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

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Chapel Carn Brea (Entrance Grave) — Fieldnotes

First time I've been up here for a while today (odd considering I live just down the road!). Windy as always! Definitely a sacred hill & twinned with it's neighbour Bartinney to make the "breasts of the Goddess". The former hermitage & entrance grave seem to have far too many really special quartz crystal stones lying about to be random. Living here i know that quartz always comes with granite, but these stones are really crystalline. Makes me wonder how white & shiny this hilltop must've been in its day. Must do the walk directly from here to Carn Euny soon!

Chapel Carn Brea (Entrance Grave) — Images (click to view fullsize)

<b>Chapel Carn Brea</b>Posted by petajayne<b>Chapel Carn Brea</b>Posted by petajayne

Nine Maidens of Boskednan (Stone Circle) — News

Nine Maidens Landmark May Have To Be Renamed


The Conishman 29th July 2004 CE

One of West Cornwall's most famous stone circles might have to be re-named, following the re-positioning of fallen and leaning stones.

The Nine Maidens stone circle at Ding Dong (pictured) now has eleven stones standing upright, after archeologists re-erected standing stones that had long fallen and were lying on their side in thick undergrowth. Two stones have now been put back into place, making the circle, which originally had 22 stones, the most complete it has been for years.

Work to restore and repair the prehistoric stone circle has now been completed, following a joint project between the county council's Environment and Heritage Service, Defra and the Nine Maidens Commoners.

The Nine Maidens Stone Circle, on the northern fringe of Madron between Ding Dong and craggy Carn Galver, underwent extensive works including scrub clearance, drainage improvements and footpath repair.

The two fallen stones were re-erected after a preliminary excavation to locate their original sockets.

When first recorded in the mid 18th century, there were 19 stones surviving of an original ring of 22.

Until the recent renovation there were only six standing upright, three were leaning heavily and two were completely fallen.

Other prehistoric monuments surviving close to the stone circle include the stump of a standing stone and several Bronze Age barrows, as well as the famous Men an Tol.

Together they indicate that this area was an important focus in prehistoric times. The erosion of the monument and surrounding area has been caused by visitors and trail bike users. Paths leading into the circle had become eroded and muddy while thick gorse had grown over parts of the circle.

Anne Preston Jones, of the County Council's archeological unit, said the name of the circle would not have to be changed as it did not refer to the number of standing stones.

She explained: "Many circles in Cornwall are called 'Nine Maidens', as the figure nine was always considered magical and mystical. The name doesn't really have anything to do with the number of stones in the circle."
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