Entrance Graves

The ancient tombs that are found in Penwith can be divided into two types, quoits and entrance graves. Entrance Graves are less numerous than quoits in Penwith. As their name suggests they have an entrance that leads to a chamber. The entrances and passages are normally only large enough for a person to crawl.

Tregiffian Cruk Tregyffian  SW430244

This entrance burial chamber dates from 2000-3000 BC. The burial chamber is on the B3315, very close to the road, basically on the grass verge. Unfortunately it was this road that ploughed through the grave which destroyed a large part of it, providentially the stone chamber was missed.

There have been two extensive digs on Tregiffian Barrow, the first by WC Copeland in the mid nineteenth century, the second in the 1960s.

The first dig found that many of its stones were robbed for use in the hedges close by, the spaces that they left were just filled in with debris. Under an undisturbed stone was found ash, splintered bones, sand and a flint flake. The splintered bones were in such a large quantity that this must be a multiple burial. The sand itself was unusual as it was shelly sand, hence did not come from the closest beach. The only other finds at this dig were pebbles.

The later dig was considerably more successful. It was found that here were two construction phases, which showed that the site retained its sacredness over a long period.

With the first construction phase, the site was only the stone chamber covered by a earth mound bounded by stones. The second phase produced the current barrow. The grave's mound is 3 feet high and its chamber 15 x 6 feet.

Cupped Stone Replica

Finds on the later dig include a cremation urn and a stone with carved cupped indentations. The stone at the site is only a cast replica as the original has been removed for safe keeping at Truro Museum.

Tregiffian Barrow is well worth a visit especially as it is only a couple of hundred yards from the heavily visited Merry Maidens. Surprisingly most visitors to the Merry Maidens do not. It is not unusual to see a touring coach that has just visited the circle drive past it. Maybe it is not sufficiently marked on OS maps, being only so as tumuli rather than named. The significance of the site is considered sufficient for it to have its own information plaque.

Carn Gluze or Ballowall Barrow SW354313

To describe this just as an entrance grave would not do it justice. It is really a large complex burial site which incorporates an entrance grave, two inner concentric stone walls and 6 cists.

It was excavated at the end of the nineteenth century by WC Borlase. Fortunately the barrow had been buried under mining waste, which prevented it from being robbed of its stones. The cists when opened, three were empty, two contained pottery fragments and one an urn.

Entrance Grave

Cist

Inner Concentric Stone Walls

Carn Gluze has been heavily restored. Even in its unoriginal form it is still well worth a visit, particularly as it is sited in a spectacular location. Carn Gluze is easy to reach, car parking is available, only leaving a short walk. However the site is not signposted.

Spectacular Location Of The Barrow

Brane or Carn Euny Barrow SW402282

Brane was discovered by WC Borlase in 1863, in good condition. The only reason why it had not been robbed for its stones, was that it provided shelter for the local farmer’s animals. It is still in a good state of preservation retaining most of its large kerbstones.

It is one of the smallest entrance graves in the country. Brane is on private land. To view it one should ask permission.

Brane or Carn Euny Barrow From A Sketch By WC Borlase