Meyn Mamvro - No 099 - AutumnWinter 2019

Magazine Overview

Meyn Mamvro, Issue No. 99, Autumn-Winter 2019, is a magazine dedicated to exploring ancient stones and sacred sites in Cornwall. This issue marks a significant milestone, being the 99th publication and approaching the centenary of Issue 100. The magazine has been published three times a year for 33 years, with the editor, Cheryl Straffon, reflecting on the publication's longevity and the changing landscape of information dissemination, with a nod to the rise of online content.

Despite the editor's personal considerations about energy and health at age 72, and the prevalence of online information, Meyn Mamvro continues to fill an important niche in documenting Cornwall's prehistory and 'alternative' archaeology. The magazine's future is envisioned as Volume 2, beginning in 2020, suggesting a continuation beyond Issue 100.

Editorial Stance and Key Themes

Meyn Mamvro has consistently championed the protection of Cornwall's prehistoric environment. The editor has been actively involved with CASPN (Cornish Ancient Sites Protection Network) for the past 20 years, serving as Chair for much of that time. CASPN is presented as an approachable organisation, distinct from the archaeological establishment, which has survived by relying on dedicated volunteers. The magazine highlights the importance of volunteer support for organisations like CASPN, especially in finding a 'next generation' of volunteers. The article also mentions the PLP (Penwith Landscape Partnership) as a current support for these efforts, though notes its limited funding.

The core themes of the magazine revolve around Earth Energies, Ancient Stones, Sacred Sites, Paganism, Ley Paths, Cornish Pre-History & Culture, Megalithic Mysteries, and Legends & Folklore.

Contents and Featured Articles

The issue's contents span a wide range of topics related to Cornwall's ancient landscape and traditions:

Editorial

The editorial reflects on the magazine's 33-year history, the upcoming 100th issue, and the editor's personal journey. It emphasizes the magazine's role in documenting research and its commitment to protecting ancient sites.

Dowsing News

This section covers recent talks and events related to dowsing. A talk by Andy Burnham on his book 'The Old Stones' is highlighted, emphasizing how dowsing can reveal astronomical alignments and geological features. Events involving Tamar Dowsers and Trencrom Dowsers are detailed, including talks on 'Holy Sites and Sacred Places', 'Healing with Feng Shui and Geomancy', and 'St. Michael's Way'. Visits to sites like Chûn Castle, Quoit, and Carn Brea are described, with findings related to springs, Neolithic structures, and energy lines.

Spring into Summer 2019

This section chronicles seasonal events and traditions. It includes the 14th year of the custom of visiting Fenton Bebibell ('well of the little people'), Beltane celebrations, and the Padstow Obby Oss Day, which marked the 100th anniversary of the Blue Oss. The Penzance May Horns walk, aimed at driving out winter and welcoming summer, and the Helston Flora Day are also mentioned.

Going Scilly with the Ley Hunters!

This article details a week-long expedition by the Network of Ley Hunters to the Isles of Scilly. The group visited various inhabited and uninhabited islands, exploring labyrinths, wells, barrows, entrance graves, and menhirs. Dowsing was used to determine the age of structures and identify energy lines. The profound sense of interconnectedness with the landscape and energies of the islands is emphasized.

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

This section provides updates from the Cornish Ancient Sites Protection Network (CASPN) and the Lizard Ancient Sites Network (LAN). It reports on the 13th annual 'Pathways to the Past' walks and talks, which included guided walks, talks on Tintagel, Cornish Crosses, and folklore. Contact information and support details for CASPN and LAN are provided.

Penwith Landscape Partnership News Round-Up

This report details recent discoveries made through the combined efforts of the PLP and CASPN volunteers. New findings at Mulfra Vean include the uncovering of a hitherto unknown Roundhouse. At Bosullow Trehyllys, a collapsed fogou was cleared, revealing a creep passage and an unusual black stone, possibly made of tourmaline-rich granite, which is discussed in terms of its potential significance (dark of the moon, EM radiation mitigation, or decorative yin-yang symbolism).

Curious and Enigmatic Monuments: Long Cairns

This article explores the category of 'long cairns', which are edge-shaped or oval mounds used for communal burials by early farmers. While typically found in northern England and Scotland, anomalous examples exist in Cornwall. These include a 500-metre long stone bank structure on Rough Tor, the Bearah Long Cairn with a chambered tomb, Louden Long Cairn, and Catshole Long Cairn on Bodmin Moor. Chapel Carn Brea in West Penwith also features a long cairn. The article quotes Christopher Tilley on the role of long cairns in establishing a material relationship between ritual practices and the landscape.

Other Mentions

The issue also includes mentions of specific sites like Botrea barrows, Bosence chapel, Michael & Mary at Carn Lês Boel, and Wells Corner. Book reviews and historical retrospectives ('20 years ago', '30 years ago') are also part of the content.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the exploration and documentation of Cornwall's ancient sites, megalithic monuments, and folklore. There is a strong emphasis on the importance of protecting these sites from environmental damage and from being overlooked by mainstream archaeology. The magazine advocates for a holistic understanding of the landscape, incorporating dowsing, ley lines, and pagan traditions alongside archaeological findings. The editorial stance is clearly one of advocacy for the preservation and appreciation of Cornwall's unique heritage, encouraging community involvement and support for relevant organizations like CASPN.

Title: MEYN MAMVRO
Issue: 99
Date: Autumn-Winter 2019
Publisher: Meyn Mamvro
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English

This issue of Meyn Mamvro delves into the rich history, folklore, and energetic landscapes of West Penwith, Cornwall. It features articles on ancient sites, local legends, and traditional customs, offering a blend of archaeological interpretation, mythological exploration, and personal reflection.

Botrea Barrows and Caer Brân: Central Places in Bronze Age Penwith

By Palden Jenkins, this article explores the significance of the Botrea Barrows and Caer Brân, two key sites in the Bronze Age landscape of Penwith. Initially appearing unremarkable, the Botrea Barrows gain importance through their strategic location on a 'backbone alignment' connecting Neolithic cliff sanctuaries like St Michael's Mount and Cape Cornwall. This alignment also separates the northern Neolithic zone from the southern Bronze Age zone, positioning the Botrea Barrows as a 'fulcrum' between these areas. The author suggests that Caer Brân, visible from the barrows, might have served as a neutral gathering place or 'Penwithian parliament', linked by an ancient trackway. The article posits that these sites, particularly Caer Brân, may have had a special purpose as central places in Bronze Age Penwith, potentially revealing archaeological evidence of 'bronze age litter and fag ends'.

Caer Brân's round enclosure is noted as unusual for a 'hillfort', suggesting its purpose was more likely for trading, social interaction, moots, fayres, or ceremonial parades. The interior of Caer Brân is described as a 'sealed-off, insulated space' that focuses attention inwards and upwards, possibly intended as a magical or social space. The author speculates that the banks might have acted like a Faraday cage, filtering external 'noise' and focusing consciousness, or creating a 'cyclotron effect' for ritual activities. The location of Caer Brân is seen as a result of inter-tribal diplomatic and geomantic calculations, rather than purely intuitive topographical placement like Sancreed Beacon or Bartinney Castle.

Mythic Pathways: Piskey Led at Bosence Chapel

This section, by Pat Toms, explores ancient pathways and associated myths in West Penwith. It focuses on Bosence Chapel, a lesser-known site that was originally a medieval chapel or Celtic hermitage. The article recounts a famous legend from William Bottrell about 'Uter Bosence', set on Midsummer Eve. Uter, returning from St.Just to Sancreed, takes a path that leads him to Bosence Chapel. There, a thick fog envelops him, and he hears strange noises. He encounters a terrifying being, described as a black buck-goat sprite, or 'piskey', which attacks him. Uter is thrown down the hill, through brambles, and hurled about until he is found insensible at the foot of Beacon hill the next day. The narrative emphasizes the 'mythic pathway' and the potential for spirits from the 'Otherworld' to manifest at such ancient sites.

Michael and Mary at Carn Lês Boel

Also by Pat Toms, this article investigates 'straight and serpentine currents in the landscape', exploring whether they are energetic or intuitive phenomena. The author discusses 'etheric currents' that can be manifest through intuition and association with landscape forms, such as hills, ravines, caves, springs, standing stones, and mounds. These features can accentuate lines, creating 'etheric points' with fields of rays, rings, and spirals. The article specifically examines Carn Lês Boel, where three large standing stones are located over distinctive fissures in the cliff. These stones are arranged in an equilateral triangle and are aligned with the 'Michael Line', a sixty-degree bearing. The article suggests that these stones, along with other features like a spanning stone at Zennor Head associated with the 'Athena current', are used to manifest these energetic currents. The investigation extends to Gurnard's Head, exploring the 'Apollo Line', and notes that fissures in the rock often run in specific directions, particularly north-south and at a sixty-degree bearing, which ancient people may have utilized to create energetic lines across Britain.

Cornish Folklore: Harvest Traditions

Authored by folklorist Alex Langstone, this regular column focuses on 'Cornish Harvest Traditions'. It details the old Cornish harvest festival of 'Guldize', still celebrated as 'Crying the Neck' ceremonies across Cornwall. These traditions, revived in 1928 but dating back to the eighteenth century or earlier, involve communal feasts, music, and dance. The ceremony takes place in the last harvested field, where a small amount of corn is left standing, believed to house the spirit of the crop. The 'neck' of corn is cut, tied, and held aloft while a ritualistic exchange of cries occurs, followed by prayers and a procession to the local church or chapel. The article also highlights a unique 1599 plaster roundel found in a cottage at Rillaton, depicting a wheat sheath garlanded for the ceremony, surrounded by farm tools and wheat ears, serving as a testament to the history and folklore of the 'Crying the Neck' tradition.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the deep history and energetic significance of the Penwith landscape in Cornwall. There is a strong focus on the interpretation of ancient sites, not just as archaeological remains, but as places imbued with spiritual, ceremonial, and energetic qualities. The articles explore the connections between landscape features, folklore, and ancient beliefs, suggesting that these sites were intentionally used for specific purposes, whether social, ritualistic, or communicative. The editorial stance appears to be one that values the preservation and understanding of local heritage, folklore, and the subtle energetic aspects of the landscape, encouraging readers to consider alternative interpretations beyond conventional archaeology. The magazine promotes a sense of place and connection to the land's ancient past.

Meyn Mamvro issue 99, published in Autumn-Winter 2019, is a magazine focused on Cornish folklore, archaeology, earth mysteries, and related topics. The issue delves into historical traditions, reviews recent publications, and revisits past articles from the magazine's archives.

Traditional Cornish Ceremonies and Celebrations

The issue details traditional Cornish practices. The annual Rillaton 'Cry' is mentioned as a ceremony held in a traditional manner for centuries. The 'Neck' ceremony at St Cleer once involved placing a witch's hat and broom on a fire as a charm. A 'Craw sheaf ceremony' recorded at St Wenn in the 1930s by Stanley Opie involved building a rick and proclaiming "The Crow sheaf is in, 'tis time to begin, to drink strong beer, and we've got it 'ere." On the eastern side of Bodmin Moor, Goldhys was celebrated in the 1930s with a broom dance to the tune of 'So Early in the Morning', as recorded in Old Cornwall magazine. E. Thompson described the dance, noting the rhythmic beat of heavy boots and the dancers' agility.

Book Reviews

The Folklore of Cornwall by Ronald M James: Reviewed as the first purely academic study of Cornish folklore in a long time. The book is praised for James's detailed reading of folk tales and placing them in the context of European folklore. However, its weaknesses include a rigid adherence to academic categories and a lack of local knowledge, leading to an error in labelling an engraving of the Tolvern stone. The review suggests the book focuses more on parallels with other tales than on the meaning or significance of Cornish stories.

Cornish Saints and Holy Wells Vol 3 by Helen Fox: This book follows two previous volumes and is noted for its colour photographs of 62 wells, their locations, and descriptions of their atmosphere. It is described as a delightful book to browse, though some wells are not strictly 'holy' and some locations are incorrect.

Cornish Archaeology no.56 (2017): This annual volume from the Cornwall Archaeological Society includes articles on Later Neolithic pits, Iron Age and Romano-British settlements, a multi-phased round-house on Bodmin Moor, and other archaeological research in Cornwall.

Alignments in West Penwith: A new revised edition by Palden Jenkins & Raymond Cox is mentioned, listing nearly 200 megalithic alignments and lines.

Penwith Press

Penwith Press, founded by Hamish Miller, is an independent publisher and bookseller specializing in earth mysteries, dowsing, and Cornish interest books. The press now includes titles by various researchers and offers books on place-names, alignments, and other related topics.

Archive Features: 20 and 30 Years Ago

20 Years Ago (Summer 1999): This section recalls MM39, a special issue dedicated to the total solar eclipse on August 11th, 1999. The editorial noted the widespread apprehension and preparation in west Cornwall due to the rare event. The issue covered astronomy, astrology, folklore, and myth related to the eclipse, and included a 4-page supplement. It also mentioned previous solar eclipses visible in Cornwall and commemorated Sheila Rose Bright, an astrologer and co-creator of Goddess Alive! magazine.

30 Years Ago (Summer 1989): This section highlights MM9, which featured reports on a newly discovered stone row in West Penwith (Treveglos row at Zennor) and discussed fogous. Ian Cooke's article 'The cult of the fogou' explored Iron Age societies and the possible ritual function of fogous. The issue also included Paul Broadhurst's article 'Chasing the Dragon', which introduced ideas that later formed the book "The Sun and the Serpent", discussing the meandering nature of the Michael line.

Site Protection and Reporting

The "Piper's Tune" section discusses the role of CASPN (Cornish Ancient Sites Protection Network) and its Facebook page in reporting untoward changes at ancient sites. Three recent examples are illustrated:

1. Mayon Green cross: A farmer was removing the surrounding wall of the cross. CASPN alerted Historic England, and although the hedge was not scheduled, the intervention brought the matter to public attention.
2. Lower Boscaswell fogou: Graffiti was found in the fogou, likely by local schoolchildren.
3. Boleigh fogou: The far end of the fogou was found to be open, whereas it had previously been enclosed. CASPN reported this to Historic England.

CASPN emphasizes that it welcomes reports via telephone or email as well as through its Facebook page.

Other Content

The magazine also lists exchange magazines, details its website, and promotes its own publications, including folders for storing magazines and guides.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

Meyn Mamvro consistently focuses on Cornish heritage, particularly its folklore, ancient sites, and earth mysteries. The magazine appears to have a strong connection with archaeological and folkloric research communities, often being the first to publish new discoveries or theories. The editorial stance seems to be one of promoting responsible engagement with these subjects, encouraging research, and facilitating the reporting and protection of historical sites. The inclusion of "20 Years Ago" and "30 Years Ago" sections indicates a commitment to historical context and the evolution of knowledge within its field. The magazine also appears to have a spiritual or esoteric dimension, as evidenced by its coverage of earth mysteries, astrology, and the commemoration of figures associated with Goddess traditions.