Details

The scheduling includes a prehistoric round barrow, used as a beacon in
historic times, situated on near level ground on a false crest of a hill south
of Veryan, with a steep coastal slope to the west.
The barrow has a very prominent earth and stone mound, measuring approximately
40m in diameter and 5.5m high. Its profile is regular, with steep sides and a
flat top some 11m across. An area at the centre and west of the mound top,
however, has been disturbed and reduced in height by around 0.5m-1m. This is
considered to result partly from an antiquarian excavation of 1855, which
produced evidence of a central cist containing a cremation and several other
cremations around this, although the appearance of the mound was said to have
been restored afterwards. At the higher south side of this area is a World War
II observation post, with a rectangular concrete platform measuring 4.1m
north-south by 2.5m east-west and up to 0.4m high, with traces of a former
superstructure.
A stone faced boundary bank, forming an element of a post-medieval field
system and considered to be medieval in origin, runs roughly north-south
across the top of the mound east of centre. It is 1m wide and survives to 0.5m
high. The visible length is 14m but it probably continues under the scrub on
the steep sides of the mound.
Aerial photographs show parts of two concentric buried external ditches, the
inner ditch centred approximately 10m out from the mound base, and the outer
ditch centred approximately 10m beyond the inner. By analogy with other round
barrows, these are considered to be approximately 3m wide, and to encircle the
whole barrow. A slight dip visible on the ground about 7m east of the mound
may derive from the inner edge of the inner ditch.
The modern ladder steps and rail, all modern fencing and gateposts are
excluded from the scheduling, although ground beneath these features 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

Round barrows are funerary monuments dating from the Late Neolithic period to
the Late Bronze Age, with most examples belonging to the period 2400-1500 BC.
They were constructed as earthen mounds, sometimes ditched, which covered
single or multiple burials. They occur either in isolation or grouped as
cemeteries and often acted as a focus of burials in later periods. Often
superficially similar, although differing widely in size, they exhibit
regional variations in form and a diversity of burial practices. There are
over 10,000 surviving examples recorded nationally (many more have already
been destroyed), occurring across most of Britain, including the Wessex area
where it is often possible to classify them more closely, for example as bowl
or bell barrows. Often occupying prominent locations, they are a major
historic element in the modern landscape and their considerable variation in
form and longevity as a monument type provide important information on the
diversity of beliefs and social organisations amongst early prehistoric
communities. They are particularly representative of their period and a
substantial proportion of surviving examples are considered worthy of
protection.

Carne Beacon round barrow 320m north of Carne Farm survives well. Despite
limited disturbance to the top of the mound, the barrow remains substantially
intact. The underlying old land surface, and original deposits associated with
the mound, and the bases of the ditches, will also remain. The location on a
false crest shows well the important role of topography in Bronze Age funerary
activity. The large mound and double ditch illustrate the diversity in size
and form of round barrows, and the reuse of the site as a beacon and a wartime
observation post demonstrates the continuing importance of this monument type
as an element in the landscape.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Books and journals
Acton, V, Carter, D, Cornish War and Peace - The Road to Victory, (1995), 80-81
Hearne, T, The Itinerary of John Leland, (1769)
Tonkin, T, Parochial History of Cornwall, (1720)
Whitaker, J, Cathedral of Cornwall, (1804), 302
Adams, J, 'Journal of the Royal Institution of Cornwall' in An Account of the Opening of Veryan Beacon, , Vol. 37, (1855), 23-26
Other
Andrews, CKC, AM7, (1939)
Holmes, L, to Parkes, C, (2000)
Sheppard, P, AM12, (1979)
Sheppard, P, AM12, (1980)
SW 93 MW 1, CC, Ordnance Survey Index Card, (1977)
Title: Ordnance Survey 1:2500 Map
Source Date: 1880
Author:
Publisher:
Surveyor:

Title: Ordnance Survey 1:2500 Map
Source Date: 1908
Author:
Publisher:
Surveyor:

Title: Ordnance Survey 2" drawing
Source Date: 1811
Author:
Publisher:
Surveyor:

Title: Veryan Tithe Apportionment
Source Date: 1840
Author:
Publisher:
Surveyor:

Title: Veryan Tithe Apportionment
Source Date: 1840
Author:
Publisher:
Surveyor:
1444
Ts at CAU, James, D, Notes on the ancient earthworks at Curgurrel, near Gerrans, (1991)

Source: Historic England