LiDAR 1m DTM Hillshade
Satellite Imagery
LiDAR 1m DTM Hillshade
Satellite Imagery
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HER: Cornwall and Scilly MCO25 (1566)
NMR: SX 16 NE 5 (432358)
SM: 1004455
NGR: SX19706895
X: 219700 Y: 68950 (OSGB36)
Roughly rectangular possible hillslope enclosure with annexe and outwork and outlying stone hut circle sited on S-facing boulder strewn slopes close to summit of prominent Berry Down. Measures c. 110m long by 82m wide enclosing 2ha. The site utilises a natural scarp on S to form a double rampart. Main rampart of stone and earth to 1.5m high incorporating rock outcrops and utilising natural rocky scarp to S, but no ditch. Site possibly unfinished in part. To SE not particularly strong curving outwork forms an annexe to 0.5ha and defined by bank to 1m high with slight outer ditch and enclosing rough boulder strewn slope, and attached to hillfort at E end running into boulders and apparently terminating to W; again possibly incomplete. Hollow way leads from inturned inner bank entrance, cutting inturned outer rampart to form original passage on SE. Nine stone hut circles or possible granite cairns, measuring c. 8m to 14m diameter, with one outside to N on summit of hill. Most have entrances on SE, and all with roughly laid out boulders with few orthostats. Between the ramparts small natural platform used for commemorative bonfires exposed revealing flooring of small stones with quantity of 13th-14th century pottery sherds. Much surface quarrying for granite and tin prospecting over all site. Two or three tumuli on S side. Possible Neolithic Tor enclosure suggested by Oswald et al (2001), however, also considered prehistoric hillslope enclosure and settlement. Nearest field systems at foot of hill. Moorland site much affected by quarrying and prospecting, bjut general fair condition. On 1st Ed. OS map (1882). Undated.
Citizen Science: ✗
Reliability of Data: Confirmed
Reliability of Interpretation: Unconfirmed
X: -505766 Y: 6532005 (EPSG: 3857)
Longitude: -4.54337493727165 Latitude: 50.49247546696089 (EPSG:4326)
Country: England
Current County or Unitary Authority: Cornwall
Historic County: Cornwall
Current Parish/Community/Council/Townland: St Neot
Much surface quarrying for granite and tin prospecting over all site, but fair condition generally.
| Extant | ✓ |
| Cropmark | ✗ |
| Likely Destroyed | ✗ |
Moorland site with scrub. Much quarrying features.
| Woodland | ✗ |
| Commercial Forestry Plantation | ✗ |
| Parkland | ✗ |
| Pasture (Grazing) | ✗ |
| Arable | ✗ |
| Scrub/Bracken | ✓ |
| Bare Outcrop | ✗ |
| Heather/Moorland | ✓ |
| Heath | ✗ |
| Built-up | ✗ |
| Coastal Grassland | ✗ |
| Other | ✓ |
Hillslope enclosure with annexe and outwork and outlying stone hut circle sited on S-facing boulder strewn slopes close to the summit of the prominent Berry Down. hill.
| Contour Fort | ✗ |
| Partial Contour Fort | ✗ |
| Promontory Fort | ✗ |
| Hillslope Fort | ✓ |
| Level Terrain Fort | ✗ |
| Marsh Fort | ✗ |
| Multiple Enclosure Fort | ✗ |
Located just below the summit of Berry Down
| Hilltop | ✓ |
| Coastal Promontory | ✗ |
| Inland Promontory | ✗ |
| Valley Bottom | ✗ |
| Knoll/Hillock/Outcrop | ✗ |
| Ridge | ✗ |
| Cliff/Plateau-edge/Scarp | ✗ |
| Hillslope | ✓ |
| Lowland | ✗ |
| Spur | ✗ |
Dominant Topographic Feature: Isolated hill.
| North | ✗ |
| Northeast | ✗ |
| East | ✗ |
| Southeast | ✓ |
| South | ✗ |
| Southwest | ✗ |
| West | ✗ |
| Northwest | ✗ |
| Level | ✗ |
Altitude: 274.0m
N/A
Possible Neolithic Tor enclosure suggested by Oswald et al (2001). However, later prehistoric hillslope enclosure and settlement also likely.
Reliability: D - None
| Pre 1200BC | ✗ |
| 1200BC - 800BC | ✗ |
| 800BC - 400BC | ✗ |
| 400BC - AD50 | ✗ |
| AD50 - AD400 | ✗ |
| AD400 - AD 800 | ✗ |
| Post AD800 | ✗ |
| Unknown | ✓ |
| Pre Hillfort: | Possible. Two or three tumuli on S side and possible Neolithic Tor enclosure suggested by Oswald et al (2001). |
| Post Hillfort: | Quantity of 13th-14th century pottery sherds. Modern commemorative bonfires. Much surface quarrying for granite and tin prospecting over all site. Field systems at foot of hill. |
Recorded as early as 1440 - no details. On 1813 1' OS map. On 1st Ed. OS map (1882). Field investigation Ordnance Survey 1973.
| 1st Identified Written Reference (1440): | No details. |
| 1st Identified Map Depiction (1813): | OS 1' map. |
| Other (1882): | OS map. |
| Other (1973): | Field investigation OS. |
Nine plus stone hut circles or possible granite cairns, measuring c. 8m to 14m diameter, with one outside to N on summit of hill. Most have entrances on SE, and all with roughly laid out boulders with few orthostats.
None
| None | ✓ |
| Spring | ✗ |
| Stream | ✗ |
| Pool | ✗ |
| Flush | ✗ |
| Well | ✗ |
| Other | ✗ |
Nine plus stone hut circles or possible granite cairns, measuring c. 8m to 14m diameter, with one outside to N on summit of hill. Most have entrances on SE, and all with roughly laid out boulders with few orthostats. Two or three tumuli on S side.
| No Known Features | ✗ |
| Round Stone Structures | ✓ |
| Rectangular Stone Structures | ✗ |
| Curvilinear Platforms | ✗ |
| Other Roundhouse Evidence | ✗ |
| Pits | ✗ |
| Quarry Hollows | ✗ |
| Other | ✗ |
None
| No Known Excavation | ✓ |
| Pits | ✗ |
| Postholes | ✗ |
| Roundhouses | ✗ |
| Rectangular Structures | ✗ |
| Roads/Tracks | ✗ |
| Quarry Hollows | ✗ |
| Other | ✗ |
| Nothing Found | ✗ |
None
| No Known Geophysics | ✓ |
| Pits | ✗ |
| Roundhouses | ✗ |
| Rectangular Structures | ✗ |
| Roads/Tracks | ✗ |
| Quarry Hollows | ✗ |
| Other | ✗ |
| Nothing Found | ✗ |
No finds associated with hillfort occupation.
| No Known Finds | ✓ |
| Pottery | ✗ |
| Metal | ✗ |
| Metalworking | ✗ |
| Human Bones | ✗ |
| Animal Bones | ✗ |
| Lithics | ✗ |
| Environmental | ✗ |
| Other | ✗ |
None
| APs Not Checked | ✓ |
| None | ✗ |
| Roundhouses | ✗ |
| Rectangular Structures | ✗ |
| Pits | ✗ |
| Postholes | ✗ |
| Roads/Tracks | ✗ |
| Other | ✗ |
Hollow way leads from inturned inner bank entrance, cutting inturned outer rampart to form original passage on SE.
| 1: | None |
| 2: | None |
Guard Chambers: ✗
Chevaux de Frise: ✗
| 1. In-turned (South east): | Hollow way leads from inturned inner bank entrance and cuts inturned outer rampart on SE. |
| 1. Hollow Way (South east): | None |
Single rampart of stone and earth measuring to 1.5m high incorporating rock outcrops and utilises a natural rocky scarp to the S. To SE curving outwork, defined by bank of up to 1m high and enclosing a rough boulder strewn slope, is attached to the hillfort at the E end and runs into boulders and apparently terminates to the W, single ditch.
| Area 1: | 2.0ha. |
| Total: | 2.0ha. |
Total Footprint Area: Noneha.
None
| ✗ | None |
| ✓ | None |
| NE Quadrant: | 1 |
| SE Quadrant: | 1 |
| SW Quadrant: | 1 |
| NW Quadrant: | 1 |
| Total: | 1 |
| Partial Univallate | ✗ |
| Univallate | ✓ |
| Partial Bivallate | ✗ |
| Bivallate | ✗ |
| Partial Multivallate | ✗ |
| Multivallate | ✗ |
| Unknown | ✗ |
| Partial Univallate | ✗ |
| Univallate | ✗ |
| Partial Bivallate | ✗ |
| Bivallate | ✗ |
| Partial Multivallate | ✗ |
| Multivallate | ✗ |
Single rampart of stone and earth measuring to 1.5m high incorporates rock outcrops. Site possibly unfinished in part.
| None | ✗ |
| Earthen Bank | ✓ |
| Stone Wall | ✗ |
| Rubble | ✓ |
| Wall-walk | ✗ |
| Evidence of Timber | ✗ |
| Vitrification | ✗ |
| Other Burning | ✗ |
| Palisade | ✗ |
| Counter Scarp Bank | ✗ |
| Berm | ✗ |
| Unfinished | ✓ |
| Other | ✓ |
None
| None | ✗ |
| Earthen Bank | ✗ |
| Stone Wall | ✗ |
| Murus Duplex | ✗ |
| Timber-framed | ✗ |
| Timber-laced | ✗ |
| Vitrification | ✗ |
| Other Burning | ✗ |
| Palisade | ✗ |
| Counter Scarp Bank | ✗ |
| Berm | ✗ |
| Unfinished | ✗ |
| No Known Excavation | ✓ |
| Other | ✗ |
| ✗ | None |
| ✓ | None |
Number of Ditches: 1
| ✓ | To SE not particularly strong curving outwork forms an annexe to 0.5ha and defined by bank to 1m high with slight outer ditch and enclosing rough boulder strewn slope, and attached to hillfort at E end running into boulders and apparently terminating to W; again possibly incomplete. |
Fletcher, M. 1989. Stowes Pound; in Bowden, M., Topping, P. and MacKay, D. (eds), From Cornwall To Caithness, British Archaeol Rep no. 209, 71-9.
Lysons, D. and Lysons, S. 1814. Magna Britannia. Vol 3, Cornwall.
Mitchell, J. 1933. The parochial history of St Neots.
Oswald, A., Dyer, C. and Barber, M. 2001. The creation of monuments. Neolithic causewayed enclosures in the British Isles,, Swindon: English Heritage, No 120.
Page, W. ed. 1906. The Victoria History of the County of Cornwall, 1, London: James Street, 462.
Polsue, J. ed. 1867-72, Lake's Parochial History of Cornwall.
Silvester, R. 1989.The Relationship of First Millennium Settlement to the Upland Areas of the South-West. Proc Devon Archaeol Soc, 37, 176-90.
Atlas of Hillforts:
Wikidata:
This work is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
and should be cited as:
Lock, Gary and Ralston, Ian. 2024. Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland. Available at: https://hillforts.arch.ox.ac.uk
Document Version 1.1