Details

The scheduling includes a small later prehistoric univallate hillfort situated
on a slight slope on the north east shoulder of a ridge west of St Newlyn
East.
The hillfort is sub-oval in plan, measuring overall approximately 115m WNW-
ESE by up to 80m NNE-SSW. The interior is fairly level, with several slight
undulations or indistinct earthworks. On the east and south sides the remains
of the rampart are surmounted by a boundary bank of earth and stone, with
roughly coursed shillet facing visible in places. The resulting earthwork is
1.3m wide at its top and 0.8m high internally, 2.2m high externally, on the
east; on the south side, it is 2.4m wide, 1m high internally, and 1.9m high
externally. The external ditch is 6.8m wide and 0.75m deep on the east, and 8m
wide and 0.7m deep on the south side.
On the north and west sides the rampart is visible as a scarp 1.5m high, with
an external ditch 4.4m wide and 0.5m deep. A probable causeway 6m-7m wide
across the ditch on the west side, some 17.3m north of where the boundary bank
joins the rampart on the south, is considered to be a relatively recent access
point.
The modern fencing is excluded from the scheduling, although the ground
beneath it is included.

MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.
It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features,
considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

Slight univallate hillforts are defined as enclosures of various shapes,
generally between 1ha and 10ha in size, situated on or close to hilltops and
defined by a single line of earthworks, the scale of which is relatively
small. They date to between the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age (eighth -
fifth centuries BC), the majority being used for 150 to 200 years prior to
their abandonment or reconstruction. Slight univallate hillforts have
generally been interpreted as stock enclosures, redistribution centres, places
of refuge and permanent settlements. The earthworks generally include a
rampart, narrow level berm, external ditch and counterscarp bank, while access
to the interior is usually provided by two entrances comprising either simple
gaps in the earthwork or an inturned rampart. Postholes revealed by excavation
indicate the occasional presence of portal gateways while more elaborate
features like overlapping ramparts and outworks are limited to only a few
examples. Internal features included timber or stone round houses; large
storage pits and hearths; scattered postholes, stakeholes and gullies; and
square or rectangular buildings supported by four to six posts, often
represented by postholes, and interpreted as raised granaries. Slight
univallate hillforts are rare with around 150 examples recorded nationally.
Although on a national scale the number is low, in Devon they comprise one of
the major classes of hillfort. In other areas where the distribution is
relatively dense, for example, Wessex, Sussex, the Cotswolds and the
Chilterns, hillforts belonging to a number of different classes occur within
the same region. Examples are also recorded in eastern England, the Welsh
Marches, central and southern England. In view of the rarity of slight
univallate hillforts and their importance in understanding the transition
between Bronze Age and Iron Age communities, all examples which survive
comparatively well and have potential for the recovery of further
archaeological remains are believed to be of national importance.

The univallate hillfort 450m north west of Cargoll Farm survives well. Despite
some limited reduction of the rampart, this remains substantially intact. The
old land surface underlying the ramparts, and remains of buildings, structures
and other deposits associated with the ramparts and external ditch and with
the interior, will survive. The prominent location on the shoulder of a ridge
illustrates the role of topography in the siting of later prehistoric
enclosures.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Books and journals
Padel, O J, Cornish placename elements, (1985), 50, 139
Henderson, C, 'Parochial Antiquities' in Parochial Antiquities, , Vol. 3, (1917), 140
Other
SW 85 NW 6, Fletcher, M, Ordnance Survey Index Card, (1970)
Thomas, R, Letter to the West Briton, (1851)
Title: Ordnance Survey 1:2500 Map
Source Date: 1907
Author:
Publisher:
Surveyor:

Title: St Newlyn East Tithe Apportionment
Source Date: 1840
Author:
Publisher:
Surveyor:
1218-1220

Source: Historic England