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MONUMENT NO. 421781

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DESCRIPTION

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The remains of a field system with two hut circles integrated into the boundary pattern. The field systemis defined by stoney banks and lynchets up to 0.5 metres high.

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(SW 38553272) Stone Circles (NR) (Site of) (1)

At Suljor (Soldiers Croft) are circles such as are common on Dartmoor
and some Cornish moors. These escaped the notice of Borlace (a) and
the description and plan describes them as they were six or eight
years ago. Since that time some have totally disappeared and others
have been plundered for house-building stone. There were measured andthe plan drawn by Lieut. Woodruffe R.N.

The circles were not formed by single stones set on end at certain
distances from each other, "but by a low continued bank, in some
places about 2' high, at others almost levelled with the surface. Thebank was composed of earth, faced with stones of various sizes." It
is evident from the arrowness of the foundations that a superstructurecould never have risen more, than three or four feet.

The circles intersect at various points, some taking the form of
ellipses.

The position seems too exposed for them to have been dwellings and thelimited area and rocky nature of the ground make it seem unlikely thatthey were for agricultural purposes. (See illust) (2)

Miss V. Russel suggests that these circles were probably part of a
field system. There has been some clearance of the moorland but some
of the features shown by Buller can still be traced. They consist ofbanks of earth and stones (including some stones set on edge).
Although some sections are curved nowhere is there any of the regular
circular shapes shown on Buller's plan. It is evident that the banks
are merely part of the field system centred at SW 38483267. (3)

Approx SW 385327. Three large cicles listed under 'Rounds' (with
reference to Authy 2 page 94-5, map).

Approx SW 385327. Four hut circles close to 'Rounds', listed (with
reference to Authy 2, page 94-5, map and (c)).

SW 38523268. Fields with curved sides listed (with reference to Authy2 pages 94, 103, map). (4)

SW 385327. Field System on Truthwall Common. Scheduled.

Occuping the lower, south-facing, moorland slopes beneath Carn
Kenidjack, this field system contains a small settlement of two hut
circles integrated into the boundary pattern. The fields are definedby stoney banks and lynchets up to 0.5m high. Above the formal field
system in the immediate vicinity of Carn Kenidjack are traces of
further, less well defined field (SW 33 SE 47), and to the east a
dense pattern of clearance mounds testifies to a phase of unenclosed
agriculture.

"The whole can be related to various previously recorded ritual and
ceremonial monuments of Bronze Age date distrubuted across Truthwall
Common and, together, these elements comprose a very remarkable
prehistoric landscape". (See also SW 33 SE 39, 47, 59, 122). (5)

In a list entitled "Examples of damage to archaeological sites" it is noted that part of the Truthwall Commom Bronze Age field system is being "broken in" in an area that also contains other monuments. (6)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

6" 1908

( 2a) Antiquities of Cornwall

1769 (W Borlase)

( 2) General reference

Statistical Account of Parish of St Just in Penwith 1842 (Rev J Buller) Page(s)94-5, 104-5

( 3b) Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments

( 3) Field Investigators Comments

F1 NVQ 16-DEC-60

( 4c) Transactions of the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall

7 Page(s)449

( 4) by Vivien Russell 1971 West Penwith survey

Page(s)43,50,66

( 5) Scheduled Monument Notification

HBMC Record Form 24.7.85

( 6) Cornwall Committee for Rescue Archaeology annual report

Archaeological Survey and Conservation in W Penwith 11, 1985

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