More information : (SX 07076275) Burial Chamber (NR) (1)
The three surviving stones of a burial chamber contained within
an oval mound containing many small stones. This mound is
possibly the result of ploughing around the chamber. The fallen
capstone, 17ft by 11ft by 1ft thick, rests on what was probably
its original support on the south side, see plan. The height of
the chamber was between 4ft 6ins and 6ft. The isolated stone,
'C', is 4ft 6ins high and probably in situ. It may have formed
part of a facade similar to that at Zennor Quoit (see SW 42 NE
42).
Large fragments of stone, probably parts of the missing
orthostats, were noted by Henderson and one still remains. Two
of the fragments, 2ft 6ins high, which stood 12ft north of
stone 'B' were thought by Blight to be in situ.
No excavation or finds have been recorded.
Pool suggests that the missing orthostats were broken up to
build the well-head in the same field.
The capstone, 5.1m by 3.3m, is partially buried and is inclined
against an orthostat which is 1.8m high and 1.6m across. A
second orthostat, 1.2m high and 2.7m long, stands immediately
to the north. There is now no trace of a mound although there
are modern stone clearance heaps around the structure.
Resurveyed at 1:2500, utilizing OS air photographs.
The cutting of a pipe trench 6m south of Lesquite Quoit
revealed a group of surface features, see plan.
No definite conclusions about the features are possible but
some may be associated with a destroyed mound or cairn, such as
the stone scatter at '1'. The pits '2', '3' and '6' appear to
be holes for moderate sized stones which suggest a rough kerb
for an oval or round, rather than long, mound.
The post hole '4' suggests structures prior to the mound and
'5' may be a small ritual pit.
Three pieces of pottery were sealed beneath the fallen stone
covering pit '6' (Trudgian gives no dating for these sherds).
Pottery from the base and upper part of the topsoil was Romano-
Cornish and post-Medieval. One flint flake and three possible
sling stones were also found.
The stripped area across the field was examined and the absence
of any ditch around the quoit was confirmed.
The well recorded by Pool (2) is the 'stone lined pit' noted by
Pevsner and was situated in the SE corner of the field,
approximately SX 07116275, until filled by the farmer in 1974
(e).
This well is not shown on OS maps.
Barrow included on distribution map and gazeteer of Neolithic sites in Cornwall. Quoted grid reference (SX 072622) is incorrect. (8) |