This is basically an addition to yesterday's post, featuring just a few of the local standing stones, monoliths, quoits, etc.
Firstly a view of The Hurlers, dating from the early Bronze Age; three large circles plus two standing stones to one side. According to legend, the stones represent people who were playing a Hurling game on the Sabbath and were turned to stone. The pair of stones to one side are known as The Pipers, who were playing the musical accompaniment.
The ground plan of the three circles and The Pipers:
More information here: (with acknowledgements to Historic Cornwall)
http://www.historic-cornwall.org.uk/a2m/bronze_age/stone_circle/hurlers/hurlers.htm
Just a few miles away from The Hurlers is King Doniert's Stone, two pieces of a decorated 9th century cross, situated in an enclosure at the side of the road near to St. Cleer.
This is the entrance:
Finally, for now, this is Trethevy Quoit; this well-preserved and impressive Neolithic dolmen burial chamber stands 2.7 metres high. There are five standing stones surmounted by a huge capstone weighing 20 tonnes and needing a feat of engineering to hoist it into place. Originally, this burial chamber would have been covered by a mound of earth or stones.
(acknowledgements to the Cornwall Heritage Trust for photos and information.)
There are some fascinating bits of history all over Cornwall. The carved inscription on the stone is so clear.
ReplyDeleteFascinating, I love to find out about the history of places in our beloved England. Thank you for sharing your corner of the world with us. xx
ReplyDeleteCornwall has many ancient sites of historical interest and I will try to include more in future posts.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for these photographs and the links to even more information. I do find these stones very beautiful, and am fascinated by thinking about how they came to be where they have been for a very long time.
ReplyDeleteMind you, I've never seen any of these stone across the Atlantic in person. Maybe this year?
xo
Such amazing history and things to see and find out about all around us! xx
ReplyDeleteIt's quite amazing when you think that such stones date back to Neolithic and Bronze Age times. Utterly fascinating!
ReplyDeleteSo very interesting, I am off to the library this afternoon to see what they have on the history of. Thanks for the sequel on your earlier post.
ReplyDeleteBe prepared for it to take over your spare time! Lol, lol.
DeleteThese seem unbelievable when you realize how manpower was used to arrange and lift. Magical and mystical.
ReplyDeleteYes, that burial chamber (Trethevy Quoit) would have had a more level capstone on the top, but it has tilted badly since one of the end supports fell and is now lying on the ground within the chamber. But as you say - in those times, to raise a 20 ton rock begs the question - HOW???
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