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STANNON STONE CIRCLE

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There are one or two small erect stones in the vicinity of the stone circle, none of which appears to be of any archaeological significance. The circle proper consists of thirty recumbent, two displaced towards the centre and 47 upright stones, disposed as in 1:625 survey. Generally the upright stones are 0.5m high but the whole is unusual in that the stones are small and closely placed.

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(SX 12628001) Stone Circle (NR). (1)

Stannon stone circle. See plan. (2)

The stones do not form a true circle.

There are one or two small erect stones in the vicinity of the stone circle, none of which appears to be of any archaeological significance. The circle proper consists of thirty recumbent, two displaced towards the centre and 47 upright stones, disposed as in 1:625 survey. Generally the upright stones are 0.5m high but the whole is unusual in that the stones are small and closely placed.
Resurveyed at 1:2500 on MFD. (3)

No change from report of 15 5 73. (4)

Burl suggest that the Stannon Downstone circle, together with Fernacre (SX 17 NW 42), may be the earliest of the Bodmin Moor circles.

The large number of stones and flattened arc show possible indirect connections with early Cumbrian rings. (5)

A type A flattened circle, 139 ft 8 ins by 132 ft 10 ins, see plan.

The stones are all of local granite and none more than a metre in height, the tallest being on the south of the circumference. There are early reports of a fallen stone near the centre and of an outlier standing 25 ft to NNE of the ring. Seventy stones are listed by Tregelles, forty one still standing erect. (6,7)

(SX 126800) The stone circle is included in a catalogue and distribution map of Neolithic sites in Cornwall. (8)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 6" 1908

( 2) General reference

Arch 61 1908 36-9 Plan (H St George Gray)

( 3) Field Investigators Comments

F1 MHB 15-MAY-73

( 4) Field Investigators Comments

F2 NVQ 21-JAN-76

( 5) General reference

Stone Circles of Brit Isles 1977 76 115 118-9 121 341 (A Burl)

( 6) General reference

BAR 81 1980 Megalithic Rings 88-89 plan (A & A S Thom)

( 7) General reference

VCH Corn 1 1906 395-6 (G F Tregelles)

( 8) General reference

Corn Archaeol 25 1986 75 (RJ Mercer)

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