The Cornish landscape has been shaped and maintained through thousands of years of human activity. The archaeology of the county is therefore rich and diverse, containing many sites of national and international importance. Significant sites include:
- Neolithic stone circles and burials such as Merry Maidens, the Stripple Stones and the Trevethy and Zennor Quoits.
- Bronze Age barrows and monuments like Ballowall Barrow and Boscawen-Un. Tin mining also started in this period.
- Chun Castle Iron Age hill fort and the Iron Age villages of Chysauster and Carn Euny.
- The early medieval stone cross King Doniert’s Stone.
- Medieval castles such as Restormel, Pendennis and, of course, Tintagel.
- The fine Elizabethan manor Trerice.
- A vast network of tin mines that form the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Explore artefacts and coins found in Cornwall and recorded on the Portable Antiquities Scheme database. There’s even more about Cornwall finds and volunteering on our blog.
To get involved, try one of the museums, clubs or societies or come to a local event. Contact us to learn more about volunteering for the Portable Antiquities Scheme.