Round called Roundabury

Reasons for Designation

Rounds are small embanked enclosures, one of a range of settlement types dating to between the later Iron Age and the early post-Roman period. Usually circular or oval, they have a single earth and rubble bank and an outer ditch, with one entrance breaking the circuit. Excavations have produced drystone supporting walls within the bank, paved or cobbled entrance ways, post built gate structures, and remains of timber, turf or stone built houses of oval or rectangular plan, often set around the inner edge of the enclosing bank. Other evidence includes hearths, drains, gullies, pits and rubbish middens. Evidence for industrial activities has been recovered from some sites, including small scale metal working and, among the domestic debris, items traded from distant sources. Some rounds are associated with secondary enclosures, either abutting the round as an annexe or forming an additional enclosure. Rounds are viewed primarily as agricultural settlements, the equivalents of farming hamlets. They were replaced by unenclosed settlement types by the 7th century AD. Over 750 rounds are recorded in the British Isles, occurring in areas bordering the Irish Seas, but confined in England to south west Devon and especially Cornwall. Most recorded examples are sited on hillslopes and spurs. Rounds are important as one of the major sources of information on settlement and social organisation of the Iron Age and Roman periods in south west England. Despite some disturbance through mining activity and the construction of a tennis court at some time during the early 20th century, the round called Roundabury survives well and will contain archaeological and environmental evidence relating to its construction, longevity, function, social organisation, territorial significance, agricultural practices, domestic arrangements and overall landscape context.

Details

The monument includes a round, situated on the upper north-facing slopes of a ridge to the east of Caradon Hill, overlooking the valleys of tributaries to the River Lynher. The round survives as a roughly-circular enclosure measuring approximately 140m in diameter. It is defined by a single rampart bank with an outer ditch and further lower counterscarp bank. The entrance to the west is defined by two orthostats, up to 2m high, which may not be contemporary. The earthworks have been disturbed by later mining activity to the west and ESE. A rectangular levelled area within the interior to the south is a modern tennis court. It was first depicted on the 1813 Ordnance Survey map, and is identified on the 1840 Tithe map as 'Round Bury'. Worth describes the site in 1872.

Sources: HER:- PastScape Monument No:-435758

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

CO 419

Legacy System:

RSM - OCN

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