Source: This is Cornwall (27 August 2004)

http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144610&command=displa
yContent&sourceNode=144601&contentPK=10847930

An Iron Age settlement discovered on the site of the new Richard Lander
School at Threemilestone has yielded a number of finds including pottery
wine vessels and 10 roundhouses.

For the past eight weeks archaeologists from Cornwall County Council's
historic environment service have been excavating the site in advance of the
construction of the school buildings.

The new school is part of the £228 million Education PFI (Private Finance
Initiative) contract which will transform 17 of Cornwall's schools over the
next three years.

The county council finalised the 28 year contract with Pyramid Schools
(Cornwall) Ltd, a consortium comprising Interserve Plc (the support services
group) and the Bank of Scotland, in May.

Since then, archaeologists have been working closely alongside the
developers, Interserve, to devise a suitable construction timetable.

Topsoil stripping for the preparation of new school playing fields at Higher
Besore has revealed the remains of 10 roundhouses - all believed to date to
the late Iron Age (c100 BC).

The exact date of the houses is not known at present but precise radiocarbon
dates will be known once work is done on pottery fragments and charcoal
deposits.

Pottery recovered from the postholes and roundhouse ditches includes
elaborately decorated wares and fragments of amphora, used for transporting
wine and imported from Italy, most likely during the 1st or 2nd centuries
BC.

The amphora was imported before the Roman invasion of Britain (43 AD) and is
extremely rare in Cornwall.

The roundhouses are approximately 10 metres in diameter and each is
surrounded by a circular ditch with an entrance on the east side.

Inside the houses postholes show the positions of vertical posts which would
have supported a timber roof structure with a covering of thatch or turf.

Hearth pits were used as fireplaces for cooking, warmth and light.

Close to the site are two Cornish 'rounds' - settlements enclosed by ditches
and banks.

One of these was excavated in 1960 and 1974 and appears to be contemporary
with the Iron Age settlement currently being investigated.

The rounds appear to be unenclosed and in a form previously unseen in
Cornwall.

In addition to the Iron Age settlement, evidence of Late Bronze Age activity
has been found.

Structures found include pits and postholes, one of which was found to
contain fragments of Late Bronze Age pottery and part of a sword mould so
far unique in Cornwall. These artefacts date to around 1100 BC.

Charlie Johns, senior archaeologist for the historic environment service,
said: "This has been a fascinating project to work on which has shown us
some real unique glimpses into early life in Cornwall.

"Once the archaeological remains and artefacts are recorded by
archaeologists, prior to the site being developed, an analysis report will
be produced and made available to the public."


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Ellen Evert Hopman, herbalist, author and Druid Priestess
See her books,videos and audio tapes at
http://saille333.home.mindspring.com/willow.html
"To see God everywhere you have to have special eyes, otherwise you cannot
bear the shock."
- Neem Karoli Baba
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tree-planting. Thus, one fulfils one's responsibilities, serves one's
fellow-beings which not only brings happiness but benefits all.
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