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Art as Metaphor: The Prehistoric Rock-art of Britain

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<< Our Photo Pages >> Helman Tor - Causewayed Enclosure in England in Cornwall

Submitted by Andy B on Wednesday, 13 July 2011  Page Views: 21483

Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: Helman Tor
Country: England
NOTE: This site is 1.13 km away from the location you searched for.
County: Cornwall Type: Causewayed Enclosure
Nearest Town: Bodmin  Nearest Village: Lanlivery
Map Ref: SX06166166  Landranger Map Number: 201
Latitude: 50.422731N  Longitude: 4.730198W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
 3 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
 4 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
 4 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
 5

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lucasn visited on 5th Aug 2021 - their rating: Cond: 1 Amb: 4 Access: 4

Andy B have visited here

Helman Tor
Helman Tor submitted by Andy B : Helman Tor The site has been identified as a "tor enclosure", a type of neolithic camp about which little is known. Copyright Derek Harper and licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Licence. (Vote or comment on this photo)
Tor Enclosure in Cornwall. These natural outcrops along a north-south ridge are enclosed by at least one wall to the east and two to the west. Like Carn Brea, Helman Tor has also been the subject of excavation by Mercer in 1997.

The excavation was on a smaller scale but produced similar evidence: amounts of Early Neolithic material culture including ceramics, flint tools and axe heads. The excavated wall had an orthostatic structure similar to those of Carn Brea.

A number of radiocarbon dates were produced, although some are questionable, that suggest the enclosure is broadly contemporary with Carn Brea (Mercer 1997, 21).

To the eastern part of the St. Austell granite uplands, on the northern end of a raised spur. To the west are the higher hills of the St. Austell uplands.

Source: The Early Neolithic Tor Enclosures of Southwest Britain, Simon R. Davies
The University of Birmingham Ph.D Thesis (PDF)

Note: Helman Tor: a hill of many secrets, Fri 22 July
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Helman Tor
Helman Tor submitted by Bladup : The Southern Outcrop on Helman Tor. The Helman Tor Logan (it rocks) stone is the overhanging stone in the shade at the centre of the photo. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Helman Tor
Helman Tor submitted by Andy B : Wall below Helman Tor Seen from near the summit of SX0661 : Helman Tor, the structure, which connects rock outcrops along the south side of the hill on which the tor stands, is perhaps later than the neolithic walls mentioned in my other photo . Below right is a pool on the edge of Breney Common, in SX0561. Copyright Derek Harper and licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Licence. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Helman Tor
Helman Tor submitted by Andy B : Logan Rock at Helman Tor A view looking north to the Logan Rock at Helman Tor. Copyright Phil Williams and licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Licence. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Helman Tor
Helman Tor submitted by Andy B : Wind sculpted rocks at Helman Tor A view looking to the northeast to some of the rocks at Helman Tor. Higher Trevilmick Farm is visible at right. Copyright Phil Williams and licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Licence. (1 comment - Vote or comment on this photo)

Helman Tor
Helman Tor submitted by Bladup : Helman Tor. Looking over the tor enclosure from the middle outcrops to the end of the enclosure at the northern outcrops. You can see the Neolithic bank and little stone on the right of the photo. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Helman Tor
Helman Tor submitted by mikeaitch : View from Helman Tor, arrow points to nearby Lesquite Quoit with Rough Tor & Brown Willy in the distance.

Helman Tor
Helman Tor submitted by Andy B : Helman Tor A view looking justr west of north towards the rocks of Helman Tor. There is something reminiscent of Easter Island about this profile. Copyright Phil Williams and licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Licence.

Helman Tor
Helman Tor submitted by Bladup : Lidar image of Helman Tor, Notice the very clear hut circle to the west of the tor Source: www.lidarfinder.com

Helman Tor
Helman Tor submitted by Bladup : Helman Tor Hut Circle [SX06046158].

Helman Tor
Helman Tor submitted by Bladup : A large remaining entrance stone at the hut circle [SX06046158].

Helman Tor
Helman Tor submitted by Bladup : Pastscape says of the place - A large hut circle 18.0m overall diameter situated on the W side of Helman Tor. The perimeter bank is 0.6m high, 4.0m wide and turf covered, but protruding stones indicate that it is constructed of two parallel rows of stones with earthen infill. The entrance is probably in the W, on the downhill side, where the bank is weaker, found at SX06046158.

Helman Tor
Helman Tor submitted by Bladup : I thought i'd try to get some photo's of the large hut circle found at SX06046158 while the bracken was down. It was still hard to get a good photo but hopefully you can see the outline of the hut in this photo.

Helman Tor
Helman Tor submitted by Bladup : In this photo you can see large protruding stones in the bank of the large [18m] hut circle found at SX06046158.

Helman Tor
Helman Tor submitted by Bladup : In the foreground are Large kerbstones on the side of the very large hut circle found to the West of the tor at SX06046158.

Helman Tor
Helman Tor submitted by Bladup : Helman Tor, Large Possible entrance stones to the tor enclosure.

Helman Tor
Helman Tor submitted by Bladup : The very large [18m] hut circle found just to the West of the tor at SX06046158.

Helman Tor
Helman Tor submitted by Bladup : Helman Tor. The stone on the right at the middle outcrop is called a "propped stone" on the sign at the site. (1 comment)

Helman Tor
Helman Tor submitted by Bladup : Helman Tor. The sign at the site described this as a "cleared area"?

Helman Tor
Helman Tor submitted by Bladup : Helman Tor. A hut site by an outcrop at the south east.

Helman Tor
Helman Tor submitted by Bladup : Helman Tor. Looking at the southern outcrops (with the Logan stone) from the middle outcrops.

Helman Tor
Helman Tor submitted by Bladup : Helman Tor. Looking south (to the middle outcrops) from the northern outcrops. You can see the old enclosure walls on the right of photo.

Helman Tor
Helman Tor submitted by Bladup : Helman Tor. This little stone is part of the Neolithic enclosure bank on the eastern side.

Helman Tor
Helman Tor submitted by Bladup : Looking over the northern part of Helman Tor, this place is so like my beloved Trencrom.

Helman Tor
Helman Tor submitted by Bladup : The (other) Logan stone to the south of Helman Tor.

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"Helman Tor" | Login/Create an Account | 11 News and Comments
  
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Re: Helman Tor by MikeAitch on Thursday, 18 August 2011
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Beautiful site with amazing views and blissfully peaceful. I'll have to visit again in the winter to photograph the roundhouse on the western slope as it was completely overgrown with gorse & ferns. Access is good with car parking very close to the top of the tor.
[ Reply to This ]

Helman Tor by Andy B on Sunday, 19 June 2011
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Excavations at Carn Brea (near Redruth) carried out by Roger Mercer in the early 1970s revealed a previously unknown archaeological site type. Mercer’s work showed that the low stony banks looping from outcrop to outcrop and encircling the twin tors of the hill were constructed 6000 years ago in the early Neolithic period. The site was, in effect, a version in stone of the causewayed camps of lowland England typified by the famous site of Windmill Hill in Wessex. As this was an unprecedented discovery a new name had to be coined, and the site became known as a ‘Tor Enclosure’.

This revelation spurred archaeologists to identify similar sites in the Cornish countryside and one early candidate to emerge was Helman Tor, located midway between Bodmin and Lostwithiel. The tor is at the northern extremity of a north-south trending granite ridge, and overlooks the marshy ground of Redmoor and Breney Common and the fertile farmlands on the higher ground between. Though not well preserved, archaeological surveys had identified a series of low walls and levelled terraces on the tor, similar in nature to those on Carn Brea, and a small-scale excavation of a terrace just behind one of the better preserved lengths of walling, again undertaken by Roger Mercer, confirmed the Neolithic origins of the site.

Within the enclosure are several level platforms which have been interpreted as house sites, though no traces of the stone walls of ‘hut circles’ can be seen. One of the excavated platforms was found to contain a complex pattern of postholes which were interpreted as evidence for the construction of a series of wooden walled structures, although there is insufficient evidence to determine the length or duration of the occupation. Associated with these are traces of field systems indicated by a series of slight terraces and a number of piles of small boulders and stones which are the result of the clearance of stone from the fields prior to cultivation.

More at
http://www.historic-cornwall.org.uk/a2m/neolithic/tor_enclosure/helman%20tor/helman_tor.htm
[ Reply to This ]

Helman Tor: a hill of many secrets, Fri 22 July 11.00 & 14.00 by Andy B on Saturday, 18 June 2011
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Discover the archaeology of this special Cornish Tor.
Cornwall Archaeological Society and Cornwall Heritage Trust family event with guide Tony Blackman.

2 ‘tours’ – 11am and 2pm – walk duration 2 hours.
Please bring clothing suitable for the weather and stout footwear, sun protection, drinks and snacks as required.

Donations welcome to Cornwall Archaeological Society. Booking not necessary.

Location: Meet at Helman Tor Car Park SX 063614.

Org: Cornwall Archaeological Society and Cornwall Heritage Trust
Name: Tony Blackman

Part of the Festival of British Archaeology 2011
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Walk: Helman Tor, Thu 29 July 11.00 & 14.00 by Anonymous on Thursday, 26 May 2011
i visit the tor about once a week with my dog, it's a great site, seems like it has lots of secrets to reveal. I've seen lots of basins carved into the stome, apparently called cup and bowl marks, i'm no archeologist, can anyone tell me more about these, i'm very interested in learning more
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Walk: Helman Tor, Thu 29 July 11.00 & 14.00 by Anonymous on Saturday, 19 February 2011
I live near Helman tour and visit it regularly. This year we decided to see in the new year in on the summit of the tor, from here we got to see what felt like every pyrotechnic display in Cornwall. it is a truly magical place where i have celebrated and grieved, alone or with friends, my only objection is the large christian cross symbol plastered on the rocks. This is not a christian site and I find this grafitti of an otherwise unspoilt and beautiful site extremely offensive.
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Walk: Helman Tor, Thu 29 July 11.00 & 14.00 by rowan on Thursday, 14 July 2011
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    I used to live near Helman Tor and was also offended by the crosses painted on the rocks. I emailed Cornwall Wildlife Trust and various other agencies many times complaining about this but never received any reply other than to say that it was not their responsibilty to deal with it. I can't remember the name of the man at the CWT who finally admitted responsibilty for looking after Heman Tor, but he did say he was just too busy to bother with things like that!

    I don't know which church it is, but I know a nearby church has a procession to Helman Tor for a service every easter, and I assume these are the people who paint the crosses on the rocks.
    [ Reply to This ]
      Re: Walk: Helman Tor, Thu 29 July 11.00 & 14.00 by MikeAitch on Thursday, 14 July 2011
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      Christian cross or the Cornish St Piran's flag? Plenty of loons down here who paint that motif on prominent places because they believe Cornwall should be a country separate from England :S
      [ Reply to This ]
        Re: Walk: Helman Tor, Thu 29 July 11.00 & 14.00 by rowan on Tuesday, 14 May 2013
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        Very definite christian cross, different shape completely to to St Piran's cross. Not been there for a few years now but hope to be going back soon, hope the cross has faded a bit now, although I suspect they paint it fresh each easter :(
        [ Reply to This ]

Helman Tor: Bronze Age hut circle uncovered by Andy B on Sunday, 07 February 2010
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A BRONZE Age hut circle near Lanlivery, on Helman Tor, has been revealed by conservationists.

Nine volunteers met at the Cornwall Wildlife Trust's largest nature reserve last Saturday, which takes in the tor and the surrounding 217 hectares (536 acres), and stripped back gorse to show off the monument.

Mid Cornwall reserves officer, Sean O'Hea said: "This is a really positive thing we are doing for the reserve. By stripping back the gorse, we are encouraging increased plant biodiversity and as a result we will see more butterflies and bird species eventually.

"The whole tor including the hut circle is a Scheduled Ancient Monument – the tor's got quite a few features of interest but the gorse makes it difficult to see them."

The archaeological management of the reserve is being advised by English Heritage with the Historic Environment Service.

Sean added: "Stripping the gorse is a priority for us at the moment and we have been working to involve the local community in...

Read the rest of this post...
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Helman Tor by Anonymous on Monday, 17 September 2007
We just visited from the US, and Helman Tor is an amazing location. We found one cut line in a stone that points toward a gap in two stones leaning together, that, when you place your head on the line, gives you a framed vista of a peak on the horizon. Not sure when that alignment trench was cut, but it seems a deliberate cut (in contrast to all the nearby cracks) to frame that peak.

It's a very evocative place.
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Re: Helman Tor by Anonymous on Friday, 29 September 2006
live nearby a great site the views to wards bodmin moor are great
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