Penwith has been inhabited for thousands of years. Fortunately for those interested in history Penwith has some well preserved settlements of these early peoples.

Carn Euny  SW402288 

Carn Euny is located on high ground only four miles from Penzance. Here are the well preserved remains of an Iron Age village, occupied from 400BC to when the Romans left in the fourth century AD. The village is comprised of courtyard houses and of particular importance a fogou.

Carn Euny Seen From Entrance Gate 

As the village was inhabited for a period of a thousand years, what you see now was not built all at once, but instead in stages.

The earliest stage was the fogou around 500-300BC. The long period of use meant that the houses at found Carn Euny vary depending on their date of construction.

Long Curving Passage

Low Passage Into Circular Chamber

The first to be built were timber and turf houses in about 300-50BC.

Unfortunately with not using stone, when the wood rotted down nothing was left behind, except post holes.

Building techniques evolved and these were followed by stone houses and timber houses 50BC–AD100. There are traces of one these houses to be seen at Carn Euny.

Image reproduced by kind permission of
Penlee House Gallery and Museum
Sherd of Romano Britain Bowl
From Carn Euny

The final stage of construction at Carn Euny, were Courtyard houses AD100-400 (until abandonment). These were the most sophisticated buildings on the site. They had several rooms all leading from a central courtyard. By this time the inhabitants had stone hearths and water drainage systems.

Courtyard House

Chysauster  SW473350

Only 3 miles from Penzance  This is the site of a very well preserved Iron Age village used from 100 BC up to when the Romans left Britain around 400AD.

The village is comprised of eight courtyard houses and a ninth close by. At Chysauster there is a fogou that cannot be entered. It is assumed that the settlement existed during peaceful times as it is unfortified.

The houses are arranged in two rows of four. The houses had very thick walls, the remains of which can be seen. The houses are comprised of  a stone paved courtyard, at least one circular room, a long room and an entrance passage.

Image reproduced by kind permission of Penlee House Gallery and Museum

Jar Found at Chysauster AD 200-300

Courtyard House

In association with the houses are stone covered drainage systems and stone fire hearths. Also a stone quern has been found, this can be seen at the site. Each house had its own terraced garden.

Access to site is charged. There is a small car park, toilet and a shelter for inclement weather. The site is only a short walk from the car park.

Holed Stone For a Timber Pole

Stone Fire Hearth