A HISTORY OF CORNWALL 



were on the lower grounds have been destroyed. A few occupy prominent 

 places on the headlands 1 and one 3 stands conspicuous on the exact crest 

 of a hill. 



In some parts of the county considerable numbers arc grouped together 

 within a comparatively small area,' suggesting a contemporary origin, and in 

 others * there seems to be a possibility of methodical arrangement. Not only 

 have a very large number been carelessly rifled and their contents destroyed, 

 but even in many cases where a proper examination has been made the 

 records are unfortunately incomplete in many important details, but it is 

 certain that in the greatest number the barrow contained within its area, not 

 necessarily in the centre, 6 a kist vaen, usually of small size, measuring about 

 2 ft. or 3 ft. each way, but in some cases large enough to take a human body. 6 

 The smaller of these kists are made of four flat stones for sides, and one for a 

 cover, and generally, but not always, one for a floor ; but in some cases the sides 

 are built of small stones. 7 Sometimes a pit has been sunk into the natural 

 ground over which the barrow has been raised. At Glendorgal, Tresawsen, 

 and Fowey, the pit was lined with flat stones. 8 At Bosporthennis in Zennor* 

 two urns, and at Tredinney in St. Just 10 one, were found with no kist vaen or 

 pit, but with small stones carefully packed in round them and otherwise 

 unprotected. 



Whether there is a kist vaen or a pit, or not, in almost every case the 

 barrow has been found to contain traces of cremation in the form of burnt 

 bones or a black greasy mould, and as frequently one or more burial urns, 

 rudely made, of local materials, generally with some slight zigzag ornament, 

 and often with handles, containing calcined human bones. 



Several specimens of these urns are to be seen in the museums of the 

 Royal Institution of Cornwall at Truro and the Natural History and 

 Antiquarian Society at Penzance, but unfortunately a large number have been 

 allowed to pass into private collections. 



' Trevalga in St. Columb Minor, Borlase, Naen. Corn. 80 ; Trewavas, Journ. Roy. Inst. Cornw. (1867), 

 306; Ballowal, Journ. Roy. Inst. Cornw. vi (1879), 194. 



2 Chapel Cam Brea, Borlase, Age of the Saints, Introd. viii. 



3 Garland in St. Erme, Pelynt, Journ. Roy. Inst. Corntv. (1845), 34, (1846), 43; Gwallon Downs, 

 St. Austell, Borlase, Naen. Com. 185 ; Trewortha, Journ. Roy. Inst. Cornw. xi, 290. 



* Botrea, Sancreed, Trans. Penz. Nat. Hist, and Antiq. Soc. i, 234 ; Edmonds, The Land's End District, 33; 

 Borlase, Naen. Corn. 134; Durval, Sancreed, Borlase, N aen. Corn. 171 ; Denzell Downs, St. Columb Major, 

 Borlase, Naen. Corn. 243 ; Tichbarrow Beacon Lesnewth, Maclean, Parochial Hist, ii, 400. 



5 Denzell Downs, Borlase, Naen. Corn. 243 ; Trevalga, Borlase, Naen. Corn. 80 ; Newquay, Journ. Roy. 

 Inst. Corntv. (1840) 6 1 ; Naen. Corn. 197 ; Trewortha, Journ. Roy. Inst. Cornw. xi, 290; Gwallon Downs, 

 Borlase, Naen. Corn. 185 ; Gunwalloe, Journ. Roy. Inst. Cornw. xiii, 438. 



6 Boscawen Un, Trans. Penz. Nat. Hist, and Antiq. Soc. (1862), 10 ; Trevalga, Borlase, Naen. Corn. 

 80 ; Rillaton, Linkinhorne, Journ. Roy. Inst. Cornw. ii (1868), 34; Bosporthennis, Borlase, Naen. Corn. 

 66 ; Trans. Penz. Nat. Hist, and Antiq. Soc. (1862), 43. 



'St. Austell Downs, Borlase, Naen. Com. 153 ; Gwithian, Borlase, Antiq. 236; Borlase, Naen. Com. 

 170 ; Pelynt, Journ. Roy. Inst. Cornw. (1846), 43 ; Conker Downs, Borlase, Naen. Corn. 210, urn now in 

 Penzance Museum. One at Sampson, Scilly, seems to have been made more skilfully and carefully than any 

 in Cornwall. Mr. Smith mentions clay mortar in the joints, and that the end stones were placed between the 

 sides, which were roughly grooved to receive them; Journ. Roy. Inst. Corntv. (l 863), 50; Borlase, Naen. Corn. 159. 



8 Cardinham, Journ. Roy. Inst. Cornw. (1875), 214; Glendorgal, Journ. Roy. Inst. Cornw. (1850), 56; 

 Borlase, Naen. Corn. 199; Fowey, Journ. Roy. Inst. Cornw. (1840), 65; Borlase, Naen. Corn. 202, urn 

 now in Truro Museum ; Angrowse, Naen. Corn. 237 ; Gerrans, Naen. Corn. 204, urn now in Truro 

 Museum; Trevelloe, Trans. Penz. Nat. Hist, and Antiq. Soc. \, 231 ; Edmonds, op. cit. 31 ; Borlase, Naen. 

 Corn. 207, two urns now in Penzance Museum; Pelynt, Journ. Roy. Inst. Cormt: (1846), 43 ; Harlyn, Journ. 

 Roy. Inst. Cornw. x (1890), 199 ; Tresawsen in Merther, urn now in Truro Museum; Treworrick, near 

 Mevagissey, urn now in Truro Museum. 



9 Borlase, Naen. Corn. 286. 10 Ibid. 232. 



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