Ballowall Barrow is one of the largest and most complex of the prehistoric funerary monuments that cluster along the West Penwith coastline. Often sited in dramatic locations, it is likely that they were built by local communities to provide striking shrines or tombs for the dead.
Excavation
Concealed by debris from nearby tin mines, Ballowall Barrow was discovered by W C Borlase in 1878. His excavations revealed a unique and complex Bronze Age funerary monument.
In the centre of the barrow was a mound surrounded by two concentric drystone walls. Contained within it were five small stone-lined chambers, known as cists, some with Bronze Age pottery and burnt bone.
Two pits, forming a T-shape, may have been graves.
This central mound was surrounded by a stone platform, or apron, and two more cists were built against it. The apron also incorporates an entrance grave, which contained Bronze Age pottery and cremated bone.
After the excavation, Borlase built stone walls to display important features of the barrow, creating a circular passage between the central mound and apron. This radically altered the appearance of the site.
William Copeland Borlase (1848-1899) was a descendant of the well-known antiquarian William Borlase (1696-1772). He excavated a great number of prehistoric monuments in Cornwall.
Sources
Dymond, C W 1999. 'Cornwall's Ancient Stones: a Magalithic Enquiry', Penzance: Oakmagic
Payne, R. 'The Romance of the Stones', Fowey: Alexander Associates
Scarre, C (ed) 2002. 'Monuments and Landscape in Atlantic Europe', London: Routledge
Disclaimer
The text and pictures on this page are derived from the 'Heritage Unlocked' series of guidebooks published in 2004. We intend to review, update and enhance the content in the near future as part of the Portico project, whose objective is to provide information on the history, significance, research background and sources for all English Heritage properties.
