Books Major Book on Roman Cornwall Published Roman Cornwall emerges from the shadows   A book detailing excavations which took place at Trethurgy, St. Austell, in the 1970’s has been published.  Titled ‘Trethurgy - Excavations at Trethurgy Round, St Austell: Community and Status in Roman and Post-Roman Cornwall’, the book investigates one of the most important archaeological investigations in recent years.  The publication, by Henrietta Quinnell, will mark a milestone in Cornish archaeology. This new publication Excavations at Trethurgy Round, St Austell; Community and Status in Roman and Post-Roman Cornwall can be purchased from the Historic Environment Service at Cornwall County Council. More details are available on the publication flyer which can be downloaded from this page.   To order  a copy please download and print the flyer and fill in the order details. Please note that full price including post and packaging is £16.60, and please remember to add you credit card expiry date. (Note: this flyer has been updated since being mailed to CAS members with the last newsletter) Download Trethurgy leaflet. Excavations at the site revealed that contrary to popular belief the inhabitants of Cornwall chose to reject many Roman practices and to develop their own distinctive style of life. For the first time in Cornwall, the distinctive character of life in a ‘round’ with a prosperous community living in large oval houses supported by a network of crafts and trade, was revealed. Rounds - enclosed settlements of the late prehistoric and Roman periods - are known to be found in Cornwall, however, none had ever been extensively excavated.  In 1972 local archaeologist Peter Sheppard, involved in extensive fieldwork in the St Austell area, located a new ‘round’ at Trethurgy in an area soon to be destroyed by the extension of china clay working.  Trial excavations confirmed that Trethurgy was well preserved and could be successfully excavated.  The Department of the Environment agreed to fund the project with practical support from the Cornwall Archaeological Society and English China Clays, now Imerys.  The work was carried out over several months with a large team numbering up to 70 at its peak - one of the biggest excavation projects ever undertaken in Cornwall.  The results revolutionised ideas about Roman Cornwall best demonstrated by a distinctive style of oval stone architecture superbly adapted to the local environment. (Previously it had been thought that the lack of villas was indicative of impoverished living conditions). Communities living in these houses were largely self- sufficient farmers, utilising local metal resources, but with contacts and trading networks stretching into much of Britain and Europe.  Pottery was supplemented by a range of vessels beautifully crafted from local stone. A system of barter and exchange with local crafts and produce provided stability for a lifestyle which continued into the 6th century AD. This was totally unexpected, demonstrating that the problems which beset the British Isles nationally had had little immediate effect on the settled communities in Cornwall. The results from Trethurgy have been confirmed by subsequent work on other rounds but none has produced such a full picture and the excavation has become a classic.  Trethurgy is the result of the collaboration of a range of experts under the principal authorship of the excavator Henrietta Quinnell. Its publication has been possible through the practical support of the County Council’s Historic Environment Service, financed by a grant from English Heritage.  Nicholas Johnson, County Archaeologist from the County Council’s Environment and Heritage Service said, ‘I am delighted that we have been able to assist with this landmark report. It takes a great deal of effort and collaboration to bring a project of this importance to completion. We owe a big debt to the design team of Cornwall County Council who have ensured that the publication which is now available for sale is so well produced and attractive. We are certain it will attract a wide readership amongst all those with an interest in Cornwall’s heritage’. The author added “The results of the Trethurgy excavation proved a revelation for Cornish Archaeology. I am privileged to have been involved with such an important project and one which will have such an impact on our understanding of the region.” Click here for Notes to Editors and background to the author © 2012, Cornwall Archaeological Society Registered Charity 1055654 Trevelgue Head, Cornwall: the importance of C K Croft Andrew’s 1939 excavations for prehistoric and Roman Cornwall by Jacqueline Nowakowski and Henrietta Quinnell During the summer of 1939 the spectacular cliff castle at  Trevelgue Head, Newquay, on the north Cornish coast  became the scene of a major archaeological excavation  directed by Charles Kenneth Croft Andrew. The work was  highly acclaimed and attracted great public interest but the  results were never published as research was halted by  World War II. After 70 years, the 1939 excavations at  Trevelgue remain the most extensive examination of an Iron  Age cliff castle in south-western Britain, and full details of  the discoveries are presented here for the first time.  Trevelgue’s long history extends back to at least the Mesolithic period. The excavations examined a roundhouse,  middens, ramparts and unearthed good evidence for iron working, all of the Middle Iron Age, supported by a range of  radiocarbon determinations. A magnificent roundhouse 14m in diameter remains one of the largest buildings for this  period discovered in Cornwall. Activity diminished during the Late Iron Age but the large roundhouse was the focus of  significant activity in Roman period and has produced the largest assemblage of Roman coins from the County. Important period studies are included on Iron Age smelting and on South West Decorated pottery and the use of  gabbroic clay. The report concludes with an up-to-date review of Cornish cliff castles, demonstrating their wide  chronological span. French, German and Spanish summaries and supporting specialist reports on CD.