The Hurlers on Bodmin Moor
Archaeologists digging on the site of 'The Hurlers' stone circles have discovered a new monument, a large recumbent stone, which may have marked the head of a processional avenue to 'The Hurlers' themselves. The stone is made of granite but doesn’t match the granite from the immediate area and was probably brought to the site by early humans.
The five day excavation, part of the 'Reading the Hurlers' project, was inspired by previous observations which indicated the presence of a potential fourth stone circle. Geophysical surveys in the 1990s were inconclusive and so a more detailed investigation was required. The dig was carried out by the Cornwall Archaeological Unit who were brought in by the Saltash's U3A Geology Group, the lead partner in the project. Although no fourth stone circle was discovered, archaeologists did find the large stone and the tip of a Neolithic flint arrowhead. Both were in the same trench.
The dig, which was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Cornwall Heritage Trust and other groups and organisations, drew in many volunteers. Members of the public and school children also had the opportunity to visit the site to see the excavations and take part in guided walks and workshops.
In May the final results of the Reading the Hurlers project, which aims to identify the source of the Hurlers, will be revealed at a large free public event at Carnglaze Caverns.
Every member of staff of the Duchy of Cornwall has had the opportunity to become ‘carbon literate’ as part of the Duchy’s continued commitment to environmental sustainability and our application for status as a Carbon Literate Organisation.
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