Archæological Excavations in Cornwall

Abstract

RELICS obtained from excavations on a Late Bronze and Iron Age site in the Great Gear Field at Carwarthen, St. Just-in-Roseland, Cornwall, are now on exhibition in the museum of the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society at Falmouth. These excavations have boon carried out during the past year under the direction of Mr. S. A. Opie of Redruth. The site, it would appear from an account of the excavations in the Royal Cornwall Gazette and County News of February 22, was occupied from 1000 B.C. onward. In the earlier phases of its occupation, it is the first to be identified in Cornwall as dating from the important Late Bronze Age period, to which belong the earliest classical references to the Western tin trade. The site is thus of unusual interest and importance; while in view of the small area as yet explored, it is the richest and most productive of the period of its later occupation as yet examined in Cornwall. A fair amount of bronze age pottery, some with cordon and finger-tip impressions, has been recovered; but as yet no traces of structural remains of the early period have been found. A small circular fortification belongs to a later occupation, being of a usual iron age type. Of this, the position of the circular ditch has been established at six points where it is from six to ten feet deep. Stone revetments of the inner face of the ditch have been found at five points. The ramparts, much damaged by ploughing, afford evidence of several periods of construction. At the best preserved section, there are three successive stone revetments, and clear evidence of an interior wall walk. The iron age pottery is mostly late, being attributed to the first century A.D. or at oldest to the first century B.C. None of the fine decorated pottery of the second century B.C., such as has been found at Glastonbury or Castle Dore, has appeared. The site was extensively occupied in Roman times down to the fourth century. Native pottery betrays Roman influence, while two pieces of Samian of the second century A.D. and two of New Forest wares of the fourth century A.D. have been unearthed. Corns, numerous fragments of iron implements, perforated slate disks and a waisted stone hammer have also been found. The excavations are to be continued.