Rough Tor, Bodmin Moor, Walk Introduction

Many of the features to be found on Rough Tor relate to the Bronze Age.  This period of pre-history is often divided into three periods: early 2,500BC – 1,600BC; middle, 1,600BC – 1,200BC and late, 1,200BC to 600BC. This is of importance to Archaeologist wishing to detail and analyse changes within these periods, but this is a little too detailed for the purpose of our walks. Some historians have preferred to divide their story of the Bronze Age within two periods. Others have taken this a step further, in recognising that the people of Neolithic transitioned into the Bronze Age, with the latter people developing the ideas of the earlier Neolithic, with the use of bronze largely ceremonial or available only to the elite. Similarly, the second half of the Bronze Age developed the use of bronze more widely within communities and farming, lifestyles and ritual developed further, which in turn would transition into the Iron Age period.

This summary is intended as an introduction to the walks around Rough Tor on Bodmin Moor which has some of the best archaeological features of these periods to be found in England. These include Neolithic processions ways, hilltop enclosures, Bronze Age round houses, stone circles, cists and standing stones. With this in mind and, accepting that there was constant transition and development of ideas, this summary will try to introduce the reader to the pre-history of this area. Please also refer to the list of supporting books by referring to the menu link.

As we approach Rough Tor, we should recognise that we are entering an earlier world, largely untouched since prehistoric times. If we are to understand the features we discover, we must identify with the thinking and mystery in the minds of the early people that created them.

Wherever we study early peoples, wherever in the world, we will find two themes; an identity with the natural world and nature itself and, secondly, some form of belief in a spiritual world that helped them to understand and come to terms with the mysteries in their lives. This took the form of veneration of stones, major features, of the bones of their ancestors; belief in a spiritual world beyond the present – although many early peoples did not have a sense of past, present and future; life was a continuum from one state to another and, under certain circumstances, it was possible to invoke the support of those spirits during rituals. In more recent times religion has met this spiritual need and understanding and, even more recently for some, science has helped to understand the world in which we live today.

However, we are now entering a world of perhaps 6000 years ago; a mix of sacred hill tops, procession ways, perhaps special approach paths; areas of land cultivation, animal husbandry, small communes or villages with round houses plus cairns and burial mounds and, of course, mysterious stone circles.  

As you approached Rough Tor in pre-history, you would have exited largely forested land; from the enclosed perspective of the forest, suddenly before you the full majestic of the hill we call Rough Tor, perhaps clothed in a low-lying mist. The approach warranted reverence and a procession way was built, leading part of the way up the hill to where the Neolithic people had created an enclosure of low-lying stone walls – not a fortress, but a special gathering area. Maybe to commune with the spirits, but more probable come together as a wider community to feast, celebrate, and exchange gifts and trade goods. A few areas were levelled of stones to build temporary wooden huts.

On lower levels, some areas of land had been cleared of trees and bushes to permit crude arable areas. The climate was slightly warmer than today and on certain higher ground, their animals grazed on summer pastures. Perhaps during the winter months returning to warmer lower levels, coastal areas and shoreline for food gathering.

Towards the end of the Neolithic, these ideas developed, and it is thought stone circles formed part of their rituals. There are a number of stone circles that will be identified in the walks here; the stone circles have not been dated, so it is not possible to place them chronologically to specific periods, but it will be seen later that they were linked together, either at the outset, or subsequently developed into a complex of structures with special ritual or procedural significance.

With the coming of the Bronze Age the population grew and became more sophisticated and organised. Farming was more intensive and large numbers of people lived on the slopes of Rough Tor and the surrounding hills. Greater areas of land were cultivated, and more trees cleared. Numerous small groups of houses and villages were scattered around the sheltered slopes of the hills. And many of these houses will be seen on the slopes in front of you as you approach Rough Tor. Archaeologists have estimated that there was sufficient housing to accommodate 500 people locally, if they all stayed here at one time, which is unlikely.

The Bronze Age settlers obviously appreciated the majesty of Rough Tor and recognised the significance it had for the Neolithic people but they introduced their own beliefs and rituals to the hill. Whereas the Neolithic people placed their long cairns some distance from the Tors, in fact over on King Arthur’s Downs, over to the west of the hill, the Bronze Age settlers surrounded the hill with small cairns and within the enclosure itself, the natural features, such as Shower Tor, Little Rough Tor and the Rough Tor itself were encircled in some of the most impressive ring cairns on Bodmin. So it was a place where, perhaps, the magnitude of the Tors were increased and the entrances to the sacred top enclosure required passing through the smaller cairns of their ancestors.

The Bronze Age people will have continued the idea of summer pasturing, or transhumance; with their animals spending some of the winter months in enclosed areas at lower levels. These enclosed field systems would be needed for growing their crops in the spring and summer months.

So, this sets the scene for the features to be seen around the various Tors and Downs of the immediate area. And these will now be shown mainly with illustrations.

To learn more about the Bronze Age story of this area, select Bude in the Bronze Age from the menu.