Excavation Begins at Cornwall’s Neolithic Stone Circle Site

The excavation of a significant prehistoric ritual site, known as Castilly Henge, has commenced in Cornwall. Experts regard this site as the “ancient sacred heart” of the county, believed to have been constructed during the late Neolithic period, approximately between 3,000 and 2,500 BCE. The project received over £40,000 in funding from the National Lottery, awarded to the Cornwall Heritage Trust (CHT) for the purpose of uncovering a hidden stone circle at the site’s centre.

Located near Bodmin, just off the A30, Castilly Henge features a substantial oval embankment. Archaeological evidence suggests it was used as an amphitheatre-like space for communal gatherings and ritual activities. The site continued to hold significance into the Early Bronze Age, around 2,400 to 1,500 BCE, when several high-status burial mounds were built nearby.

Previous investigations have also proposed that Castilly Henge may have served as a medieval open-air theatre, known as a plen-an-gwari, and as fortified housing for cannons during the English Civil War. The current four-week excavation is a collaborative effort involving the CHT, Cornwall Archaeological Society, and Historic England, aiming to explore the rich history of this ancient monument.

In 2022, researchers identified possible remains of a long-lost stone circle at the site, with only one other known example remaining in Cornwall. Carolyn Kennett, project manager at CHT, expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “Neolithic henges are incredibly rare, so this is a really exciting moment.”

The site faces threats from invasive vegetation and nearby infrastructure, prompting Kennett to emphasize the importance of safeguarding it for future generations. “Our goal is to fundraise to purchase this site and to open it up to the public,” she noted, revealing that over £10,000 of a £50,000 target has already been raised.

Dr. Olaf Bayer, senior archaeological investigator for Historic England, highlighted the connection this site offers to our ancestors. “To discover and hold in your own hands the very tools people of the past had used – it’s the kind of stuff that makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck,” he remarked, underscoring the emotional resonance of such discoveries.

As excavation continues, the hope is that more insights into the lives and rituals of ancient peoples will emerge from this remarkable site. The collaboration between heritage and archaeological organizations aims not only to uncover the past but also to preserve it for educational and cultural enrichment in the future.