In the latest of our special on-site Cornish Story Cafés, we welcomed Carolyn Kennett – a specialist in prehistoric astronomy and the historic cultural significance of the night sky – to reveal the astronomical and archaeological secrets of the Hurler Stone Circles.
This line of three early Bronze Age stone circles is one of the best examples of ceremonial standing stones in the southwest and is one of the historic sites cared for by our charity.
Carolyn, who is also Cornwall Heritage Trust’s Project Manager, has a deep passion for the ancient landscapes of Britain, and her work brings together archaeology, history, and astronomy, shedding light on how our ancestors understood and marked time through the movements of the Sun, Moon, and stars.
She shared her expert knowledge with visitors, guiding them through the ancient landscape with detailed insight into the layouts of and possible uses for the monument, its relation to features in the sky and the surrounding archaeological context of Bodmin Moor.
Two sold-out walks offered an overview of the dating and excavations of the site, from Ralegh Radford’s excavation in the 1930s to more recent works which Carolyn herself was involved with. Discoveries at this recent dig included the uncovering of a stone ‘pathway’ which appeared to link two of the circles.
We want to thank Carolyn for sharing her expertise on this mysterious site and the latest research into its purpose, alignment and connection to the sky, as well as to everyone who came along!
We know how popular this Story Cafe was, and if you couldn’t make it, weren’t able to get a ticket or want to watch it again, a full recording of the tour is available to watch here.
