The Modern Antiquarian. Stone Circles, Ancient Sites, Neolithic Monuments, Ancient Monuments, Prehistoric Sites, Megalithic MysteriesThe Modern Antiquarian

Miscellaneous Posts by hamish

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Cladh an Diseirt (Cairn(s))

Cladh an Diseirt means " The burial Ground of the Hermits" I would like to think this predates the Columbans and may have been a Druids Burial.

The Cheesewring (Rocky Outcrop)

Dr Borlase recorded " the vulgar used to resort to this place at partricular times of the year,and payed to this stone more respect than was thought becoming of good Christians " I wonder what they got up to.

Druid Stoke (Burial Chamber)

Antiquarian excavation by F. Ware in 1913. Small scale excavations by George Smith in January 1983 in advance of development revealed traces of a terminal chamber with two or more cells. Report Smith 1989.

Yarberry Farm (Standing Stone / Menhir)

Was looking at the 1887 map of Yatborough and the public footpath at that time has Stones marked along it. No sign of any now though.

West Pitcorthie (Standing Stone / Menhir)

Etymology of Pitcorthie:- Pit meaning - Place, piece, portion or settlement.
Corthie from the Old Gaelic coirthe meaning standing stones.

H.

Men Gurta (Standing Stone / Menhir)

All the great stones in this area have these veins of quartz running through them. I wonder where they came from?

Lundin Farm (Stone Circle)

There are said to be two more stones up by the farm, also a cupmarked recumbent. This may be the remains of another four poster. I haven't looked yet, maybe next trip.

Lundin Links (Standing Stones)

The two black and white photos were taken in 1954/55 with a Brownie Box 620 when I was about eleven.The fences were eventually removed,they were badly damaged by hookers and slicers retrieving lost golf balls.

High Keillor Farm (Standing Stone / Menhir)

more pictures can be found on Nicks site.
http://www.brand-dd.com/stones/index.html

Mulfra Quoit (Dolmen / Quoit / Cromlech)

Etymology of Mulfra:- Late Cornish Moel Vrea, bare/domed hill.

Boscawen-Un (Stone Circle)

The etymology of Boskawen-Un,Late Cornish:- The dwelling by the elder tree on the down.

Dunino Den (Sacred Well)

Balkethly or Balkaithly means the Place of the Battle,Bal coming from Baile and nothing to do with Baal or Sidonites.

Tregeseal (Stone Circle)

It is interesting to note that in Cornish the circles are known as Dauns Mein or stone dance, or as in the case of Trgaseal ,Daunsiow Mein -dancing stones.

Tregiffian (Entrance Grave)

In answer to Holy McGrail, if in Ireland or Scotland you found English Heritage signs over all your ancient sites you would probably do something similar. The Cornish are not English but a Brythonic race related to the Welsh and Bretons. There has been a response to this and there is now a Cornish Heritage trust.

St Breock Downs Menhir (Standing Stone / Menhir)

This is on the right hand side of the road on the way to Men Gurta,just past St.Breock Downs Farm.

Sancreed Holy Well (Sacred Well)

The local folk here call this the Crone Well,there must have been a resident Fey Wife here in the past.
This picture was taken on a very cold day on Aarhus Strand in Denmark.

I was brought up at Lundin Links in Fife so standing stones have always been in my life. My mother was a freelance reporter for the old Weekly Scotsman and she searched out any thing she could about ancient Scot/pictland, we of course went searching with her.
We moved to Cornwall and found as many stones there and because we were Scots were immediately part of the community.

I now live in Bristol a good centre for archive study and from here easy access via m-ways to all areas. What a great hobby, you never get bored-only cold and very wet.

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