Round 450m south of Tregeagle

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, where many more examples may await discovery. 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. Consequently, sites with significant surviving remains will normally be considered to be of national importance.

Despite modification of its enclosing bank and part of the external ditch, the round 450m south of Tregeagle survives well. Its situation illustrates the relationship between monuments of this type and the topography of their surroundings well.

Details

The monument includes a round of the later prehistoric to Roman periods, situated on a moderately steep south east slope to the north of Tresillian, above the upper tidal reaches of the Tresillian River. The round is sub-oval in plan, measuring up to approximately 70m north-south by 60m east-west overall. It has an enclosing bank, visible on old aerial photographs, partly incorporated in a relatively recent boundary bank around the north and west sides. The enclosing bank has an external ditch, visible on the ground on the north, east, and south east sides, where it is 5m-6m wide, and open to a depth of approximately 0.7m, increasing to 1.5m on the downhill (south east) side. Most of the interior of the round falls away to the south east with the natural slope. Inside the bank on the north west side is a more gently sloping area some 20m across. The original entrance is considered to be on the south side. An old map records the name Round Meadow for the field containing much of the round; the name clearly refers to its earthworks. Old maps also show a later settlement to the south of the round with two buildings situated on the line of the enclosing earthworks; part of the external ditch on the east side was also reused, forming a trackway. The modern fencing, gate and gate fittings, and agricultural equipment are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath them is included.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract. It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features, considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

32960

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Padel, O J, Cornish placename elements, (1985), 180

Other
Title: Probus Tithe Apportionment Map Source Date: 1840 Author: Publisher: Surveyor:
Title: Ordnance Survey 1:2500 Map Source Date: 1880 Author: Publisher: Surveyor:
Title: Ordnance Survey 1:2500 Map Source Date: 1908 Author: Publisher: Surveyor:
PRN 22534, Sheppard, P, CAU SMR, (1977)
Dyer, C, to Parkes, C, (2001)

End of official list entry

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