Halliggye Fogou, Garras, Cornwall
"The fogou is a set of underground passages built with massive stone slabs. It is thought to have been constructed in the 5th or 4th centuries BC, in the middle Iron Age. Fogous, from the Cornish word 'ogo' meaning cave, are found only in the far west of Cornwall. Their original use is unclear. They may have been used to store valuables, or as refuges from attackers. Fogous could also have been places of ceremony and ritual (religion). The fogou was built within a small farming settlement known as a 'Round'. The settlement was surrounded by an earthwork (bank and ditch). Over 2000 such settlements are known in Cornwall. The Round at Halliggye was probably home to several family groups, who lived in four or five houses. Pottery found during recent excavations suggests that the settlement was occupied for 700 years, probably until the end of the Roman period. The entrance has been much improved since this Victorian photograph was taken! This property is in the care of English Heritage (2011) and managed by the Trelowarren Estate. Read more.
