More information : [SW 4231 3378] West Lanyon Quoit [NR]
West Lanyon or Lower Lanyon Quoit, Madron parish.
'In the eighteenth century a large barrow at West Lanyon was excavated and a megalithic chamber found which was orientated north east to south west, the north east end was open. The chamber seems to have been a rectangular one and its measurements are given as 10ft by 5 ft. by 5ft. At the present day the barrow has disappeared and all that remains is a megalith about 5 ft. square standing erect (probably the south-west stone of the chamber) and a larger stone probably the capstone leaning against it'.
The cromlech was revealed a few years prior when the earth of the
barrow was removed for compost. Further digging unearthed a broken
urn, ashes, a skull and other human bones.
West Lanyon Quoit is scheduled as an ancient monmument.
The upright stone is 1.6m high and 1.5m wide. The capstone, which
rests against it, is 4.1m longand 2.6m wide.
Ground photograph AO 60/296/5 - from the S.E.
A 25 inch survey has been made.
No change to survey of 15 19 60.
Borlase's account of the removal of the mound (a) records that the chamber was found with "the coverstone having slipped off on the south side". This suggests that the chamber was full of mound material. It therefore appears that the tomb had been opened previously and the urn and bones found are unlikely to have been associated with the original structure.
West Lanyon Quoit was originally covered by a large barrow mound and accounts of its excavation suggest that a secondary probably early Bronze Age grave was encountered. (9) |