We are part of a major project to reveal the secrets of Castilly Henge – a unique prehistoric ritual site described as “Cornwall’s ancient sacred heart”.
The project revolves around a four-week archaeological excavation in September and October 2025. The aim is to resolve questions about the monument’s character, date and potential later reuse.
The excavation runs from Monday 15th September until Friday 10th October, and will be followed by an Open Day on Saturday 11th October 2025.
The excavation is funded by Historic England. Outreach and support for volunteers for the project has been made possible by a £42,990 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and a £10,000 grant from Historic England.
Castilly Henge from the north-east (Photo copyright Cornwall Heritage Trust)
Cornwall Archaeological Society investigated Castilly henge 63 years ago!
Castilly Henge, a Scheduled Monument, is a substantial oval earthwork with external bank and internal ditch, a classic ‘henge’, an early gathering place. It is at the very centre of Cornwall on the spine of Cornwall that is also its principal east/west routeway, followed by the current A30 and its precursors.
In the late Neolithic period (c.3000-2400BC) the henge was a focus for ritual and ceremonial activities for local and more distant communities. Its significance continued into the Early Bronze Age (c.2400-1500BC) when several high-status burial mounds or barrows were built close by.
In 1962 the then newly-formed Cornwall Archaeological Society (CAS) conducted its very first excavation at Castilly. Directed by Charles Thomas, it suggested that besides being a Neolithic henge, the earthworks may have been remodelled twice: first as a medieval plen-an-gwari (playing place), as had been suggested by earlier antiquaries, and then as a Civil War gun battery.
More recent investigations
Excitingly, recent non-invasive archaeological surveys (aerial, drone, earthwork, geophysical), undertaken by Historic England’s Archaeological Investigation Team, have discovered the possible remains of a now fallen or removed stone circle in the monument’s interior: Historic England Research Sheds New Light on Ancient Cornish Monument | Historic England
This work was undertaken by Historic England, led by Dr Olaf Bayer, supported by CAS and Cornwall Heritage Trust (CHT) volunteers.
Looking across Castilly Henge from south to north with individuals, standing where the geophysical survey’s post or stone hole anomalies are. The A30 and A391 interchange roundabout is visible at top left and Rough Tor and Brown Willy are distantly visible to the right (Photo: Ann Preston-Jones)
A return to Castilly, 63 years later in autumn 2025
Volunteers recruited by CHT and CAS will support professional archaeologists, from Historic England and Cornwall Archaeological Unit, in examining the ditch, bank and interior of Castilly Henge in a four-week excavation.
Among the project aims is closer examination of the possible stone circle and obtaining material that might scientifically date the bank and ditch. Artefacts will be sought that would throw light on the early prehistoric use of the site and on any possible reuse.
Castilly Henge with the A391from Innis Downs to St Austell running alongside (Photo copyright Cornwall Heritage Trust)
Thank you to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and our volunteers!
As well as providing volunteers to help with digging, and with sieving of the soils to search for small artefacts, CAS and CHT will support the project by reaching out to communities and schools to make sure local people are as aware and involved with this exciting investigation as they can be.
This aspect of the work has been supported by a generous grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. We are grateful to them and to all lottery players.
Historic England are funding the main archaeological investigations, and the analysis of the results.
