More information : (SW 91263863) Carne Beacon (NAT) Tumulus (NR). (1)
Carne Beacon, traditionally the burial place of Gerennius
(or Gereint), King of Cornwall c.590 AD, has been described as one
of the biggest Bronze Age barrows in Britain. When excavated in
1855, it measured 28 feet high by 350 feet in circumference, and
originally must have been even larger, for a considerable portion
of the north side appears to have been removed at some time.
Trenching revealed a central heap of stones, or cairn, within
which was a cist measuring 4 1/2 ft by 2 ft by 2 1/2 ft, containing
ashes, charcoal and dust, but no pottery or other grave goods.
Several secondary cremations were found around the centre of the
mound, which was restored to its original condition when the
excavation was completed. (2-4)
This large round barrow lies on a level plateau at 100m above OD.
It is almost circular in plan, measuring 34.0m by 32.0m and
stands 5.5m high. The flat top has been mutilated by the insertion
of a triangulation station and amorphous hollows, and the
base has been cut back by ploughing. Overall the barrow is in good
condition.
There is no visible trace of a ditch either on the ground or on
either the RAF or OS APs.
1:2500 survey revised on AO Model. (5)
The barrow was used as a beacon during the historic period and as an observation post during World War II. The remains of the observation post remain as a concrete platform with traces of a former superstructure. A stone-faced boundary bank runs north-south across the top of the mound. It forms part of a post medieval field system and is believed to be medieval in origin. Aerial photographs indicate traces of two concentric, buried, external ditches, which are thought to completely encircle the mound. (6) |