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Castle-an-Dinas
St Columb Major |
Restormel
NGR: SW 9455 6237 |
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Castle-an-Dinas is one of the largest and most impressive hillforts
in Cornwall, sited in an imposing position on the summit of Castle
Downs with extensive and panoramic views across central Cornwall to
both north and south coasts. It features in Cornish legend as one of
the seats of the Duke of Cornwall and folklore has it that Cador,
Duke of Cornwall, and Ygraine, King Arthur’s mother were killed
here. That the site has attracted such mythic associations may be a
reflection of its continued significance from its prehistoric
beginnings into the Post-Roman and Early mediæval periods. The very
limited excavations that took place in the 1960s were unable to
provide evidence to confirm this, however.
The hillfort is surrounded by three ramparts and ditches, one of
which is of a noticeably slighter construction and indicates either
an earlier phase of occupation, or the remodelling of the ramparts.
There are two Bronze Age barrows, now in a rather poor condition, in
the interior and these may represent the initial use of the site
around which the later enclosures were built. Alternatively, the
several gaps within the slighter bank have led to speculation that
they are multiple entrances and this is in fact the remains of a
Neolithic causewayed enclosure which would pre-date the barrows and
indicates an even earlier origin for the site.
The small amount of material excavated from the interior suggested
that the main period of use fell within the Iron Age when the
ramparts would have stood at their highest, probably surmounted by a
wooden palisade. The main entrance lies on the south-west side, and
the gateway had a cobbled surface. There is documentary evidence for
a causeway leading away to the west towards Trekenning, but nothing
visible remains today. The problem of providing a water supply for
hilltop sites such as this is often remarked upon; at Castle-an-Dinas
there is a spring in the northern part of the interior against the
rampart walls and cobbling around this area and a gully leading
towards a hollow, possibly for water collection, may be associated
with the main occupation of the site. Although the excavations
recovered little evidence for activity in the interior, it is likely
that there would have been timber roundhouses and other structures
and work areas. Hillforts are considered to have provided a focus
for the community, symbolising of the wealth and power of the tribe,
and providing a central place for social ceremonies, trade and
ritual.
A 20th century wolfram mine has left its mark on Castle-an-Dinas
with level platforms cut into the prehistoric ramparts to carry an
aerial ropeway known as a 'blondin' which would have transported skips
of ore from the mine on the northern side of the hill to the
processing works on the south. Despiite continuous activity on this
hilltop for the past two thousand years, this is still one of the
most impressive and popular archaeological sites in the county.
The monument is managed by Cornwall Heritage Trust and is accessible
by public footpath across open ground from both the north and south.
Sources
Thurley, S and Preston-Jones, A, 1990. Castle-an-Dinas - its Preservation
Above and Below Ground. English Heritage.Wailes, B, 1963.
Excavations at Castle-an-Dinas: Interim Report in Cornish
Archaeology 2, pp.51-54. |
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Ground & Aerial photographs |
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