Carn Euny Village, Cornwall (Cornwall)
Among the best preserved ancient villages in the South-West, occupied from Iron Age until late Roman times
Summary
- 13th century buildings (or older)
- Free car parking (on site)
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Introduction
Among the best preserved ancient villages in the South-West, occupied from Iron Age until late Roman times. It includes the foundations of stone houses, and an intriguing 'fogou' underground passage
History to the present day
The prominent grass-covered ruins at Carn Euny date from the last phases of the settlement. Beneath them, archaeologists have discovered the remains of an earlier Iron Age village.
The first traces of settlement on the site date from the 5th century BC. For some 500 years, the village was formed of relatively simple Iron Age 'round houses'. These have now completely disappeared - with only the circular drainage gullies and postholes surviving, to be excavated by archaeologists in the 1960s.
As part of this early settlement, a remarkable underground stone chamber with an entrance passage was built. This distinct type of monument, found only in the far west of Cornwall, is known as a 'fogou', deriving from the Cornish word 'ogo' meaning cave.
The Fogou was extended and rebuilt in three different phases during the Iron Age and Romano-British Period © English Heritage The original function of the fogou is unclear. It may have been used as a place of refuge, or perhaps as a cellar for cold storage. Alternatively the presence of certain features, such as the niche at the back of the chamber, point to some kind of ritual significance. The fogou was discovered in the 1840s by miners prospecting for tin. It was excavated in the 1860s by the Cornish antiquary W. C. Borlase (1848-99).
Arrival information and how to find us
Address: Carn Euny Ancient Village, Cornwall, , United Kingdom
Opening times:
All year
Any reasonable time
Mon - Sun.
Admission prices:
Adult:Free
Children:Free
Concession:Free
All photographs courtesy of English Heritage photographic library.
