Meyn Mamvro - No 077 - Winter 2012

Magazine Overview

Title: Meyn Mamvro
Issue: No. 77
Date: Winter-Spring 2012
Price: £2.70
Theme: 25 Years Anniversary, Special Issue on Fogous, Ancient Stones and Sacred Sites in Cornwall.

Editorial

The editorial marks the 25th anniversary of Meyn Mamvro, which began in December 1986. The editor reflects on the magazine's consistent focus on Cornwall's ancient sites and prehistory, viewed through 'alternative archaeology' and 'sacred sites phenomenology'. Despite the editor's aging, the passion for the subject remains strong. The editorial notes significant progress in the awareness and protection of ancient sites over the past 25 years, crediting groups like CASPN, LAN, and BTCV. However, it also highlights ongoing concerns, such as development near the Merry Maidens stone circle and the potential threat to archaeological environments on Chûn Downs from grazing plans. The need for continued vigilance in protecting the prehistoric landscape is emphasized.

Contents

The issue features a wide range of articles and news items, including:

• Editorial
• Dowsing News
• CASPN & LAN News Round-Up
• Penwith Pagan Moot
• Uncovering the Lizard: 5 - Drytree barrows
• Pathways to the Past: Lower Boscaswell
• In-Site: Boleigh fogou
• (25) The riddle of the fogous - Craig Weatherhill
• (25) Into the Underworld: 25 years of fogou research
• Book Reviews
• 20 years ago: St.Nectan's Glen
• + 4 page brochure - CASPN & LAN 2012

The front cover is a reproduction of the first issue's artwork by Gabrielle Hawkes.

Dowsing News

This section details recent dowsing activities by various groups:

• West Cornwall Dowsers visited Carn Les Boel, identifying Michael and Mary lines and finding alignments to Chapel Carn Brea. They also visited Knill's Monument, identifying a strong energy line to Trencrom Hill and suggesting the original presence of a barrow or standing stone. Further visits included Cudden Point, where they located the Apollo line and other energy lines, and Trewavas Head, identifying an Iron Age cliff castle and a zoomorphic rock formation. They also participated in a dowsing day at Helman Tor, identifying Neolithic tor enclosures and Bronze Age hut circles.
• Tamar Dowsers visited Notter Tor on Bodmin Moor, finding an energy line between it and Stowe's Pound, believed to denote a boundary. They also participated in the Helman Tor dowsing day.
• Celtic Dowsers visited Ed Prynn's neo-megalithic home at St.Eval and Porthcothan Mill to find Porthcothan Vau cave.

CASPN & LAN News Round-Up

This section reports on the activities of the Cornish Ancient Sites Protection Network (CASPN) and Lizard Ancient Sites Network (LAN):

• Mên-an-Tol stone repair: CASPN received a grant to repair the Mên-an-Tol holed stone, which had suffered erosion from people crawling through it. The worn soil was cleaned, trimmed, and reinforced with 'rab' and turfs, ensuring the surface remains firm.
• Clear-ups in 2011: CASPN and LAN conducted clear-ups at various sites in West Penwith and the Lizard, including settlements, barrows, stone circles, and holy wells. Highlights included a return to Portheras Common barrow and the identification of a new LAN site, Traboe barrow.
• Upcoming events: The 'Pathways to the Past' programme for May 26th-27th 2012 is announced.
• Merchandise: CASPN is selling T-shirts and sweatshirts.
• Contact information: Details are provided for joining FOCAS, Adopt-a-Site schemes, and reporting damage to sites.

Penwith Pagan Moot

This article by Eve Benney describes three recent events:

• Lammas ritual at Tanglewood: A group participated in a ritual involving a journey through woods and around a standing stone, re-enacting the harvest story. They consecrated corn stalks and made corn dollies.
• Autumn Equinox reflection: The group reflected on balance at the Beacon hilltop, tying black and white ribbons onto a kite before launching it.
• Samhain celebration: The moot's final event at Sancreed House involved honouring the dead, facing symbolic figures like the Gatekeeper and Ferryman, and scrying into flames for ancestral messages. The event concluded with a celebration around a fire.

Uncovering the Lizard: 5 - Drytree Barrows & menhir

This article focuses on the megalithic sites of the Lizard peninsula, which are described as more subtle than those in West Penwith.

• Drytree menhir: Located near Goonhilly Downs, this menhir was described by R.Thomas in 1851 and W.C.Borlase. It had fallen and was re-erected in 1928. Traces of charcoal and stone slabs suggest a possible cist. The menhir is composed of Cornish Down granite and is part of a hub of alignments, including energy lines and ley lines.
• Barrows: The menhir is situated within an extensive barrow field. LAN has concentrated on clearing two barrows (NE & SE) that flanked the standing stone. These barrows, a bowl barrow and a round barrow, have been cleared and now provide context for the standing stone. A kerb of large stones was discovered around the base of the NE barrow.

Pathways to the Past: Lower Boscaswell

This article describes a walk in the Lower Boscaswell area, highlighting its archaeological richness from the Mesolithic to the Romano-Celtic periods.

• Pendeen fogou: The walk includes a visit to Pendeen fogou, located at Manor Farm. The fogou has a steeply descending passage that levels and turns NW, aligning with the midsummer solstice sunset. A quartz stone is noted at the angle of the passage. A secondary 'creep' chamber, cut from clay, is also described, requiring belly-crawling to access.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently focuses on Cornwall's ancient landscape, particularly its stones, sacred sites, and associated folklore and earth energies. It adopts a perspective often described as 'alternative archaeology' and 'sacred sites phenomenology'. The editorial stance is one of passionate advocacy for the preservation and understanding of these sites, highlighting both progress made and ongoing threats. The magazine serves as a platform for local groups involved in site protection and research, such as CASPN and LAN, and documents their activities and findings. The recurring theme is the enduring significance of Cornwall's ancient heritage and the importance of its continued study and protection.

Title: MEYN MAMVRO
Issue: 77
Date: Winter-Spring 2012
Publisher: Meyn Mamvro
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English

This issue of MEYN MAMVRO, titled "The Riddle of the Fogous," features a comprehensive exploration of these enigmatic ancient structures found primarily in Cornwall. The content delves into their archaeological significance, historical context, associated folklore, and potential functions, drawing on contributions from experts like Craig Weatherhill.

Exploring the Fogous of Cornwall

The magazine presents a walking guide through ancient sites near Pendeen and Boscaswell, highlighting a fogou, a Bronze Age Round Barrow, and a Holy Well. The Pendeen fogou is described with a legend of a white woman appearing at its entrance on Christmas morning, possibly linked to winter solstice rituals and ancestor spirits. The walk also covers an ancient settlement area with Mesolithic to Romano-Celtic finds, and a possible Bronze Age Round Barrow at Bethednick, which may have been shaped to mirror the nearby headland of Carn Rôs.

Further exploration leads to the Boscaswell fogou, noted for its orientation towards the midsummer solstice sunset, similar to Pendeen. The area around Boscaswell fogou shows traces of an Iron Age and Romano-Cornish settlement, with evidence of a Roman hoard found nearby. The walk concludes by visiting Lower Boscaswell Holy Well and a rare Beaker Pit, dating to the Early Bronze Age, which yielded fire-cracked stones and pottery fragments.

The Nature and Function of Fogous

Craig Weatherhill's article, "The Riddle of the Fogous," revisits a topic first covered 25 years prior. Fogous, whose name derives from the Cornish word for 'cave,' are described as passage-like structures belonging to a group of monuments known as Souterrains, found in Brittany, Ireland, and Scotland, but not Wales. They date from the later Iron Age and Roman period (roughly 7th century BCE to 1st century CE).

Misconceptions about fogous are addressed, particularly the idea that they are purely underground. The article clarifies that some are semi-underground or entirely above ground. Of the twelve surviving Cornish fogous, four are underground, four semi-underground, and four above ground. The article discusses the varying lengths and structures of fogous, noting that most have walls that corbel inward at the top, with the exception of Piskey Hall. Subsidiary passages, known as 'creeps,' are also common.

Archaeological and Interpretive Debates

Several theories exist regarding the use of fogous: refuge, storage, or religious/ritual centres. Despite excavations, their exact purpose remains debated. The article questions the refuge theory, especially for structures like the Carn Euny fogou, which had a very narrow passage. It also dismisses the storage chamber theory, citing the difficulty of access.

The Carn Euny fogou is highlighted as a significant site, excavated by Patricia Christie, revealing a multi-phased construction with an early round chamber and a later curved passage. The interpretation of fogous as religious or ritual buildings, associated with healing and fertility, is presented as the most supported theory. This aligns with the idea that settlements often sprang up around fogous, similar to how modern churches serve their communities.

Folklore and Anomalous Phenomena

An account from Jo May describes anomalous light phenomena experienced within the underground chamber of a fogou, including swirling filaments and hundreds of tiny lights, which she interpreted as energy. This experience is linked to 'earth lights' and potential psychic phenomena. May also recounts subjective experiences within fogous, such as inner voices, perceptions of female figures, visions of fire, and experiences of being 'called' to the site for symbolic death or collective grieving.

Legends associated with fogous are also explored. The fogou at Higher Bodinnar is said to be haunted by spriggans, and Pendeen Vau and Boleigh's 'Fogie Hole' were believed to be of great extent. The Boleigh fogou is linked to legends of witchcraft and devilry, possibly reflecting pre-Christian rites.

The Boleigh Fogou Carving

The Boleigh fogou is considered particularly insightful regarding the former purpose of these structures. A carving on one of its entrance jambs depicts the upper half of a hooded figure, possibly a Celtic god associated with healing, fertility, or prosperity, such as Diancecht or Cernunnos. The figure's association with serpents and the potential link to the spriggan legend are discussed. This carving is considered potentially the only known Iron Age carving in Cornwall.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue strongly advocates for the interpretation of fogous as religious and ritualistic sites, integral to the spiritual and social life of ancient Cornish communities. The editorial stance supports this view, suggesting that these structures served a similar role to modern parish churches, witnessing various life events and rituals. The magazine emphasizes the importance of studying folklore and legend in understanding these ancient mysteries, even when faced with skepticism from more conventional archaeological circles. The ongoing excavation of fogous is noted as diminishing, making the interpretation of existing sites and associated lore increasingly crucial.

Meyn Mamvro, Issue 77, Winter-Spring 2012, is a magazine dedicated to earth mysteries, archaeology, and paganism, with a particular focus on the ancient Cornish structures known as fogous. This issue celebrates "25 Years of Fogou Research" and delves into the history, theories, and ongoing discoveries surrounding these enigmatic sites.

Into the Underworld: 25 Years of Fogou Research

The lead article revisits the foundational research on fogous, starting with Ian Cooke's seminal work in MM Issue 2 (Spring 1987). Cooke observed that out of eleven fogou sites with sufficient visible remains or detailed old plans, eight had passages curved from SW to NE, oriented towards the rising midsummer sun. He vividly described his 1985 visit to Carn Euny to witness this phenomenon. The remaining three fogous (Pendeen, Porthmeor, and Lower Boscaswell) had passages curved from NE to SW, facing the setting midsummer sun. In 1993, Cooke published his comprehensive book, "Mother and Sun: the Cornish Fogou," which cataloged 62 sites and examined their construction, context, and function.

Previous articles in Meyn Mamvro had explored 'The Cult of the Fogou' [MM9], 'Fogous as ritual centres' [MM14], and 'Folklore of the Fogou' [MM19].

In 1992, Rachel Maclean published an article in Cornish Archaeology 31, proposing refuge as a possible function for fogous, drawing comparisons with Irish and Breton souterrains. However, an article in MM24, 'Fogous and Souterrains,' highlighted the structural differences, suggesting fogous were not safe refuges.

Boleigh and Spiritual Experiences

The issue highlights the arrival of Channel 4's Time Team in 1996 to examine the settlement and fogou at Boleigh. While the team focused on tin streaming and a garden ditch, the County Archaeologist Nick Johnson and Tony Robinson suggested a ritual or spiritual explanation for the fogou's function.

Around the same time, Jo May, the owner of the Boleigh fogou, published "Fogou - Gateway to the Underworld" (1996). Her book details her practical and spiritual experiences at the site, including accounts of visions and psychic experiences, which she describes as a recurring feature of fogous. May believed the energy at Boleigh manifested as "devas and nature spirits" and that the fogou served as a focal point for spiritual practices like death and rebirth, vision quests, healing, and soul-making.

Similar altered states of consciousness have been reported to Meyn Mamvro. One woman sketching at Carn Euny fogou in 1992 experienced a 'time lapse' vision of the ancient community. Legends associated with fogous, such as 'Duffy and the Devil' at Boleigh and the 'woman in white' at Pendeen, are also mentioned as possible folk memories of their original uses. Intense radioactive readings have been noted at Pendeen (91% higher than background), Carn Euny (87% higher), and Boleigh (100% higher), leading to speculation that these high concentrations might contribute to the visions and experiences reported.

New Discoveries and Ongoing Research

In 2008, Meyn Mamvro revisited creep passages in fogous with an article titled 'The Sunset Fogous' [MM67]. Cheryl Straffon noted that Pendeen and Lower Boscaswell fogous had creep passages with significant orientations: Pendeen's main passage faces NW (midsummer sunset) and its creep passage faces NE (midsummer sunrise). Boscaswell's main passage faces NW (midsummer sunset), while its creep passage faces SW (midwinter sunset). Subsequent articles explored how these orientations might have been used for ritual and ceremony.

Despite Craig Weatherhill's 1986 comment about running out of fogous to excavate, a 'new' one was identified at Boden, near Manaccan, on the Lizard. Initially known in the early 19th century, its passage was opened in 1991 and found to be oriented northerly. A 2003 excavation [reported in MM55] revealed the passage walls and deposits of pottery and a glass blue bead. Indications suggest the passage continues NE, though it is currently blocked. This discovery aligns with Ian Cooke's identified pattern and supports a ritual or ceremonial function. The site is being tidied up for public access.

The issue also mentions other lesser-known fogous east of West Penwith, including Halligye, Piskey's Hall, and the potential site of the Treveneague fogou. A structure labelled a "Romano-Cornish fogou" was discovered in 2007 at Penhale Round, near Fraddon. This structure, dating to the 3rd-4th century CE and found outside the West Cornwall area, differs from typical fogous and yielded Roman pottery, indicating that research into these enigmatic structures continues.

Book Reviews

This issue features several book reviews:

• Village Witch by Cassandra Latham-Jones (Troy Books, 2011): A review notes the book's long gestation period, its blend of autobiographical material and experiences as a village Wise Woman, and its exploration of spirit world interactions, spells, and magic. The reviewer suggests more detail could have been included on controversial events.
• There are Pagans at the bottom of my garden by Trevor Rogers (Alsia Wells Publishing, 2011): This book chronicles Trevor Rogers' search for a property in Cornwall, leading him to Alsia Holy Well. The review highlights his discovery of the well's significance to modern pagans and his theories connecting it to ancient Goddess faith and Eleusinian mysteries. The reviewer recommends it for its warmth and humour.
• Goon, hal, cliff & croft: the archaeology and landscape history of west Cornwall's rough ground by Peter Dudley et al. (Cornwall Council, 2011) and Managing the historic environment on west Cornwall's rough ground by Graeme Kirkham et al. (Cornwall Council, 2011): These complementary books offer an up-to-date overview of the prehistoric and later use of West Cornwall's landscape. "Goon, hal, cliff & croft" focuses on environmental context and findings, with a chapter on monuments and their uses. "Managing the historic environment" emphasizes contemporary attitudes and preservation efforts. Both are well-illustrated and considered essential for those interested in West Cornwall's sites.
• Cornish Archaeology 47 [2008] (Cornwall Archaeological Society, 2011): This annual volume includes articles on prehistoric excavations, a Bronze Age roundhouse, and Time Team excavations. It notes the observation of the summer solstice sunset over Prospidnick menhir from Gear enclosure.

20 Years Ago: St. Nectan's Kieve Debate

A section revisits a debate from 20 years prior concerning the commercialization of St. Nectan's Kieve (waterfall) near Tintagel. An article by Robin Ellis described it as a "place of great sanctity" spoiled by commercialism, while Susan Laws argued the café provided welcome refreshment. The debate continued over the years, touching on issues of ownership, entrance fees, threats of fencing, and the site being put up for sale. The article notes recent developments, including the death of Jean Litton and the site being offered for auction, with a 'Friends of St.Nectans Glen' group attempting to purchase it.

Exchange Magazines and Meyn Mamvro Folders

The magazine lists various 'Exchange Magazines' related to earth mysteries and paganism, providing subscription details and web links. It also advertises 'Meyn Mamvro Folders' for storing the magazine and guides.

Noticeboard

The Noticeboard section contains listings for various groups and events:

• West Cornwall Dowsers and Trencrom Dowsers offer regular site visits and talks, including one on Megalithic Mysteries of Cornwall.
• Tamar Dowsers lists site visits and talks.
• Ancient Sites Clear-Ups in West Penwith and The Lizard are scheduled for early 2012, with details provided for participation.
• Fenton Bebibell Well announces an annual Good Friday clear-up and baptism of dolls.
• Pagan Federation lists its Spring Conference details.
• Pagan Moots are scheduled for Penzance, Redruth/Truro/Falmouth, and Bodmin.
• Beltane Celebrations are listed for late April and early May, including a Maypole Dance, Jack in the Green, Obby Oss Day, and a Three Wells Walk.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue strongly emphasizes the ongoing research and evolving understanding of Cornish fogous, moving beyond purely functional explanations to embrace their spiritual, ritualistic, and even psychic dimensions. The magazine acts as a platform for researchers, authors, and enthusiasts to share their findings and perspectives, fostering a community dedicated to exploring ancient sites and earth mysteries. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting various theories and encouraging further investigation, while also acknowledging the cultural and spiritual significance of these locations. The inclusion of book reviews and a noticeboard further solidifies its role as a hub for the earth mysteries and pagan communities.