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Round cairn 160m north east of Bosistow Island

A Scheduled Monument in St. Levan, Cornwall

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Coordinates

Latitude: 50.051 / 50°3'3"N

Longitude: -5.6921 / 5°41'31"W

OS Eastings: 135800.76093

OS Northings: 23296.46907

OS Grid: SW358232

Mapcode National: GBR DXBK.1JW

Mapcode Global: VH05M.9Z68

Entry Name: Round cairn 160m north east of Bosistow Island

Scheduled Date: 3 August 1971

Source: Historic England

Source ID: 1004236

English Heritage Legacy ID: CO 848

County: Cornwall

Civil Parish: St. Levan

Traditional County: Cornwall

Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Cornwall

Church of England Parish: St Levan

Church of England Diocese: Truro

Details

The monument includes a round cairn, situated on the Higher Bosistow Cliff, overlooking Zawn Peggy and Inner Pendower Cove. The barrow survives as a circular stony mound measuring up to 11m in diameter and 0.5m high. The mound has a central hollow, possible the result of Antiquarian excavation although no details are known.
Other archaeological remains in the vicinity are the subject of a separate scheduling.

Sources: HER:-
PastScape Monument No:-421273

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

Round cairns are prehistoric funerary monuments dating to the Bronze Age (c.2000-700 BC). They were constructed as stone mounds covering single or multiple burials. These burials may be placed within the mound in stone-lined compartments called cists. In some cases the cairn was surrounded by a ditch. Often occupying prominent locations, cairns are a major visual element in the modern landscape. They are a relatively common feature of the uplands and are the stone equivalent of the earthen round barrows of the lowlands. Their considerable variation in form and longevity as a monument type provide important information on the diversity of beliefs and social organisation amongst early prehistoric communities. They are particularly representative of their period. Despite partial early excavation, the round cairn 160m north east of Bosistow Island survives well and will contain archaeological and environmental evidence relating to its construction, longevity, territorial significance, social organisation, funerary and ritual practices and overall landscape context.

Source: Historic England

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