Ballowall Barrow, perched on the clifftop of Ballowall Common near St Just in far west Cornwall, lay hidden beneath waste from nearby tin mines until 1878, when the Cornish antiquarian William Copeland Borlase uncovered it. The round cairn is roughly 22 m across, close to the cliff edge within a cluster of prehistoric sites along the West Penwith coast. One of the largest and most complex prehistoric monuments on this stretch of coast, it overlooks both land and sea. A Roman coin has been reported from the site; the video argues that it is evidence the barrow retained cultural significance for potentially thousands of years after its original use. 🏔️🪙
Ballowall Barrow uncovered from tin-mining waste and excavated by Borlase in 1878
EnglandGeneral
Key facts
- Ballowall Barrow stands on the clifftop of Ballowall Common near St Just in far west Cornwall, not far from Land's End.
- The monument lay concealed beneath waste from nearby tin mines until 1878, when Cornish antiquarian William Copeland Borlase uncovered and first excavated it.
- William Copeland Borlase was the great-great-grandson of the earlier antiquarian William Borlase, vicar of St Just; they were two different people.
- The round cairn measures roughly 22 m across and lies close to the cliff edge within a cluster of prehistoric monuments along the West Penwith coast.
- It was among the largest and most complex prehistoric monuments on that stretch of coast, occupying a prominent clifftop position overlooking land and sea.
- A Roman coin has been reported from the site; the video argues that it is evidence the barrow retained cultural significance for potentially thousands of years after its original use.
Sources
A Brief Introduction to Bronze Age Barrowsheritagecalling.com
Round barrows were created in every part of England, mainly between 2200BC and 1100BC, but many have been destroyed.
BALLOWALL BARROW - Reviews, Photos & Phone Number ...ballowall-barrow.wheree.com
Ballowall Barrow, located near St Just in Cornwall, is a significant prehistoric site known for its ancient underground chambers and burial mounds dating ...
Ballowall Barrow - English Heritagelovepenzance.co.uk
Ballowall Barrow is thought to have been a shrine deliberately built close to the cliff edge. you can visit this complex prehistoric tomb
Ballowall Barrowen.wikipedia.org
is a prehistoric funerary cairn (chambered tomb) It is situated on the cliff top at Ballowall Common, near St Just in Cornwall, England, UK. It is also known ...
The Ballowall Barrow incorporating entrance grave, cairn, ...historicengland.org.uk
The Ballowall Barrow incorporating entrance grave, cairn, ritual pits and cists 420m WSW of Bollowal Farm. Listed on the National Heritage List for England.
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