Neolithic Stone-Laying
Propped, Placed and Oriented Stones
Likely placed stones on Zennor Hill
This is a new and growing area of attention for archaeologists and antiquarians in Cornwall. It is difficult to say when the moving and placing of rocks and stones began. Likely it started during the Neolithic 3000s around the time of the building of quoits, continuing through the Bronze Age.
This subject is more fully covered in the book Shining Land.
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Where the Megalithic Era Started
Long before the menhir-building period of the Bronze Age, precursor principles were established in the Neolithic 3000s - the idea of moving stones around and placing them in significant positions.
In the Mesolithic and Early Neolithic the earliest sanctified ancient sites were at natural energy centres such as hilltops, headlands, carns, wells and great trees. They were not built upon but were probably trodden down and managed somewhat, unless simple wooden structures or posts were erected - but there is no evidence of this.
Things changed around 3700 when the tor enclosures and quoits were first constructed. These were obvious places for endowing with 'placeness' at that time, in a largely forested Penwith. The Neolithics were a magical people who saw symbolic significances in nature and in different places that we moderns now miss.
The Neolithics probably started moving rocks around in the mid 3000s - often only a short distance. There was a quality of spontaneous artistry to this, enhancing the character of local environments and perhaps reflecting magical landscape narratives. Some propped stones were made to act as viewboxes, for focusing attention on a landscape feature.
To the Neolithics, natural sites would have been special by dint of their energetic and scenic qualities and at first there was no inherent need to build on them - the idea of dedicated sacred space wasn't in operation. So a place like Bartinney Castle, a Bronze Age hilltop site, will have been visited by the Neolithics, even though they built nothing there that we can find.
Some stones they simply moved to a new location nearby, to add character to the scene.
Some they propped on top of smaller stones, sometimes as viewboxes, or they delicately balanced them to make logan or rocking stones.
Some flatter stones they inserted vertically into the ground, pointing toward other sites - these are oriented stones. It is possible they come from the Late Neolithic.
There is sometimes a problem in distinguishing natural and man-placed stones. In parts of Penwith, granitic rock formations are uncanny in their natural shapes and forms, and it can be difficult deciding whether it is natural or man-placed. Sometimes a natural stone was been relocated by a metre or more only.
A number of simulacra - rocks that look like beings - are shown below, to show some of the uncanny shapes that natural granite rocks can take. (Click here for a larger photo collection of simulacra.) Their suggestive symbolism, presence and beingness would have given them significance to the Neolithics.
Simulacra
Most simulacra in West Penwith are natural. The one below on the middle-left, at Pordenack Point, could be
placed or propped, and the bottom two at Carn Kenidjack could be placed or adjusted.
For captions, wave your cursor over any picture.
Carns
Carn Galva as seen from Bosigran Castle
A carn is a natural rock-pile or outcrop - anything that sticks up or out. Many have energy and prominence, and some play a part in the alignment system of Penwith.The term carn can also apply to cliff headlands and high hills, even to the name 'Cornwall' itself ('headland Welsh'). Carns were revered as special places in ancient times.
Carn Cravah, above Nanjizal Bay
Carns were perennial markers of 'placeness' to the ancient people of Penwith. They walked everywhere and they knew every part of Penwith and its stories, its history, personality and 'vibe'.
When walking in those times, one would often navigate by orientating on carns and other high points. The carns, less noticeable now from our cars as we drive past, played a significant part in forming the prehistoric character of West Penwith, together with hills and cliff sanctuaries.
Placed Stones
Placed stone at Higher Bosistow, near Carn Lês Boel
Ancient Penwithians liked placing rocks in certain chosen locations, as if to augment the artistry of nature, though also sometimes to mark alignments and special places.Placed stones are found at Zennor Hill, Carn Galva, Trencrom Hill, Pordenack Point and other locations. Even the protruding rock atop Treryn Dinas might be a placed stone. Zennor Hill and Carn Galva are rich in them. In the picture here is a placed stone at Higher Bosistow (SW 3664 2338) near Carn Lês Boel, with two alignments passing through it - probably put there in the Bronze Age.
In some cases it is difficult to tell whether placed stones are quirky feats of nature or the work of humans. This is a matter of debate and uncertainty. But placed stones do exist, and some (such as King Arthur's Stone near Sennen, SW 3599 2540) are recognised archaeologically as placed stones, while others are only debatably so.
Why did people do this? There is undoubtedly a landscape-artistry element to it - they sought to beautify or add character to the environment around them. Whether and in what way such rocks were perceived to have geomantic or magical purposes is a question yet to be answered. Some stones conform to the same geomantic principles as menhirs and might have been precursors to them. To understand these rocks it is best to see them as magical entities or rock-presences, not just as material rocks.
Below, Zennor Hill to Trendrine Hill - mostly shifted/placed stones, though this is not certain:
Propped Stones
Propped stones are propped on smaller stones, raised slightly above the ground or the rock underneath. Presumably, in the perception of ancient peoples, this energised or empowered them, or it gave them special qualities or significance.
Boscregan Cairns
In most cases their verticality isn't emphasised. The propped stone on the right at Carn Creis (SW 358 297), by the Boscregan Cairns o the cliffs near Nanquidno, is surrounded by a containing ring of vertical stones. (Those are participants at the Pathways to the Past weekend in 2015, standing at a chambered cairn nearby).
Carn Lês Boel
The propped stone at the entrance to Carn Lês Boel (SW 3569 2324) is unique, both as a stone propped on small stones to raise it off the ground and also in its hulking shape.It had a partner stone, now lying half-buried on its side to the right of the path onto the carn, and clearly they acted as a gateway. It looks as if the fallen partner stone was not propped.
Trevean 1 propped menhir
There is a matching stone, Trevean 1 (SW 3632 2296), about 300 yards away, nowadays built into a field hedge. The wall was not in existence when the stone was erected in the Bronze Age. It is not dissimilar in shape to that on Carn Lês Boel and is propped similarly - they were probably erected at the same time by the same people.
One rock near Carn Boel is finely placed on three bumps on its underside, so that the rock on top touches the supporting rock in a delicate, almost calculated way. A contender as a placed rock of the Middle or Late Neolithic. It is not a menhir, more a boulder, and moved to its current position probably from just yards away.Zennor Hill
There are propped stones on Carn Galva and Zennor Hill, originating in the Neolithic 3000s. A conglomeration of propped and placed stones close to Sperris Quoit, rather like a rock installation, suggests this dating. They are likely to be of the same vintage as the quoit, around the mid-3000s BCE.More and more propped and placed stones are being discovered. The problem is that many of these stones are difficult to judge conclusively. The stone above, on Zennor Hill, is safely a propped stone, but others are not so clear, especially given the eccentric geology of the area.
Viewbox at Little Galva, looking up at the top of Carn Galva
Here we should also mention viewboxes. These rocks have been placed in order to create a gap through which a prominent feature such as a hill can be viewed.The purpose of viewboxes is not clear, though obviously they highlight the hill in question, and some might also highlight the rising or setting point of the sun or moon at a certain time of year. One of them is shown here at Little Galva, below Carn Galva, which you can see behind.
Oriented Stones
Three placed rocks at Bosigran Castle,
aligned on the tip of Pendeen Watch
The people of the Neolithic developed a form of oriented stone. These are flattish rocks, or rocks with one flattish side, dug into the ground to stand vertically, aligned to cliff sanctuaries, offshore rocks or the Isles of Scilly, and in some cases with one or two astronomical alignments.Many oriented stones have quite characteristic shapes when seen side-on, some of them roughly oblong. Some are not so flat in shape, but they have one straightish edge aligning to a distant point, such as the series of three rocks (SW 4156 3704) shown above at Bosigran Castle, with one edge of all three rocks oriented toward the tip of Pendeen Watch (both of them are cliff sanctuaries).
They installed these oriented rocks presumably to highlight and feature certain hills, cliff sanctuaries and other features by pointing to them and thus making a connection with them. There is a suggestion here that they sought to integrate the landscape in a visual and magical sense by doing so, orienting people's awareness toward that site.
Aligned stone (foreground) at Kenidjack Castle
Thus, an oriented stone on Kenidjack Castle (SW 3554 3256), with one of its faces oriented to White Island, the northernmost of the isles of Scilly, is presumably intended to connect the two intervisible sites geomantically.An oriented stone at Bosiliack (just east of Bosiliack menhir at SW 4373 3421), is aligned toward Godolphin Hill, visible south-eastwards, connecting these two locations (see pictures below).
One characteristic of aligned stones is that they are usually oriented toward distant visible landscape features. They do not align with other erected stones, as menhirs do - they are simply oriented toward a topographical feature.
Three at Greeb (SW 3448 2479), Land's End, are oriented toward the Longships Rocks. These were researched for an academic dissertation by Graham Hill.
Another aligned stone in a small valley between Cribba Head and Treryn Dinas (SW 3991 2240), is oriented to the peak of the Dinas. Another, at Carn Vellan (SW 3650 3417) near Trewellard, is oriented to the Brisons rocks in one direction and Watch Croft in the other. A small stone near Carn Barra (SW 3608 2277) is oriented to the end of Carn Lês Boel.
There are probably more to be discovered. They are too low to be rubbing stones, too 'of a kind' to be natural, and they're distinctly oriented toward visible landscape features. They are an early kind of erected stone.
Below: some oriented stones
Markstones
They are marked as red diamonds on the alignment map (click the map on the left to see them closer up).
These markstones seem to be of Bronze Age provenance, while the placed stones mentioned above are either Mid- or Late Neolithic, placed there for different reasons to the markstones.
Boundary stones
A variety of menhir-like stones around Carn Galva, Nine Maidens and Bodrifty are boundary stones, marking the boundaries of parishes.
The Four Parishes Stone
One wonders which came first. If the stones came first, parish boundaries will have been formed around them, or they might represent pre-Christian, Iron Age tribal boundaries. If the stones were erected specifically to mark parish boundaries, then they will be early-medieval in origin.The most notable of these boundary stones is the fallen Four Parishes Stone (SW 4298 3540), on the path between the Nine Maidens stone circle and Mên an Tol - it sits at the meeting point of four old parishes. Another one, north of New Mill, is called the Bishop's Head and Foot stone (SW 4638 3623).
Placed Stones
Stones and rocks intentionally placed in certain locations in the Neolithic and Bronze Ages, and ancient boundary stones.
Bishop's Head & Foot parish boundary stone. SW 4638 3623. 50.171703 -5.5531784.
Bosistow Boulder on alignment crossing, probably Bronze Age. SW 3664 2338. 50.05213 -5.6804.
Carn Galva Propped stones on ridge between the two summits of Carn Galva. SW 4269 3617. 50.169573 -5.6047070. Also at SW 4279 3598. 50.167911 -5.6031811.
Castallack Hedge stone. SW 4542 2530. 50.073181 -5.5593031.
Chapel Curno Stone near Chapel Kernow. SW 3883 2255. 50.045641 -5.6493326.
Cribba Head Stone structure, unexplained, variously called an entrance grave or cist. SW 4032 2245. 50.045395 -5.6284971.
Four Parishes Stone at meeting point of trackways below Carn Galva. SW 4298 3540. 50.162788 -5.6001344.
Table Maen Placed rock with likely cupmarks, aka King Arthur's Table. SW 3599 2540. 50.069966 -5.6908794.
Lanyon Stone in hedge. SW 4270 3395. 50.149651 -5.6030671.
Merry Maidens hedge stone. SW 4343 2452. 50.065324 -5.5865345.
Rosemergy Placed stone. SW 4275 3582. 50.166458 -5.6036319.
Selena Markstone SW 4068 2438. 50.062875 -5.6247859.
Sparnon Markstone at Sparnon. SW 3970 2390. 50.058000 -5.6379369.
Trevelloe Placed stone. SW 4510 2597. 50.079058 -5.5642126.
Treen Stone at Treen. SW 3916 2307. 50.050453 -5.6450871.
Treen Circle Placed stones in camp at Treryn Dinas. Once thought to be a stone circle, but unlikely. SW 3976 2226. 50.043445 -5.6361734.
Oriented Stones
Flattish rocks set vertically and oriented toward prominent landmarks, probably Neolithic.
Bosigran Castle Three adjacent oriented stones, aligned with one side pointing at the sea end of Pendeen Watch. SW 4156 3704. 50.17694, -5.62076.
Bosiliack Oriented stone, oriented on Godolphin Hill . SW 4373 3421. 50.152438 -5.5889195.
Carn Barra Oriented stones, pointing toward Carn Les Boel. | SW 3608 2277. 50.04638 -5.68778.
Carn Vellan Oriented stone below Trewellard. SW 3650 3417. 50.14895 -5.68979.
Chapel Carn Brea Two oriented stones, one oriented toward Carn Bosavern, the other toward Cape Cornwall. SW 3864 2812. 50.095527 -5.6558284.
Cribba Oriented stone, oriented on Treryn Dinas. Near coast path. SW 39906 22402. 50.04478 -5.63424.
Greeb Three aligned stones (aligned on the Armed Knight and Longships Rocks). SW 3448 2479. 50.063839 -5.7114713. SW 3454 2473. 50.063318 -5.7105785. SW 3461 2479. 50.063852 -5.7096414.
Kenidjack Castle Oriented stone, one side aligned on northernmost point of the Isles of Scilly. SW 3554 3256. 50.133994 -5.7020634.
Carns, Rocks, Hills, Headlands
Prominent tor rocks, hills and coastal features.
Aire Point Natural headland north of Sennen. SW 358 282. 50.094859 -5.6934719.
Armed Knight Stack or outcrop. SW 3408 2469. 50.062759 -5.7170491.
Bojewans Carn Inland outcrop. SW 4308 2710. 50.088339 -5.592869.
Boscobben Carn Natural carn, cup marks in rocks. SW 4763 3862. 50.193537 -5.5373949.
Boswarva Carn Natural carn with a placed, balanced rock on it. SW 4294 3322. 50.143195 -5.5991796.
Bosworlas Lehau The Giant's Quoits. SW 378 305. 50.116540 -5.669138.
Brisons The Brisons, prominent offshore rocks (from Brisant = reef, French). SW 3407 3110. 50.12039 -5.72229.
Carn Boel Prominent headland. Many rock simulacra nearby. SW 348 238. 50.055723 -5.7057236.
Carn Cravah Rock outcrop. SW 3540 2380. 50.055329 -5.6980348.
Carn Dû Prominent rock carn at head of Kemyel Point. With Kemyel Point, a probably cliff castle. SW 456 238. 50.059993 -5.5546519.
Carn Glaze Natural carn. SW 3990 2977. 50.110921 -5.6393288.
Carn Gloose Carn Gluz. Prominent rock carn or outcrop. SW 3534 3126. 50.122303 -5.7040052.
Carn Guthensbras NW end of Tol Pedn peninsula at Gwennap Head. SW 3590 2260. 50.044856 -5.6901727.
Carn Naun Rock outcrop. Suspected cliff castle. SW 4769 4103. 50.215307 -5.5380583.
Carn Stabba Natural carn with logan stone, solution basins and interesting rocks, in sight of Trencrom Hill. SW 5066 3906. 50.198923 -5.495214.
Carn Vrês Significant outcrop overlooking the Tregeseal stone circles. SW 386 322. 50.132705 -5.6581553.
Carrick Dû Rock outcrop. SW 5119 4103. 50.216822 -5.4891075.
Creeg Tol Noteworthy rock outcrop with solution basins, overlooking Boscawen-ûn and probably in use before it was built. SW 4104 2755. 50.091484 -5.621912.
Gear Rock Submerged offshore rocks off Penzance Jubilee Pool. Stone arrowhead factory in Mesolithic times. SW 479 294. 50.111042 -5.5274172.
Giant's Rock Reputedly a rocking stone or logan rock. | SW 455 388. 50.194393 -5.567197.
Hella Point Prominent rock outcrop, Porthgwarra. SW 37075 21445. 50.034954 -5.6730355.
Lady Downs Lady Downs stone (outcrop). SW 4684 3666. 50.175759 -5.5470356.
Longships Rocks SW 3215 2507. 50.065288 -5.7441919. Prominent rocks off Land's End (now hosting a lighthouse).
Peal, The The Peal, offshore rocks, Land's End. SW 3405 2543. 50.06949 -5.71831.
Rosewall Hill Carn Natural hilltop carn. SW 4876 3913. 50.198626 -5.5213017..
Roskilly Rocks SW 4721 2728. 50.091698 -5.5356970..
Runnel Stone Submerged rock, formerly visible above water level, now invisible and marked by a buoy. SW 369 200. 50.021904 -5.674482
Sperris Carn Prominent rock. SW 4698 3850. 50.19234 -5.54627.
St Clement's Isle Off Mousehole. Once home of a Christian hermit. SW 474 261. 50.081207 -5.5322151.
Table Maen Recumbent stone with cup marks. SW 3589 2586. 50.074050 -5.6925913.
Tom Thumb Rock Natural rock, with local folklore traditions. SW 3684 3061.50.117103 -5.6826138.
Treryn Dinas Logan rock, Treryn Dinas. SW 3971 2202. 50.041269 -5.6367073.
Trevelloe Carn Aka Trevella Carn and Giant's Rock. Natural rock feature. SW 445 261. 50.079967 -5.5726687.
Twelve O'Clock Rock Natural rock outcrop on side of Trink Hill. SW 5053 3708. 50.181095 -5.4957327.
Wolf Rock Rock outcrop in the ocean, now hosting a lighthouse. SW 2688 1196. 49.945316 -5.808333.
Zennor Head Headland. SW 4498 3937. 50.199278 -5.5748452.
Zennor Hill Logan rock, Zennor Hill. SW 4631 3818. 50.189176 -5.5554575.
Finally...
Arguably the stones highlighted above were precursors to the menhirs of the Bronze Age. Neolithics were experimenting with ideas and possibilities. Different placed stones might come from a variety of periods, ranging from the Mid-Neolithic 3000s to the Neolithic/Bronze Age transition around 2500 and even the Bronze Age zenith around 2200-1800. This matter needs more investigation.
Next, we move on to a later time. It isn't known when the building of mounds started - it might have been quite early, perhaps in a few cases in the Mid-Neolithic. But the majority of barrows and cairns come from the Bronze Age, at least 1,000 years after the construction of quoits.
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