LiDAR 1m DTM Hillshade
Satellite Imagery
LiDAR 1m DTM Hillshade
Satellite Imagery
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HER: Cornwall and Scilly MCO6588 (21790)
NMR: SW 87 SE 11; SW87SE 12; SW87SE 15 (429505; 429510; 429519)
SM: 1004234
NGR: SW85427357
X: 185420 Y: 73570 (OSGB36)
Complex of possibly three promontory forts sited on three separate, and parallel, W-facing coastal promontories S of Trethias Island and Treyarnon Bay and between Winecove Point, Pepper Cove and Warren Cove. Forts unusual in occupying series of closely-spaced headlands and defined in different ways with varying ramparts. Very little known and suggested possibly a single site, separated by severe sea cliff erosion since prehistory. However, these could have been separate forts, and the varying construction used could indicate the more likely of the two theories. All three defended by steep cliffs above narrow coves, except to landward E side where defined by lines of ditches, with or without ramparts, across narrowest points of respective headlands. N site has single partially infilled rock-cut ditch to 0.3m deep with rampart c. 0.8m high much eroded and exposed with possible middle entrance, enclosing 0.13ha. No occupation and no finds. Middle site better preserved with two ramparts, rock-cut ditches and narrow central entrance, enclosing 0.22ha. Additional ditch probably modern. S site has three well-defined and well-spaced ditches, two rock-cut, enclosing 0.73ha. Only middle ditch has bank. Inner ditch with centrally placed causeway entrance, outer two ramparts staggered entrances. Only finds from complex spindle whorl from cave on S and hearth from middle site. Coastal grassland and bare rock. On 1st Ed. OS map (1881). Few investigations and details. Undated.
Citizen Science: ✗
Reliability of Data: Unconfirmed
Reliability of Interpretation: Confirmed
X: -559789 Y: 6537245 (EPSG: 3857)
Longitude: -5.028673204583378 Latitude: 50.52241116171933 (EPSG:4326)
Country: England
Current County or Unitary Authority: Cornwall
Historic County: Cornwall
Current Parish/Community/Council/Townland: St Merryn
Sea erosion severe to all three sites. On Heritage at Risk Register (2015).
| Extant | ✓ |
| Cropmark | ✗ |
| Likely Destroyed | ✓ |
Coastal grassland and bare rock.
| Woodland | ✗ |
| Commercial Forestry Plantation | ✗ |
| Parkland | ✗ |
| Pasture (Grazing) | ✗ |
| Arable | ✗ |
| Scrub/Bracken | ✗ |
| Bare Outcrop | ✗ |
| Heather/Moorland | ✗ |
| Heath | ✗ |
| Built-up | ✗ |
| Coastal Grassland | ✓ |
| Other | ✗ |
Complex promontory fort (aka cliff castle) sited on three W-facing promontories S of Treyarnon Bay, its nature either the result of sea erosion of a large single site, or initial construction as possibly three enclosures.
| Contour Fort | ✗ |
| Partial Contour Fort | ✗ |
| Promontory Fort | ✓ |
| Hillslope Fort | ✗ |
| Level Terrain Fort | ✗ |
| Marsh Fort | ✗ |
| Multiple Enclosure Fort | ✗ |
Located on three promontories
| Hilltop | ✗ |
| Coastal Promontory | ✓ |
| Inland Promontory | ✗ |
| Valley Bottom | ✗ |
| Knoll/Hillock/Outcrop | ✗ |
| Ridge | ✗ |
| Cliff/Plateau-edge/Scarp | ✗ |
| Hillslope | ✗ |
| Lowland | ✗ |
| Spur | ✗ |
Dominant Topographic Feature: Three coastal promontories
| North | ✗ |
| Northeast | ✗ |
| East | ✗ |
| Southeast | ✗ |
| South | ✗ |
| Southwest | ✗ |
| West | ✓ |
| Northwest | ✗ |
| Level | ✗ |
Altitude: 100.0m
N/A
None.
Reliability: D - None
| Pre 1200BC | ✗ |
| 1200BC - 800BC | ✗ |
| 800BC - 400BC | ✗ |
| 400BC - AD50 | ✗ |
| AD50 - AD400 | ✗ |
| AD400 - AD 800 | ✗ |
| Post AD800 | ✗ |
| Unknown | ✓ |
| Pre Hillfort: | None |
| Post Hillfort: | None |
On 1st Ed. OS map (1881). Field investigation Ordnance Survey 1969. Few investigations.
| 1st Identified Map Depiction (1881): | OS map |
| Other (1969): | Field investigation OS. |
Only finds over all three sites known are hearth exposed in a cliff face, and (at least) one spindle whorl (4cm across with incised lines). In S site depressions may be hut circles.
None
| None | ✓ |
| Spring | ✗ |
| Stream | ✗ |
| Pool | ✗ |
| Flush | ✗ |
| Well | ✗ |
| Other | ✗ |
In S site depressions may be hut circles.
| 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 | ✗ |
Only finds over all three sites known are hearth exposed in a cliff face, and at least one spindle whorl (4cm across with incised lines. Composition uncertain).
| 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 | ✗ |
Central entrances on NE to all three sites. Simple gap to N site. Narrow gap to middle site. Causewayed staggered entrance to S site.
| 3: | Central entrances at all promontories. |
| 2: | None |
Guard Chambers: ✗
Chevaux de Frise: ✗
| 1. Simple Gap (North east): | N site. |
| 2. Simple Gap (North east): | Middle site has narrow central entrance. |
| 3. Other Forms (North east): | S site has causewayed staggered entrance. Exact type not ascertained. |
All three sites defined by steep cliffs above narrow coves, except to landward E side where defined by lines of ditches, with or without ramparts, across narrowest points of respective headlands. N site has single partially infilled rock-cut ditch to 0.3m deep with rampart c. 0.8m high much eroded and exposed with possible middle entrance. No occupation and no finds. Middle site better preserved with two ramparts, rock-cut ditches and narrow central entrance. Additional ditch probably modern. S site has three well-defined and well-spaced ditches, two rock-cut. Only middle ditch has bank.
| Area 1: | 0.13ha. |
| Area 2: | 0.22ha. |
| Area 3: | 0.73ha. |
| Total: | 0.73ha. |
Total Footprint Area: Noneha.
None
| ✗ | Current areas for north, middle and south sites |
| ✗ | Number of ramparts vary according to site. |
| NE Quadrant: | 1 |
| SE Quadrant: | 2 |
| SW Quadrant: | 3 |
| NW Quadrant: | None |
| Total: | 3 |
| Partial Univallate | ✗ |
| Univallate | ✓ |
| Partial Bivallate | ✓ |
| Bivallate | ✗ |
| Partial Multivallate | ✓ |
| Multivallate | ✗ |
| Unknown | ✗ |
| Partial Univallate | ✗ |
| Univallate | ✗ |
| Partial Bivallate | ✗ |
| Bivallate | ✗ |
| Partial Multivallate | ✗ |
| Multivallate | ✗ |
None
| 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 |
| ✓ | Total not defined. Number of rock-cut ditches vary according to site. |
Number of Ditches: None
| ✗ | None |
Cotton, M.A. 1958-9. Cornish Cliff Castles, Proc West Cornwall Fld Club, 2, 3, 119.
Crawford, O.G.S. 1921. The Ancient Settlement at Harlyn Bay, Antiq J, 1, 298-299.
Henderson, C. 1930. A Survey of Cornwall, CPRE, Thompson, W.H. (ed), CH 9, 57.
Johnson, N. and Rose, P. 1982. Defended settlement in Cornwall - an illustrated discussion, In ed. D. Miles, The Romano-British countryside: Studies in rural settlement and economy, BAR Brit Ser 103, 151-207.
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