RECENT ARCHAEOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES IN CORNWALL. 243 



not, near Bocky Hill Lane, in the Island of St. Mary's. But to 

 revert to the Bossens camp (perhaps more appropriately called 

 Gurlyn), and its surrounding associations : — 



We have already noted that at Carnhangives or Caer- 

 hangives, was another fort, supposed to have been Roman, only 

 If miles to the north-west, near St. Erth Bridge, " where once 

 was a ferry;" and we must now observe that in a perfectly 

 straight line with these two camps was a third, — a much larger 

 one, — named* Pencair or Pencairn. It is on the north-western 

 summit off Tregonning Hill (another point of which eminence 

 has been used as a signalling station down to modern times), 

 exactly 2 miles south-east of Bossens. 



The intrenchment has been described J as " neither circular 

 nor rectangular," but irregular with double vallum, &c, the 

 inner space measuring 106 by 92 yards {i.e. about 320 by 280 

 feet), about the size of Tregaer, Nanstallon. In the inch-mile 

 Ordnance Map I see it shewn quadrate with rounded corners. 



The Rev. S. Eundle has written§ some important particulars 

 about this castle or great camp, with its gal-gal (called the giant's 

 lapstone), its ruins of masonry and little stone casting-mould or 

 covered trough, now in the Museum, at Truro. With reference 

 to this spot, its reduced "lapstone" and pile of fragments, he 

 observes : — "coins were found in it, or by it, about 60 years ago." 



Unfortunately here the record ends, and circumstances have 

 hitherto hindered me from visiting the spot. Some portions of 

 its description would lead us to suppose that it was British, but, 

 if it be of the form shewn in the map, and if coins were found 

 (as stated) in its glacis, it was probably a Roman work. 



* Pencaer (singular), Head Camp or Castle ; Pencarrow would be its plural. 

 Cairn, — pile of rocks or stones. 



f Tre, — dwelling ; gon, goon, — down or common ; an, — the ; (? The dwelling 

 on the clown) . This name is applied to a farm just below, which perhaps gave 

 title to the hill ; but Leland calls the castle Caer Cenin, therefore, vice versa, it 

 may have given name Tre-cenin, Trekenning, or Tregonning, to the farm. The 

 word is variously written Cenin, Conin, Gonyn ; and Tregonning is pronounced 

 Tre-gonan in the locality. Cynin, kyningen, coning, signifies rabbit or coney. 



% Hist, of Cornwall, Lake, Truro, Vol. 1, p. 136. 



§ Eoyal Inst. Cor. Journal, Vol. 9, p. 360. 



