Meyn Mamvro - No 089 - Winter 2016

Magazine Overview

Meyn Mamvro, Issue 89, Winter-Spring 2016, is a magazine dedicated to exploring Cornwall's ancient stones, sacred sites, and related folklore and mythology. The issue features a cover story on the Isles of Scilly, highlighting fogou discoveries, clear-ups, and dowsing activities. The magazine is published by Meyn Mamvro and is available online at meynmamvro.co.uk/archive.

Editorial

The editorial section, on page 1, expresses satisfaction with the success of the Penwith Landscape Partnership's bid for a £2.7 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. This funding is seen as a significant boost for protecting Cornwall's ancient landscape heritage. The magazine editor, Cheryl Straffon, is also the Chair of CASPN, a key partner in this initiative. The editorial also touches upon the threat of wind farm and phone mast applications and cuts to historic landscape protection funding.

Dowsing News

This section details recent dowsing activities by West Cornwall Dowsers and Trencrom Dowsers.

• July 2015: The West Cornwall Dowsers visited the Lizard peninsula, exploring Polcoverack settlement and The Three Brothers of Grugwith. At Polcoverack, two round houses were dowsed, suggesting earlier dates for hearths than surrounding walls. At The Three Brothers, a double stone avenue was identified.
• August 2015: The group returned to Kus-Skewes Farm to investigate a fallen gatepost dowsed as a standing stone and a node where Michael and Mary lines meet, discovering a 9 petal-shaped 'pictogram'.
• September 2015: Trencrom Dowsers held a workshop on 'Advanced Dowsing for Health'. Subsequently, they visited Chûn Castle & Quoit, identifying an energetic signature at the castle and flagging the boundary of the Quoit's earth mound.

Locating Rosemergy Stone Circle

This article details the process of locating a lost stone circle at Rosemergy, near St.Just. Evidence from an 1841 tithe map and a reference by Borlase initially suggested its existence. James Haliwell's 1847 account placed it north-east of Rosemergy. Following the magazine's mention of this in a previous issue (MM87), Nick Thomas, son of archaeologist Charles Thomas, provided further information. A dowsing session in the field revealed evidence of a 19-stone circle and an outlying standing stone. The field was identified as 'menglas' on the 1840 Tithe Map, confirming the location. The circle's dimensions were measured at 25.7 x 23.9m.

More on Morvah

Chris Jenkins continues his exploration of Morvah's potential Arthurian mythology. He theorizes a sacred marriage between Arthur and Guinevere at Morvah on Lughnasad (August 1st), linking it to crow/raven symbology and the goddess Morgana. The article also discusses the 'West Penwith: Ancient Sites and Alignments' online map, created by Palden Jenkins, which shows alignments between ancient sites in West Penwith.

C.A.S.P.N & LAN News Round-Up

This section provides updates from the Cornish Ancient Sites Protection Network (CASPN) and Lizard Ancient Sites Network (LAN).

• Penwith Landscape Partnership: The successful bid for a £2.7 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund is highlighted. CASPN is the Lead Partner for the Ancient Sites component of this project, which will focus on protecting and caring for sites in West Penwith from 2018 to 2022.
• Pathways to the Past Weekend (May 28th-29th 2016): The program for the 10th annual event is announced, featuring walks and talks by various individuals including Cheryl Straffon, Lana Jarvis, David Giddings, Paul Bonnington, Adam Sharpe, Adrian Rodda, and Palden Jenkins.
• Contact Information: Details for CASPN, FOCAS (Friends of Cornwall's Ancient Sites), and LAN are provided, including addresses, websites, and email contacts for various schemes like Adopt-a-Site and Sites Clear-Ups.

Ancient Tracks: 9 - Badgers Lane & Amalveor Downs

This article explores ancient pathways in West Penwith. Badgers Lane is described as a short, steep, sunken track providing access to Amalveor Downs and Lady Downs. It is part of the Tinners Way. In 1931, a Middle Bronze Age hoard of gold pieces, the Towednack Gold Hoard, was discovered near Badgers Lane. The article also mentions a ring barrow on Amalveor Downs and an alignment running from Chûn Castle to this barrow.

Home Sweet Ancient Home: 10 - Porthmeor

This feature examines the Porthmeor Courtyard House settlement on the north coast of West Penwith. The site, occupied from the 2nd to the 5th or 6th centuries CE, features an oval fortification enclosing courtyard houses, terraces, and hut circles. It had two entrances and a sophisticated layout. A fogou, a subterranean passage, is also associated with the site.

Are Boscawen-ûn axes really feet?

This piece discusses carvings on the centre stone of the Boscawen-ûn stone circle. Ian Cooke initially interpreted them as stone axes in 1986. More recently, Thomas Goskar suggested they might represent feet. The article also mentions similar carvings found in Brittany, interpreted as breasts.

Wells Corner

This regular feature focuses on Cornwall's holy wells.

• St. Wenna's well, Morval: Two wells dedicated to St. Wenna are discussed. One at Tregonetha was previously listed as being in marshy ground with no trace of buildings. A second well, discovered at Morval House, is in better condition and is located in the garden of the house.

Key Incidents and Cases

The issue details several archaeological and historical findings:

• The rediscovery of the Rosemergy stone circle.
• The discovery of the Towednack Gold Hoard.
• The identification of a fogou at Porthmeor.
• The ongoing work and funding success of CASPN and LAN.
• Dowsing findings at various sites on the Lizard peninsula and in West Penwith.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes the preservation and study of Cornwall's ancient sites, landscapes, and folklore. There is a strong emphasis on the importance of dowsing and archaeoastronomy in understanding these sites. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of protecting these heritage assets from modern threats and celebrates successful conservation efforts, such as the Penwith Landscape Partnership's grant. The magazine also engages with local mythology and history, connecting ancient sites to legends and cultural practices. The inclusion of news from organizations like CASPN and LAN underscores a commitment to community involvement in heritage preservation.

Title: MEYN MAMVRO
Issue: 89
Date: Winter-Spring 2016
Publisher: Meyn Mamvro
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English

This issue of Meyn Mamvro features a collection of articles focusing on archaeological discoveries and dowsing investigations, primarily in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

King Arthur's Hall: The Dowsers Perspective

This article by Roy Goutté details a visit to King Arthur's Hall on King Arthur's Down, near Bodmin Moor, with a group of West Cornwall Dowsers led by Bart O'Farrell. The dowsers investigated the enclosure, which is described as a large rectangular structure with 56 flat slab stones and a raised bank. They unanimously concluded that the site's primary purpose was spiritual, linked to a spring in the central area. They dated the erection of the site to between 3,100-3,500 BCE, with active use for approximately 900 years, placing it in the Neolithic to early Bronze Age period. The dowsers also noted a clockwise energy flow around the site and suggested it was a happy, communal site for families, offering a sense of sanctuary.

Isles of Scilly Special Feature

This section is dedicated to archaeological news and discoveries from the Isles of Scilly.

First Scilly Fogou Found on St. Marys

This article reports on the discovery of an Iron Age to Romano-British fogou on St. Mary's, the first positively identified on the islands. Located near Carn Gwavel Farm, the fogou features an underground 'S-shaped' corbelled passage measuring 4.97 metres long. Although small, it is considered an exciting find. The article also mentions a possible Romano-Celtic temple in Hughtown and Bronze Age funerary cairns on Peninnis Head.

Knackyboy Cairn Revealed

This piece details the recent clearing and investigation of the Knackyboy Cairn entrance grave on St. Martin's. Initiated by Cardiff University, the project revealed the cairn to be one of the largest and most intriguing tombs on the islands. Excavations and previous investigations indicate a complex series of depositions, including a foundation offering, complete pots, bronze metalwork, and glass beads. It is estimated that up to 100 individuals may have been cremated there. Radiocarbon dating of human bone samples suggests dates from 1747-1260 BCE, placing it in the middle Bronze Age. The monument's spectacular setting and its importance as a burial and ritual site are highlighted.

Isles of Scilly Community Archaeology Group

Authored by Charlie Johns & Katharine Sawyer, this article outlines the formation and activities of the Isles of Scilly Community Archaeology Group (CAG) since its inception in March 2014. The group collaborates with the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust to conduct monthly site clear-ups of Scheduled Monuments, guided walks, and participation in excavation projects. The article lists various clearance events in 2014 and 2015, including work on Teän, Toll's Island, Porth Hellick Down, Carn Valla, Nornour, Little Arthur, Middle Arthur, Samson Hill, and Bryher. Future plans include work on Northwethel, White Island, and Tean.

Dowsing on the Isles of Scilly

This article by Jonnie Taylor recounts his dowsing experiences during a holiday on the Isles of Scilly. He describes investigating sites such as the Long Rock Menhir on St. Mary's, finding energy lines and vortex spirals. He also explored the Maypole junction, a stone circle site, and various barrows and menhirs on Tresco, St. Agnes, and Gugh. Taylor notes finding multiple energy lines and water lines at these locations, often aligning with prehistoric structures. He also visited St. Warna's Well on Gugh and explored sites on Bryher and Samson Hill, concluding with a desire to learn more about earth energy dowsing.

Return to the Islands

This section by Jonnie Taylor details a return trip to Scilly in October with the intention of further investigating sites. He revisited the Salakee Down stone circle, noting it was easier to explore after clearing. His dowsing revealed an ovoid shape for the circle and numerous energy lines that terminated in spirals before reaching the center. He postulates the circle lies on top of a 'blind spring' that manifests a 'geospiral', potentially explaining its construction by ancestors.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the intersection of archaeology and dowsing, the exploration of prehistoric and ancient sites, and community involvement in heritage preservation. The magazine showcases a strong interest in local history, particularly in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, highlighting the ongoing efforts to uncover and understand these ancient landscapes. The editorial stance appears to be one of promoting archaeological research, encouraging community participation, and exploring alternative methods like dowsing to gain insights into historical sites.

This issue of Meyn Mamvro, number 89, published in Winter-Spring 2016, is primarily focused on the archaeology and ancient sites of the Isles of Scilly. The magazine features personal accounts of exploring these sites, a detailed book review of a significant work on the subject, and a summary of a coastal and marine environment study.

Site Visits and Dowsing

The issue begins with a personal account of visiting several ancient sites on the Isles of Scilly. The author describes visits to The Giant's Grave carn on Porth Hellick Down, noting its intact structure, breathtaking views, and energy lines feeding into a central spiral. The author also visited the Maypole road junction, which has been tidied up and features a mini-garden. Three sites on the northern coast of St. Mary's are discussed: Innisidgen Carn, Long Rock menhir, and Bant's Carn. Innisidgen Upper Carn is described as similar to the Giant's Grave carn, with energy lines and a rock outcrop with a cleft aligned due east. A lower carn nearby is aligned north-south. The author notes that the Long Rock menhir showed the strongest dowsing response, with energy lines aligned north-south and east-west. Bant's Carn, the final site visited, had eight energy lines, one aligned with the entrance. The author postulates an energy ley line connecting these three sites, noting that the findings come from personal, relatively inexpert dowsing and would require confirmation.

Isles of Scilly Alignments

A significant portion of the issue is dedicated to a list of 'Isles of Scilly Alignments' compiled from Palden Jenkins' on-line map. This section details numerous alignments between various megalithic sites, including menhirs, chambered cairns, cists, and mounds, across different islands such as St. Mary's, Gugh, Bryher, Samson, and St. Martin's. Each entry provides a code (e.g., SC01), the names of the sites involved, and their grid references.

Book Review: Isles of the Dead?

The issue includes a detailed review of Katherine Sawyer's book, "Isles of the Dead?: The setting and function of the Bronze Age chambered cairns and cists on the Isles of Scilly" (2015). The book is described as a major new work adapting Sawyer's PhD thesis, offering the first in-depth treatment of these monuments. The review covers the book's sections on structures, contents, settings, and functions. Sawyer identifies approximately 77 definite and probable entrance graves, 13 possible ones, 27 definite and probable cists, and 34 possible ones, totaling 197 monuments, with 167 extant. She argues that these monuments were built by the islanders themselves for protection against inundation, rather than being a necropolis. The review also mentions finds such as pottery, flints, bronze objects, a pumice pendant, and beads, with Barry Cunliffe suggesting shell deposits hint at Mesolithic traditions. The book concludes that there is no reason to believe Scilly was a necropolis in the Early and Middle Bronze Age.

Forthcoming Publication: The Lyonesse Project

Another section announces the forthcoming publication of "The Lyonesse Project: a study of the historic coastal and marine environment of the Isles of Scilly" by Dan J. Charman and others. This project, commissioned by Historic England, studies the evolution of the islands' environment, including submerged stone walls. It involved a team of specialists and produced 78 new radiocarbon dates and 15 OSL ages, providing a robust chronology and insights into vegetation history over the last 13,500 years.

15 Years Ago: A CEMG Visit to Scilly

A retrospective piece looks back at a weekend visit to the Isles of Scilly by the Cornish Earth Mysteries Group (CEMG) in 2001, which was previously covered in MM46 & MM47. The visit included seeing the 'Betrothal Stone' on St. Mary's, exploring various entrance graves and standing stones, and a boat trip to the uninhabited island of Nor-Nour, which housed a settlement and a shrine to the maritime Goddess Sillina. The group performed a ceremony there. The visit also included exploring sites on Gugh, such as Obadiah's Barrow and Kittern Hill, where stone lines were interpreted as more than just boundary walls. Sunrise and sunset alignments were noted, and a striking visual alignment was observed from one of the cairns to the Old Man of Gugh menhir and Dropnose Point. A Propped Stone was also found near Dropnose Point.

Exchange Magazines and Folders

The issue concludes with listings of other 'Exchange Magazines' in the Earth Mysteries and Paganism categories, including contact details and subscription prices. It also advertises 'Meyn Mamvro Folders' for storing the magazine and guides. Subscription information for Meyn Mamvro itself is provided, along with details on ordering back numbers and indices.

Noticeboard

The 'Noticeboard' section lists various local groups and events, including West Cornwall Dowsers, Trencrom Dowsers, Tamar Dowsers, Ancient Sites Clear-Ups, Fenton Bebibell Well events, Beltane Celebrations, and Pagan Federation events in Devon, Cornwall, and the Channel Isles. It also lists moots and spiritual centres.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue strongly emphasizes the archaeological heritage of the Isles of Scilly, particularly Bronze Age monuments like chambered cairns and cists. There is a significant focus on the concept of 'energy lines' and 'ley lines', explored through dowsing, suggesting a spiritual or energetic dimension to these ancient sites. The magazine also promotes the study of local history and environment, as seen in the Lyonesse Project. The editorial stance appears to be one of promoting research, exploration, and the sharing of findings within the Earth Mysteries and Paganism communities, encouraging readers to engage with these topics and sites. The inclusion of a book review and a retrospective visit highlights the magazine's role in disseminating knowledge and historical context within its readership.