RECENT ARCHAEOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES IN CORNWALL. 191 



The headlands between which it lies are called East and 

 West Pentire,* these jut out boldly into the Atlantic. The base 

 of East Pentire is formed of slaty rock, the beds of which dip 

 or are inclined at a considerable angle. Around the point the 

 rocks are very precipitous and much broken. Tumuli, as already 

 mentioned, occupy the summit and ridge. In a sort of gap 

 formed by the inroads of the sea on the Newquay side of this 

 point, 2 or 3 rings can be dimly seen, they are near the top, on 

 the face of a lofty sheer precipice of rock in an inaccessible 

 position. The sea dashes in with great force below. The rings 

 have a somewhat western aspect. 



On the southern or Gannel side of the same headland (East 

 Pentire), the ground presents a steep declivity to the rocks and 

 water beneath. On those rocks, forming the north shore of the 

 Grannel, the majority of the marks occur, they have a south or 

 south-westerly aspect. 



The rocks are of rugged slate ; hard, rough, and presenting 

 jagged points very difficult to climb. Most of the marks are cut 

 upon the slate beds where the stratified rock has not shifted its 

 position, but others are found on slabs which have flaked off and 

 slipped down a little way towards the water running beneath. 

 Such cleavage may have taken place since the marks were cut. 



The marks are incised perpendicularly to the strata, i.e., 

 nearly at right angles to the sloping face of the weather-worn 

 rocks. 



In the accompanying plan, A and B indicate the localities 

 in which the marks occur. The other diagram shews their form. 



Those marks which are merely broad rings, retain their 

 central disc of stone, but from the cuttings which are hollows, 

 the core or central portion of stone has been taken. The cir- 

 cumference of each pit is formed by a sharply cut line which 

 in some cases goes down deeper than the portion of core 

 which has been removed. It is circled into the rock, and in each 

 instance the core has been split off in conformity with the strata. 

 The surface of the rock however, having been by natural causes 

 planed down to some extent towards the water, across the edges 

 of the beds or layers, the hollows are, in consequence, found to 

 be deeper on their landward side, (see section). 



* Pen, — head, end or extremity ; Tyr, — land; (Cornu-Brit: Lexicon). 



