Meyn Mamvro - No 054 - Summer 2004

Magazine Overview

Meyn Mamvro, Issue 54, Summer 2004, priced at £2.20, is a special issue dedicated to stone circles and sacred sites in Cornwall. The cover features a striking illustration of a stone circle and the magazine's title, 'Meyn Mamvro: ancient stones and sacred sites in Cornwall'. The issue highlights specific stone circles such as Crowan Beacon Circle, Merry Maidens, and circles in Penwith & Beara, alongside a feature on 'Cornwall's Colourful Sites'.

Contents and Key Articles

The issue begins with an Editorial (p.1) and includes reports from the Cornish Earth Mysteries Group (p.2) and the Penwith Pagan Moot (p.3). A significant news item, Sacred Sites News - Tregeseal Circle burnt (p.4), details the unfortunate incident where Tregeseal Stone Circle was badly damaged by a fire. The article explains that the farmer, Clive Williams, had a management agreement to clear gorse but, on a windy February 21st, a controlled burn got out of control due to a lack of fire breaks, spreading to the circle and destroying a wooden fence in a neighbouring field. The report includes criticism from the magazine's editor, Cheryl Straffon, and Andy Norfolk, while Ann Preston-Jones of the CAU suggests the damage might not be as severe as it appears, noting that part of the circle was reassembled and lichens will regrow.

Readers Write (p.5) features a letter from Raymond Cox suggesting a voluntary scheme for monitoring ancient sites. The response from the Sacred Sites Group, however, deems such a plan impractical due to the existing commitments of activists.

STONE CIRCULAR: Maiden Names by David Kaiser (p.6-7) explores the prevalence of 'Maiden' in the names of stone circles, particularly in Cornwall. It discusses sites like the Merry Maidens, and the Nine Maidens circles at Boscawen-ûn, Boskednan, Tregeseal, and Wendron. The article delves into the folklore motif of petrified women and the possible linguistic origins of the name, suggesting it may derive from the Cornish word 'maen' (stone) or 'Maidn Nun' (moorland stones), with the 'Maiden' appellation being a later addition influenced by Methodism.

Hamish & Co. at the Merry Maidens (p.8-10) details the 'Spirit of the Serpent' project, a team including Hamish Miller, Ba Russell, Rupert & Julie Soskin, and Jim Lyons, investigating earth energy at special sites. Their work includes a dowsing survey of the Merry Maidens, with comments from scientist Jim Lyons on quantum consciousness and sensitive psychic Julie Soskin. The project is compared to the earlier Dragon Project, and the article mentions Hamish Miller's findings of radials and spirals around the stones, as well as magnetic anomalies and measurements based on Alexander Thom's megalithic yards. The article concludes with a quote from Hamish Miller about cosmic connection through energy lines.

Other articles include Crowan Beacon - a rediscovered circle by CS & AN (p.9), 'Cornwall's Colourful Sites - stone circles' (p.12), and Tin, Copper & Stone - circles in Penwith & Beara by CS (p.14). My Favourite Fuggy Holes: 3 Boleigh fogou by Wella Penwrath (p.20) explores a different type of ancient site. The issue also includes Book Reviews (p.22) and information on Cornish Book Publishers - Oakmagic (p.23), and concludes with The Pipers Tune (p.24).

News items also cover the Winter Solstice gathering (p.4), a talk on 'The Chakras and Cundalini' by Pam Masterson (p.4), a presentation by archaeologist Paul Bonnington on 'Chapel Carn Brea' (p.4), and a talk on 'Approaching the Sacred Site' by Steve Gardner (p.4). Details of future talks, including one by Howard Balmer on Padstow's Obby Oss, are also provided.

Penwith Pagan Moot by Sarah Vivian (p.5) describes seasonal celebrations including Yule 2003 at Sancreed House and Imbolc 2004, highlighting the use of rituals and the involvement of a 'Bride' figure. The Spring Equinox ritual at Trewidden gardens is also detailed, emphasizing flower crowns and mediation.

Further Sacred Sites News includes BRONZE AGE VILLAGE DISCOVERED ON TRESCO (p.6), detailing a 3500-year-old settlement found during cricket ground construction, and ST.RUAN'S WELL WINS CONSERVATION AWARD (p.6), recognizing the restoration of a well on the Lizard.

An advertisement for Liz Allmark's Astrological and Numerological Services is present on page 2, offering birthchart printouts, interpretations, and character profiles.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes the study and preservation of ancient sites, particularly stone circles and megalithic structures in Cornwall. There is a strong emphasis on earth energies, pagan traditions, and folklore associated with these sites. The editorial stance appears to be one of advocacy for the protection of these heritage sites, as evidenced by the discussion on site monitoring and the strong reaction to the Tregeseal fire. The magazine also fosters a sense of community among those interested in these subjects, encouraging contributions and discussions through its 'Readers Write' section and event reports from groups like the Cornish Earth Mysteries Group and the Penwith Pagan Moot.

Title: MEYN MAMVRO
Issue: 54
Volume: 54
Date: Summer 2004

This issue of MEYN MAMVRO focuses on archaeological discoveries and comparisons, with a prominent article on the re-discovered Crowan Beacon stone circle in Cornwall.

Crowan Beacon: A Re-Discovered Stone Circle

The article, authored by Cheryl Straffon and Andy Norfolk, details their discovery of the Crowan Beacon stone circle in Cornwall in the Autumn of 2003. The site was initially found on the Megalithic Portal Stones internet site and later confirmed to be near where Andy Norfolk lives. Their research traced the site's mention back to Aubrey Burl's "The Stone Circles of Britain, Ireland & Brittany" (2000), which in turn referenced John Barnatt's "The Stone Circles of Britain vol.2" (1989). Barnatt described the site as ruined in its western half, with an estimated original number of 22 to 25 stones, noting uncertainty due to interpretation difficulties in the west and south.

Further information was obtained from Peter Herring of the Cornwall Archaeological Unit, who provided an unpublished plan by Wall & Tryhall. Mike Wall and Susanne Trythall, who attended a class taught by Herring, had identified this possible site during fieldwork near Camborne.

The authors visited the site in Autumn 2003, using a GPS to fix its National Grid Reference at SW6642 3480. They found the site relatively easy to identify, with a probable diameter of about 26 metres (85 ft). They observed 4 standing or leaning stones and 7 or 8 prostrate stones, largely agreeing with the Wall & Trythall plan and its hypothetical reconstruction. They were less certain about two 'clearance' cairns identified by Wall & Trythall on the perimeter and at the centre, suggesting that thick gorse might have obscured them. The article concludes that Crowan Beacon is a significant and exciting addition to the list of stone circles in Cornwall.

CEMG (Cornish Earth Mysteries Group) was planning a field trip to this site on July 4th, 2004, as part of Andy Norfolk's "Even more lesser-known sites of Kerrier" initiative.

Recorded Stone Circles in Cornwall

Following the detailed account of Crowan Beacon, the magazine provides an extensive list of recorded stone circles in Cornwall, categorized by region (West Penwith, Mid Cornwall, Bodmin Moor, East Cornwall) and status (Extant, Destroyed, Possible). Notable extant sites in West Penwith include Merry Maidens, Boscawen-ûn, and Tregeseal East. Several sites are marked with an asterisk (*) indicating they are probable sites.

Cornwall's Colourful Sites: Beautiful Stone Circles

• This section features photographic highlights of stone circles in Cornwall:
• The Nine Maidens at Boskednan on the West Penwith moors.
• Boscawen-ûn circle with its quartz and central stones.
• Sheep grazing at Duloe circle between Liskeard and Looe in SE Cornwall.
• Stannon circle on Bodmin Moor in the snow.

All photographs in this section are credited to Cheryl Straffon.

Tin, Copper and Stone: Stone Circles in Penwith and the Beara

Authored by Cheryl Straffon, this article explores the connection between Bronze Age metalworking and megalithic sites in Cornwall (Penwith) and the Beara Peninsula of western Ireland.

Cornwall was a primary tin-producing area in the Bronze Age, with tin extracted from molten tin oxide lodes. Tin was a crucial ingredient for bronze. It was mined in places like Kenidjack Castle in West Penwith and transported via trade routes like the Tinner's Way to ports such as St. Ives Island and St. Michael's Mount for export.

Copper, the other key ingredient for bronze, was sourced from the Beara Peninsula. This peninsula, similar in geological character to West Penwith, had significant copper seams mined extensively in the 19th century in the Allihies area. Miners and engineers from Cornwall, including the Trenwith and Pascoe families, worked there. It is highly probable that copper was mined in the Beara Peninsula during the Bronze Age.

Given that tin and copper were essential for bronze, the people of these two regions likely had contact through sea travel. The article posits that this shared resource dependency fostered a common cultural identity.

Comparing Megalithic Cultures: Beara and West Penwith

The article compares the megalithic cultures of the two peninsulas. Beara has a concentration of prehistoric remains comparable to West Penwith, including standing stones, stone rows, circles, cairns, and tombs. While both regions share a common cultural identity in the late Neolithic and Bronze Ages, regional variations exist.

The Beara circles are generally smaller than those in Penwith. Penwith circles like Merry Maidens, Boscawen-ûn, and Tregeseal likely had 19 stones, possibly relating to the metonic cycle of the sun and moon or the 18.6-year lunar cycle. This phenomenon does not appear to have been as significant for Beara circle builders.

Beara circles are categorized into five-stone circles (e.g., Uragh, Dromgarven, Cashelkeelty, Currakeal, with about 55 in total in the Cork-Kerry area) and multiple stone circles. Five-stone circles are often circular or D-shaped, sometimes with an axial stone on the SW perimeter and entrance stones aligned eastwards. Cashelkeelty East's entrance stones form a cove facing the equinoxical sunrise.

Multiple stone circles in Beara, such as Dereentaggart West (13-15 stones), Ardgroom Outward (11), Cashelkeelty West (11-13), Shronebirrane (13), Drombohilly (11-13), and Dromroe (13), show a correlation around 11-13-15 stones. This may relate to the lunar/solar cycle (13 moons in 12 months), potentially linking to the 19 stones in Penwith circles.

Beara multiple stone circles are typically circular, often with two perimeter stones opposite an axial stone, distinguished by height. This feature is more evident in the broader Cork-Kerry group.

Astronomical Alignments and Landscape Orientation

Research at Beara sites indicates a focus on astronomical landscape alignment. Many sites are oriented towards nearby mountain peaks or notches significant to the wheel of the year. Drombohilly circle aligns with an equinoxical sunset into a notch on Drombohilly mountain. Ardgroom Outer circle points NW (midwinter sunset) to a conical hill called Stellig. Shronebirrane aligns NW (midsummer sunset) to a notch on Knockanoughanish mountain. These are primarily sunset alignments, suggesting a preference for observing the setting sun or moon, as confirmed by local researcher Jack Roberts.

In contrast, West Penwith circles favoured both sunrise and sunset positions. Tregeseal aligns with the Beltane sunrise, and the outlier to Nine Maidens points to the midsummer sunset. Boscawen-ûn has a possible Imbolc/Samhain sunset alignment. The article suggests that many lost circles and outlying stones might have formed a complex built around rising and setting positions at major points of the year.

Standing Stones and Cultural Links

Standing stones were present near or within Beara circles, such as at Ardgroom Outward and Uragh. Some circles contained a standing stone and/or a burial in the centre, like at Dromroe. Boscawen-ûn in West Penwith also features a central standing stone. It has been suggested that the centre stones of Cornish sites may have served as models for the smaller centre standing stones in the Cork-Kerry group, implying contact between the peoples of Penwith and Cork-Kerry/Beara, reinforcing the link through tin and copper trades.

Irish archaeologist Dr. Seán O'Nualláin supports this theory, noting a higher concentration of circles in copper deposit areas of Beara. He suggests that the builders of these monuments may have been interested in copper, especially given the use of Mount Gabriel mines (1700-1300 BCE). The presence of quartz menhirs in some stone circles is also significant, as quartz can indicate copper. The quartz stone at Boscawen-ûn is highlighted in this context.

O'Nualláin posits that prehistoric peoples seeking copper and tin might have recognized the association of quartz with copper, giving these quartz stones special status. The article concludes that stone, tin, and copper were vital to these megalithic peoples, and their circles may have been built as thanksgivings to earth and sun deities for their wealth.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the intersection of archaeology, ancient cultures, and landscape. The editorial stance appears to favour in-depth research and comparative analysis, particularly concerning megalithic sites in Britain and Ireland. There is a clear interest in the astronomical and geological aspects of these ancient structures, and the potential for trade and cultural exchange to have influenced their development. The magazine promotes field research and encourages reader participation in related activities.

MEYN MAMVRO | 54 | Summer 2004

This issue of MEYN MAMVRO, number 54, published in Summer 2004, explores the ancient connections between Cornwall and Ireland, focusing on folklore, sacred landscapes, and earth mysteries. The magazine features a special reprint from MM24 titled 'CORNWALL & IRELAND the ancient link', highlighting various aspects of these regions, including ritual landscapes, Bronze Age artifacts, legends, stone circles, and underground chambers (fogous).

Feature Article: My Favourite Fuggy Holes - 3: Boleigh Fogou

This article, written by Wella Penwrath, details a personal visit to the Boleigh fogou in Cornwall. Penwrath describes the fogou as a special 'fuggy-hole' and recounts her experiences entering the underground chamber. She notes that the site was previously frequented by people attending courses at the CAER alternative centre, which sometimes led to disturbed energies requiring 'psychic cleaning' by Jo May, the former operator. Penwrath describes the entrance passage, its steep descent into darkness, and the feeling of connecting with 'Mother Earth' through the waterlogged floor. She also details the challenging crawl into a narrow creep passage leading to a powerful inner chamber, which she found to be a womb-like space conducive to meditation and connecting with ancestors. Penwrath shares that many people have experienced psychic phenomena, visions, and anomalous lights in this fogou, and that Jo has spoken of people being 'called' to the site for healing or peace. The author recounts a particularly spiritual experience with a women's group, where chanting created a powerful atmosphere. She concludes by mentioning the new owners, Mr & Mrs Shaw, who are open to visitors and planning to offer B&B and self-catering.

Book News & Reviews

This section reviews several books related to Cornish history, folklore, and mythology:

• Crosses and Churchyard Paths in the Land's End Peninsula Vol 7: Lelant, St. Ives & Towednack by Ian McNeil Cooke: This volume in an 8-part series is noted for its detailed research, including descriptions of 'phallic-looking' crosses and material on early Christian establishments. It also documents the vandalism of Lelant crosses in the 19th century.
• Saint Euny: His Cult and Holy Well by Rev. Gilbert H.Doble: A reprint of a 1930s publication, this booklet discusses the cult of St. Euny, who gave his name to holy wells in West Cornwall, and includes a plan of the vanished Chapel Euny.
• Miracles at St. Michael's Mount, & Breage in the 18th Century by Rev. Gilbert H.Doble: This reprint of two monographs from 1931 includes a 13thC manuscript detailing cures at St. Michael's Mount and information on charges and fines in 18thC Breage, noting instances of illegitimacy and 'immorality'.
• Popular Mythology of Cornwall series (Oakmagic Publications): Volume 3, 'Giants and Ghosts', features extracts from 19th-century works by Hunt and Bottrell. Other reviewed titles include 'Superstitious Cornwall' (19thC Cornish Magazine) and 'Ancient Curiosities of Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly' by Robert Heath.
• The Wise Woman by Kelvin I.Jones: This original work is described as a ground-breaking history of cunning women in English and Cornish social history, distinguishing between 'witch' and 'wise woman' and including biographies and details of their practices.

Other Features and Announcements

• The Pipers Tune: This section reports on preliminary results from the Dragon Project Trust's Dreamwork programme, which involved volunteers sleeping at sacred sites in Cornwall (Chûn Quoit, Carn Euny fogou, Madron Baptistry) and recording their dreams. The results were inconclusive but interesting, with complex dreams and some comparable motifs surfacing.
• Megalithic Mysteries of Cornwall by Cheryl Straffon: A new book is announced, investigating energies at ancient sites in Cornwall, covering topics like Ley Lines, energy lines, magnetism, strange lights, and altered states of consciousness.
• THE EARTH SPIRIT MOOT: An event celebrating 25 years of 'Northern Earth' magazine, featuring talks by various speakers, storytelling, and a musical premiere.
• Exchange Magazines: A list of other magazines available via annual subscription, with prices and contact details, including 'Northern Earth', 'Touchstone', 'Caerdroia', 'Rilko', 'Celtic Connections', 'Pendragon', 'The Cauldron', 'Quest', 'The Silver Wheel', 'The Hedgewytch', 'Pagan Dawn', 'Pentacle', and 'Cornish Pagan Wheel'.
• Noticeboard: This section lists upcoming events in the region, including Beltane Celebrations, Pagan Moots, Cornish Earth Mysteries events, Summer Celebrations, and various workshops and gatherings related to earth mysteries, paganism, and witchcraft.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently focuses on earth mysteries, folklore, ancient sites, and pagan traditions, particularly within Cornwall and its connections to Ireland. There is a strong emphasis on the spiritual and energetic aspects of these locations and practices. The editorial stance appears to be one of exploration and documentation of these often-unconventional subjects, promoting a deeper understanding of the landscape, its history, and its esoteric significance. The inclusion of book reviews, event listings, and personal accounts suggests a community-oriented approach, catering to readers interested in these specific fields.