Most of the finds came in the beach and suitable for use as lapstones to churned up plough soil and in some test process animal skins or as knapping pits there was only minimal undisturbed stones for flint. Some had been soil, which might have been the remnant Some of the tools may have been hafted for deliberately flaked at one or both ends, of an old Mesolithic land surface. No use. but for what purpose is up for debate. hearths or suggestions of habitations were found.

Some fitted between thumb and finger.

Greywacke pebbles. L-R. Abraded from polishing, flaked, used as hammer, decorated. Ploughing had dug into the subsoil.

Most of the finds came from fields in the Hell’s Mouth area at Callean Memmoan and Hudder Field. It was decided to excavate Hudder Field in hope of finding a hearth or something that could be scientifically dated to the Mesolithic period, since there are few scientifically A flint core from which some short flakes had validated dates for the Mesolithic in been struck. Cornwall. Under the direction of Dr Andy It was a happy experience. Thanks to Jones, his wife, Anna Lawson-Jones and Andy and the two Annas for all their Anna Tyacke, CAS volunteers, many of A microlith retouched at its edges. efforts, their preparation, organisation and whom had been involved with the patience. As some of the new diggers put identification work at the RCM, hand-dug Many of the volunteers were digging for it, “When can we come again?” 38 one metre square test pits. the first time and all enjoyed the experience. Anna Lawson-Jones patiently showed them how to draw sections of the (Photos Andy Jones and Kathy Conder.) Professor Charles Thomas: a personal Gwithian had its own museum hut; visitors Breastwork linked to it and extending to tribute. Adrian Rodda were not limited to Open Days. Any local the south will eventually also collapse into people could drop in and someone, the sea. usually Jessica Mann, who became Charles’s devoted wife, or Charles himself would show off the finds and explain the sites.

When I started a School Archaeological Society at King’s School, Grantham, Charles came over from Leicester University to enthuse the boys. Jeffrey May, who had also been part of the Gwithian team, hosted visits for us to the University Museum at Nottingham. Michael’s photograph was taken in June 1997.

Charles kept up with his Gwithian diggers The Tintagel Statue. and their careers through phone calls and letters. He cared about people and he In the last Newsletter (141) I wondered if Prof Charles Thomas at Godrevy, Photo Carl cared about CAS. As President, he would EH was getting it wrong when they Thorpe. stand at the stairs leading up to the lecture planned to erect a tall statue on the cliff room in the RCM and greet members top of the island at Tintagel. Well I should I first met Charles when he allowed me to personally, creating a welcoming and have kept quiet until I had seen it for join the excavations at Gwithian in 1955, friendly atmosphere, an inclusive club, myself. I also wished that they would although I was only 12 years old. My where all members were valued. foreground the story of Tristan and Iseult memory is of a very kind, humorous, rather than refer to Geoffrey of supportive, encouraging man. This was His time as director of the Institute of Monmouth’s account of how King Arthur also true of his assistant Director, Bernard Cornish Studies was a period when all had been conceived at Tintagel. Wailes. Both smoked large pipes and aspects of Cornish life, literature, suffered burn holes in their clothes. They language, dialect, flora, fauna and folklore set the tone for the other supervisors and as well as history and archaeology were site directors, who were themselves only explored by enthusiasts, both amateur in their 20s. We were boys from working and professional This was because class families with little self-confidence or Charles was an insatiable learner and knowledge, but Charles’s friends sharer; he wanted to enthuse and share encouraged and taught us, talked to us all he learned and to present it in a about their own lives and experiences in manner accessible to his neighbours in universities and National Service and Camborne and . He even forgave gave us confidence. Charles introduced me for being brought up in Redruth me to Dorothy Dudley who invited me to instead of Camborne. work on 2 of her excavations, though still a teenager. Scilly: the Loss of a Battery Feature. Michael Tangye. Charles gave me to lunch at Lowenac, his family home in Camborne, now a hotel, Annual monitoring of sites on Scilly where I met his grandmother and saw his th included the small oval earthen 16 collection of books. I had never seen so century Battery site on the west facing low many books outside a public library, cliff of the Garrison on St Mary’s, a short stacks of “Pelicans” covered every surface distance south of the larger King Charles and I was confident he had read them all! Battery. I have now seen the statue and am very impressed. There is no mention of it being In his contribution to “Cornish Archaeology For several years its frontal earthen sea- a representation of Arthur. There is no 46” which was devoted to Gwithian and to facing defensive bank, faced with two interpretation board at all. It is left to the Charles’s work, Tony Blackman wrote, courses of roughly hewn blocks of granite, visitor to ponder its significance. “Charles’s entire career has been has remained intact, perched on the very Postcards in the shop explain that it is established around three principles: edge of this forever eroding low cliff. A called “Gallos meaning Power in Cornish.” fieldwork, research and outreach. His check in July showed that, sadly, this The sculptor is Robin Eynon. It is not outreach saw him as a major player in the feature has finally succumbed to the high intrusive, is not near any of the extant formation of CAS from its roots as the seas of the last winter and has collapsed remains, but almost hovers on naked West Cornwall Field Club, to which he onto the boulder strewn foreshore. bedrock near the cliff edge. Being hollow gave so much time and energy. Director of and incomplete it has an ethereal quality. excavations, editor, teacher, lecturer and Although many will have been familiar with writer were interlinked roles he willingly the earthen banks of the Battery, few will E.H. does use the Tristan story at undertook and, for a wider audience, he have seen its frontal walling, which was Tintagel. The walled garden has an found time to teach archaeology for the only visible on clambering down the low interpretation board which describes the Workers’ Educational Assocciation.” cliffs or from the sea. The earthen tale and invites people to follow slate markers around the path which recount what Lionel Fanthorpe calls “objective the remains of the barrows recorded how King Mark spied on the lovers as they scholarship”? around and at the summit. The fog met in a garden. cleared eventually, but some of the “The Legacy of the Dragon” is a chapter excavated and looted barrows remained The new interpretation boards are well about the post Roman period, the identity elusive. Grazing had cleared undergrowth written, exploiting different styles. First an of Arthur and his connection with Nectan. on the southern slopes, but most of the hill account of an historical incident Various statements are made without is still overgrown. However, they were associated with the site, such as the detailed reference to the sources or to any able to discuss the chambered barrow landfall of a merchant, which reads like a academic research, although it refers to or excavated by W. Copeland Borlase and novel and entices the visitors’ quotes from the writing of St Gildas, the which had once supported a medieval imaginations, then comes a description of “Life of St Patrick”, the Annales Cambriae chapel lighthouse. Peter Herring had the building or ruins associated with that and Nennius’s “Historia Britonum.”. There identified a long barrow on the shoulder of event, which reads like a traditional are some interesting ideas in this chapter the hill and it too was easy to see, guidebook entry. Bronze replica objects, and I would have liked to have tested snuggled up against a natural tor. such as amphorae from Greece, illustrate them by reading the sources and the accounts. The Cornish language is archaeological reports. used extensively around the site and its approaches. The final chapter is about the sanctity of water and draws together the pagan and The exhibition centre emphasises that the Christian traditions associated with holy site had two major occupations. The first wells. It is for me the most thought was in the post-Roman era, 5th to 7th provoking part of the book. centuries, when it was probably the seat of a powerful Cornish leader who traded with the Eastern Mediterranean. The second was when Richard, Earl of Cornwall, built the medieval castle in the Chapel Well 1230s, possibly choosing the site because The party then followed the footpath to of its prestige from folk memories and an Carn Euny Holy Well and listened to the association with Arthur through Geoffrey story of “The Changeling of Chapel Carn of Monmouth’s “The History of the Kings Brea” in verse adapted from William of Britain.” The excavations by CAU this Bottrell’s “Hearthside Tales.” summer and next will surely shed more light on the early phase of the site’s Then on to the settlement at Carn Euny and its which was begun about occupation. 500BC. The extant courtyard houses around it were occupied into the 4th Book Review century AD and adapted from earlier roundhouses. By now the sun was “Sacred Falls. Saint Nectan and the shining and the walk to over Legacy of the Dragon.” Roland the fields gave glorious views. Rotheram. St Nectan’s Waterfall For some the highlight of the excursion Publications. 2014. was a visit to Brane Entrance Tomb, St Nectan’s Glen and kieve. Photo AFR. which is in remarkably good preservation. When one finds a book promoted in the It is invisible from the road, but the farmer RCM bookshop one might expect it to be The book is marred by editorial lapses and is happy to give permission to view. a well written, academic study of its misprints. The Bibliography is limited and subject, especially when the Foreword has there are no footnotes as one might the following statement. expect in an academic work. So what is good about it? The photography is “Professor Rotheram’s outstanding amazing. Several photographers have historical work here combines the best in contributed to this book and the result is objective scholarship and erudition with an ravishing. Nothing can actually detract open and sensitive approach to the from the beauty of the waterfall and kieve mystery and mythology that surrounds St of St Nectan. Nectan’s Glen.” (Rev. Lionel Fanthorpe.) CAS FIELD TRIPS. The book gives an account of the Brane entrance tomb. contradictory legends around St Nectan’s Chapel Carn Brea, Carn Euny and life and death. It is not long before King The unfinished hillfort known as Caer Bran Arthur’s knights are mentioned with the Caer Bran. June 12th 2016. was reached by a field path. The claim that they would spend a night in holy Five people joined Adrian Rodda and his enclosure was not yet overgrown by vigil with Nectan before going on a quest. bracken and the party could locate the dog at the foot of Chapel Carn Brea in the Rotheram gives no sources or references Neolithic or Early Bronze Age cairns within kind of fog only Penwith can provide. The for this legend. Each chapter ends with a it At least those who could take their eyes hill top was invisible, but the intrepid summary of its contents and a judgement off the stunning views could find them. (A optimists trudged upwards in hope to see of what can be accepted as Fact, return visit in late July found the braken the view towards Land’s End and to locate Probability, Possibility or Legend. Is this too thick and the approach lane very guided walks and children’s activities to CAN YOU HELP? overgrown.) mark the Festival. Area Reps. And the Monument Watch The path over the fields had led to the stile Scheme. by a cross where Janey Tregear had laid her changeling child. If you could spare the time to help keep a watch on the monuments in your area, please contact the Area Reps Convenor, Peter Cornall. [email protected]

Journal distribution and storage.

CAS holds about 1000 copies of journals from Number 36 onwards. Have you a Walkers gather around the Men Scryfa, an space where they could be safely stored? inscribed stone from the 6th century AD This amounts to about 60 boxes. which commemorates Rialobran, son of Cunoval. It is probably an Early Bronze Journal sales. Could you volunteer to Age menhir in alignment with Carn Galver A lane brought the party back down to and near the Men-an-tol. (NG 427353) give a good home to a selection of the Carn Euny Settlement and the path below This is probably the same Bran who is journals and other books to sell at Bartinney and past Tredinney Clay Works commemorated in the hamlet of Brane meetings at either Truro or Liskeard? restored them to their motors. What had and the hillfort Caer Bran. Mentioned in begun as an unpromisingly foggy day the previous report. Rialobran means the Journal distribution to members and evolved into a sunny walk with good Royal Raven. invoiced recipients. When each journal company and new recruits for CAS thanks is published 500 copies would be to the advertising on our website and Zoe hopes to repeat the programme next Facebook. year. delivered to your home. The Membership Secretary would send you labels with the CBA Festival of Archaeology CAS and the Federation of Old addresses of members. You would pack Events July 2016. Cornwall Societies. and label the envelopes and post them. In addition there are about 37 invoiced Meneage Archaeological Group journals to send out and a few exchange at Boden. and complimentary copies. It takes a few days of concentrated work, which could be shared with friends in CAS.

Newsletter Editor. Think it might be your turn for this interesting and satisfying job?

If you could help by taking over any of the above responsibilities, please contact Adrian Rodda, who is the current Christine Wilson, Publicity Officer, at our stall. [email protected]

Refreshments at lectures.

Christine Wilson and Jenny Hancock will be taking over the teapot so well warmed for several years by Roger Smith, but would appreciate some help at Truro and/or Liskeard. Volunteers please contact Christine through the CAS secretary or at a lecture.

Another flint tool from Hudder

Field. Note the use wear on its edges. The MAG Stall with its life size replica of the Boden Pot. Weekend digging has continued at the site of the fogou which was partly excavated in CAS member, Priscilla Oates, who is one 2003 and published in CA 52. MAG of the Lizard Area Reps and current th celebrated the Festival on Saturday 16 President of the Federation, invited CAS July with a tea and cake stall on site for to take part in its Summer Event at the visitors who turned up to see their new School on 9th July with St Piran’s discoveries. Trust and MAG. We sold several journals from our stall. In Sept 2015 Roger Smith Penlee Art Gallery and Museum and Adrian Rodda had addressed the Federation’s AGM to explain our work in Zoe Burkett, the education officer at protecting and educating about Penlee House, organised a programme of archaeology in Cornwall. From Moors to Monsoons – a Buddha which play hide and seek vendors at every turn, the temple complex moment in Malaysia. Bryony amongst the cavern’s stalagmites and supports the sacred rituals of several stalactites. Passing through this incense- different branches of Buddhism, as well as Smerdon. filled grotto brings you to a pond filled with other local Chinese practices. The temple tortoises and carp, deposited there by gardens offered a bubble of tranquillity in Earlier this year, seeking respite from the locals in an attempt to balance their the heart of bustling Georgetown, the dark Cornish winter, my love for travelling karma. The practice of releasing animals main city of Penang. Travelling with a took me to the beautiful country of in this way is known as fangsheng and friend, we found the least practical mode Malaysia. My stay coincided with the was inspired by Buddha’s teaching of of transport on this island to be tandem Northeast monsoon season, which lasts kindness and compassion shown to all bicycle – much to the amusement of other from November to March. Despite the creatures. visitors and residents! daily downpours and stifling humidity, I was keen to spend as much time outside as possible. The archaeological sites I visited were relatively contemporary, linking to the number of diverse religious identities of South East Asia. Nevertheless, this tropical backdrop provided many opportune moments to channel my inner Indiana Jones!

A tortoise at Sam Poh Tong Cave Temple. Bryony in the Botanical Gardens.

I rounded off my trip by visiting the island Overall, my time in Malaysia was spent of Penang. Situated just off the Northwest exploring a rich and colourful fusion of old coast of Peninsular Malaysia, Penang and new, East and West, flora and fauna. embraces both the cosmopolitan and The resulting effect was exciting and more traditional aspects of its culture, slightly overwhelming, but an experience I making it a focal point for tourists and would repeat in an instant. religious worshippers alike. Murugan guards the Batu Caves. Our congratulations to Bryony, who graduated with a first class honours The first place of interest I visited, known degree in Egyptian Archaeolgy from UCL as Batu Caves, is thought to be one of the this summer. most popular Hindu temples outside of India. The caves are guarded by a golden More greywacke tools from Hudder statue of the Hindu deity Murugan which Field. stands at 140 feet tall; the tallest of its kind in the world. During the steep climb up 272 concrete steps to the shrine’s entrance one can expect to be followed by inquisitive and boisterous macaques. I witnessed one macaque hitch a ride up the hill by perching on a woman’s backpack, only to then steal her water bottle, unscrew the cap and take a drink! Other notable fauna include the huge colonies of fruit bats which live within the network of limestone caverns where the shrines are located – so be prepared for the smell of guano! Kek Lok Si.

Another memorable day of the trip was The temple of Kek Lok Si, the construction Thanks to Jacky Nowakowski for editing spent further North at the Sam Poh Tong of which was completed in 1905, the report that follows. Some of the details cave temple, in which the sacred embodies these sentiments. Although Jacky has provided make this the SCOOP relationship between people and nature is commercialised with stalls and eager of the edition. Photo courtesy CAU. demonstrated through the many statues of Rumours that King Arthur’s been excavated before and CAU hoped to building or two separate buildings. The Palace have been discovered at find undisturbed footprints of C5th to C7th revetment wall was also exposed in Mark. buildings. Under the direction of Jacky Only small sections of walling were Tintagel have been somewhat Nowakowski and James Gossip each revealed this year but they are of robust exaggerated. trench was supervised by a professional stone and slate masonry, architecturally CAU member, aided by volunteers. Carl designed and likely high status buildings. English Heritage commissioned Cornwall Thorpe as finds officer was kept very busy Such structural evidence is unlike any of Archaeological Unit to conduct a 5 year with high status imported glass and the standing ruins on the headland that research project at Tintagel Castle. To around 200 sherds of imported pottery the visitor sees today. coincide with the CBA Festival of from both terraces, confirming their th Archaeology, excavations began on 18 occupation in the early medieval period. The substantial nature of these walls and rd July and the trenches were refilled on 3 Some of the pieces of fine glass vessels the work that had gone into creating the August of this summer. were decorated. Soil samples were dry terraces led to the suggestion in “The and wet sieved to find ancient seeds, Independent” that it was a palace from the In the 1930s C.A. Raleigh Radford had wood charcoal, animal bones and marine time of King Arthur. Other reporters seized excavated and partially restored houses molluscs to help discover people’s diet at on this word to announce the discovery of on the eastern terraces and summit of the the site. Old soils, ancient pollen and land King Arthur’s Palace. Certainly there are headland, which he interpreted as a major snails will help to identify the flora on the substantial buildings and further Celtic Christian monastic settlement investigation being planned for next th th terraces. occupied during the C5 to C7 AD. Many summer should find their size and purpose of Radford’s written archives were lost Isolde held a confusing jumble of stone and show us more of the lifestyles of the when his house was bombed in 1942 rubble and natural outcrops, but may have people who lived in them. before they could be published. His had a pathway towards the rest of the interpretation of the site was challenged terrace. Tristan revealed a very well There is no evidence from any of the by the analysis of the finds which preserved revetment wall which contained excavations of a catastrophic event to end th amounted to the largest quantity of a terrace. It was built on the line of an the occupation of the settlement in the 7 imported pottery and glass to be found on earlier slate wall which may be the century. Win Scutt, Curator at English a site of this period in N.W. Europe. The remains of an early building of post Heritage, has suggested that it was settlement of houses was defended by a Roman date. If so the evidence here is abandoned when people were afflicted by great ditch which left only a narrow very different to the structures on the the bubonic plague which spread from the approach under a cliff. It was seen as a southern terrace. eastern Mediterranean. high status, perhaps royal, residence with trade links to France, Spain, North Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean, at the time of the Byzantine Empire.

In the 1990s a team from Glasgow University re-excavated Radford’s trenches and houses to confirm their original foundations under the restored walls and confirmed that the great ditch was also early medieval. Their re- Tristan on the Upper Eastern Terrace. examination of the finds and their radiocarbon dates hinted at late Roman The paved floor begins to appear in Geraint. Geraint on the southern terrace, revealed activity (C4th AD) as well as confirming th substantial walls, stepped paving and a the C5th to early C7 occupation. Prof carefully laid flagged floor for the inside of Charles Thomas’s reinterpretation of the a room. site, published in 1993, had made use of a survey conducted after the grass fire of 1985, which revealed more houses and boundary walls on the east and south terraces and the summit, where visitors had picked up even more pottery from the ashes.

CAU commissioned ground penetrating Ryan radar and laser scanning to help them to Smith and the wall in decide where to dig. Two trenches were opened on the steep southern terrace, The wall in Geraint. Mark. which faces the parish church. These More information is available on the were named Geraint and Mark, after Kings At the seaward end there was a poor website www.cau.org.uk and on the of Dumnonia. The two trenches on the quality, weathered slate “patio” outside the English Heritage Facebook page and upper eastern terrace, which faced the substantial terrace wall. There are two http://blog.english- haven and the valley, were more related built spaces linked by a flight of heritage.org.uk/discoveries-excavations- romantically named Tristan and Isolde. slate steps. It is too early to say if these tintagel-castle These parts of the headland had never are two rooms in a single (two storey) Truro Winter Lectures 12 January 2017 Jacqueline Nowakowski and others. 2016/17. Members and Area Reps Thursday evenings at evening. The topics and speakers will be published on the website. 7.30pm. Truro Baptist Church, Chapel Hill, 9 February 2017 Discoveries and Truro. TR1 3BD. developments in Cornwall: an 13 October 2016: English Heritage perspective. Maritime Indian Ocean. Susan Greaney, English J.D.Hill (TBC) Heritage. The past few years have seen research 10 November 2016: and presentation projects at several Down the bright stream: the guardianship sites in Cornwall. The talk prehistory of Woodcock will be an opportunity to hear about the Pip shows Dan Snow details of the Carwynnen 2016 archaeological excavations at project after winning the CBA award for best community project 2014.(Photo Brett Archer.) Corner and the Tregurra Tintagel and our plans for the research Valley. Sean Taylor (CAU) project there over the next few years. It and others. will also cover the results of research focused on Chysauster ancient village, In this lecture we will try to unravel the particularly new earthwork and story of around 2500 years of occupation geophysical survey at the site, new pottery and exploitation of this verdant vale, from analysis and extensive archive research. the Early Neolithic just after 4000 BC to There will also be an update on the latest the end of the Early Bronze Age around development plans for Pendennis Castle 1500 BC. Additional speakers include and work at some of our free and Henrietta Quinnell, talking about the unstaffed properties too. largest collection of Peterborough and Pip was awarded the title of Heritage Champion Grooved Wares in the Duchy and Ryan Curating the Schedule. The by CHT for her work at Carwynnen.(Photo CHT) Smith discussing the extensive flint work of the Ancient assemblage from the site. Monuments Inspectors. Dan Saturday 8th April 2017 AGM. 15th December 2016 Corfield Ratcliffe, (Historic England) Charles Thomas: his life and works. Henrietta Quinnell and Nankivell lecture: Historic England is the new name for the The Must Farm pile dwelling Historic Buildings and Monuments Andy Jones. – taste, appearance and the Commision for England, which continues to act as the Government’s heritage CONTACTS: lifestyle in the Late Bronze agency following the licensing of publicly Age. Mark Knight (Cambridge opened National Heritage Collection sites Secretary: Sophie Mayer, [email protected]; Archaeological Unit.) to the new charitable “English Heritage Trust”. The Ancient Monument Inspectors Membership secretary: Konstanze Rahn It now seems that the Must Farm Bronze are responsible for the 1979 Ancient [email protected]; Age pile dwelling (aka Britain’s Pompeii) Monument and Archaeological Areas Act, was built, occupied and burnt down in including monitoring and responding to Newsletter and journal distribution: quick succession. The brevity of unauthorised works at Scheduled Adrian Rodda. [email protected] settlement and its catastrophic demise Monuments, the administration of the Scheduled Monument Consent, advising provided a rareset of circumstances which Our postal address is now: in turn ensured exceptional preservation. planning authorities on applications Individual roundhouses replete with entire affecting Scheduled Monuments and other Cornwall Archaeological Society, c/o household inventories (whole pots, tool nationally important archaeological sites, Royal Cornwall Museum, River St, Truro, kits, textiles, wooden vessels, weapons, and working with others at Historic Cornwall TR1 2SJ. food remains etc) were preserved with the England to address risks to Scheduled Monuments and research their Please use when contacting any of the gentle sediments of a small river buried officers. deep beneath the fens. This talk will significance. present the context and circumstances of Website: www.cornisharchaeology.org.uk th the excavation and, at the same time, 9 March 2017. attempt to come to terms with the sheer Pip Richards and the Facebook: Cornish Archaeology density of materials and what they might tell us about taste, appearance and Sustainable Trust: a lifestyle in Late Bronze Age Britain. celebration of her work. Liskeard Winter Lectures excavation by us and is proving more An update on the continuing project revealing every day as to the process Reading the Hurlers, following the Friday evenings 7.30pm of the early tin washing process. It lecture given on 11th March 2016 and St Martins Church Hall, must be remembered that the only the excavation which took place in Church Street, Liskeard book with positive information and September 2016. As well as a report drawings anywhere is Agricola’s De on the excavation, the lecture will PL14 3AD Re Metallica; one illustration in include an overview of the project particular is a perfect match to what findings to date and an update on the Please note that this we have uncovered and this community engagement elements of series will take place in assessment is supported by top the project. archaeologists specialising in this the LOWER HALL. field. CAS Field Trips and th Events. 7 October 2016. 2 December 2016. Conserving World Heritage in Ten Romano-British and Saturday October 1st – DAS/CAS Mid-Cornwall: The Luxulyan early medieval research sites joint annual event. Plymouth Citadel, Barbican waterfront and Heritage Lottery Fund of the and Camel Mount Batten with Nigel Overton. Project. Ainsley Cocks and corridor. Mark Borlase. Meet 10.30am outside the Royal Christine Garwood. Following on from the Kingswood, Citadel, Plymouth, for a morning tour with Jane Gibson. Then along the Middle Amble and East Leigh papers The Luxulyan Valley, much loved by waterfront to the Barbican, with Nigel local people, also holds great in recent issues of Cornish Overton, Plymouth City Museum. importance as part of the Cornish Archaeology, this will be a whistlestop Cross by water taxi to Mount Batten, Mining World Heritage Site. This talk tour of ten more sites in the corridor the site of Late Bronze Age to Roman considers the varied history of the environs. Starting at Daymer Bay and settlement; Nigel’s tour will examine Valley, and efforts to conserve it ending at Fowey, settlement the post-medieval archaeology of the Headland. Return by water taxi c 4.30 through a new Heritage Lottery dynamics, communications and pm. Register interest now; further Romanisation will be examined at a project, currently in development. details will be supplied later. Costs c discursive level in regard to the £8 per person. Own arrangements for 4th November 2016. presented research findings. It is travel to Plymouth. Register with A Tudor tin mill, Lanyon, hoped we will find some time towards [email protected] or 01392 the end of the discussion to throw 433214 Madron Parish. Stuart open a debate to the floor. th Emmett and others. Sunday 20 November. 11.00 – 6 January 2017 4.00 Trencrom and . Meet Categorised as a tyre house where Adrian Rodda at the car park at the alluvial tin from the streams was Members and Area Reps foot of Trencrom (SW 522 361). We washed and sorted by the tinners but Evening. shall climb the hill to see the Neolithic not necessarily smelted, as no and Iron Age fortifications as well as smelting evidence has yet been 3 February 2017. what remains of the Bronze Age found. Interestingly we did find pottery Great Halls of Fire: barrows. Then we shall choose our evidence that now suggests they were excavations at Restormal next destination according to the using cream separation dishes to pan weather conditions from Lelant or Castle. Sean Taylor, (CAU). the finer tin. Recently we had one of Phillack Churches, the Cunaide these dishes made, using one of the A programme of archaeological work Stone, what is left of Harvey’s pottery sherds to give us dimensions at Restormal Castle was undertaken Foundry or a stroll up the King etc and we shall bring it along on the in response to the installation of a George Memorial Walk with an evening, along with some hand new admission building and account of the rivalry between grinding stones which were found associated infrastructure. The work Harvey’s and Copperhouse beneath the floor areas. We have revealed details of structures within foundries. There will be verses, definite documentary evidence for the bailey surrounding the castle, as saints and folklore. Bring a picnic. 1632, with another more general well as recovering finds of the period. reference to the area in the late Archaeology in Cornwall. th 1500s, though again it is interesting 10 March 2017. Reading Saturday November 26 2016. that at this time we have no stamping 10-5.15. The Queens Hotel, or crushing house remains, the Hurlers – the story so far. . See flyer enclosed with suggesting this was purely a Emma Stockley. this Newsletter. streaming operation for alluvial tin. This area as a whole is still under