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Site name | Chysauster 38, Gulval |
Site number | 194 |
Burial codes | 4002 4021 4024 4025 4028 4030 4041 4045 4051 4053 4065 4075 4081 4083 4085 4092 4094 4104 4105 4106 4108 4111 4128 4130 4143 4153 4154 4161 4181 4200 |
2500bc-14/1300bc | A flat-topped round cairn c6.4m in diameter with a ring kerb of granite blocks having a gap on the S c2m wide. The kerb for a while was free-standing and could have been used ceremonially before burial activity, as there was a scatter of charcoal within it. On the central EW line and equidistant from the centre were two circular arrangements of stones set on edge which overlay two pits containing urned cremation burials, 551 upright, 549 inverted. They appeared set down and the cairn designed around, rather than inserted into a structure. The circular stone settings above them were visible and perhaps open for at least an early phase, but were then sealed. Just outside the kerb were 6 pits, 4 containing complete pots (2 upright, 2 inverted), one of which was marked by vertical slabs. Three of them held cremations: 502, 529, and 548, the last two in a pot. Two pits were set in the kerb gap. Pits 544 (no burial) and 548 (cremation in a baseless pot) held large quartz crystals, possibly intentional inclusions. The bone quantity was small, although acid soil may have destroyed some. The cremations were of an older adult (pit 502), an older juvenile/adult (529), juvenile (536), juvenile (548), older child/adolescent (549), adolescent/young adult (551). The urns were Middle Trevisker style, and local. In the upper cairn was scattered flintwork, cupped stone, amber bead and a slate disc, which may have been associated with the placing of later deposits. Amber is rare in Cornwall. RC: at 2-sigma from charcoal HAR-6926 1425 +/- 205, HAR-6651 2100 +/- 220, HAR-6654 1370 +/- 150, OxA-821 1660 +/- 220, HAR-6927 1595 +/- 285, HAR-6549 2235 +/- 345, OxA-822 1740 +/- 210, HAR-6548 2030 +/- 250 [charcoal from cremations and pits except the last from the old land surface] |
Remains/Period | Y4 |
County | Cornwall |
Region | SW |
National grid square | SW |
X coordinate | 465 |
Y coordinate | 382 |
Bibliographic source | Smith 1986, 1996, Christie 1986 |
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Last updated: Tues Aug 10 2004