Summer solstice in Cornwall was an occasion of glorious weather, and a large degree of celebration, with the completion of the raising of Carwynnen Quoit (full story to follow).
Sadly, elsewhere the summer sun obviously went to someone’s head, as they decided to dig a hole, approximately 2-3 inches deep and some 4 inches across, directly below the central stone at Boscawen-Un, near St Buryan in West Penwith.
Despite the best efforts of the CASPN monitoring team, it seems as if this wonderful site, one of my personal favourites, is the target of an attack every summer. A few years ago, a wax ‘talisman’ was found buried in the same spot, under the stone which leans at an acute angle. Wooden stakes with Christian slogans were also buried around the stone in an attack.
This time, the apparent intent seems to have been to dig a receptacle for a posey of flowers, and some crystals – an ‘offering’ of some sort? Certainly none of the Pagans of my acquaintance would endorse such a move! Maybe these were ‘wannabe’ pagans (small ‘p’), or someone looking to discredit Paganism? Either way, it’s a crass thing to do, as it harms our heritage in more than just a physical way, sending out signals that this kind of damage is in some way ‘acceptable’.
CASPN are aware of the damage and mitigating measures will shortly be undertaken by their team of volunteers.
Update 27/06/14:
Although I’m no longer in the area to personally verify, there has been a report on our Facebook page –
Visited today. Someone has dug under one of the recumbent stones which may been part of a cist or a dolman. They placed a tatty necklace with a childlike fairy on the stone. To make matters worse someone had pitched a tent between the circle and the surrounding wall. I waited, but owner did not return while I was there.
So I’ll repeat the question I added in the comments a couple of days ago. “How much damage is acceptable?” When do we say enough is enough?
The Heritage Journal 
28 comments
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26/06/2014 at 12:01
Keith Macdonald
If there’s nothing in the hole, it might just be more likely to be a rabbit or badger scrap.
26/06/2014 at 15:34
Alan S.
I would agree, except as stated, crystals and a posey were deposited. Also the hole was quite regular in form and depth. And I’ve never personally seen rabbit droppings in the circle, in over 10 years of regular visits to the circle.
26/06/2014 at 15:47
Hobnob
Are you sure it isn’t animal scrapes? It is hardly anything significant.
26/06/2014 at 16:50
Joan
Hardly in the same league as the damage at Priddy, Offas Dyke or Oswestry is it? Did you call the police?
26/06/2014 at 16:53
Alan S.
Well I’m a city boy, so the wrong person to ask, but if the local CASPN monitors say it’s been dug, that’s more than good enough for me.
26/06/2014 at 16:54
Alan S.
No, not in the same league at all, but how much is acceptable?
26/06/2014 at 17:30
Gemini
A dog could have done it especially as they like to dig at the base of things. As for CASPN saying it has been dug, then yes it obviously has been dug but the question is “by what?”
26/06/2014 at 18:24
Alan S.
If a dog did it (and I’m far from convinced that the damage is due to non-human activity), then an owner is responsible – or in this case irresponsible. Dogs aren’t usually in the habit of depositing crystals, topped by a posey of flowers. I’ll ask again: Exactly how much damage would be deemed ‘acceptable’?
26/06/2014 at 20:15
ash25
We have to accept that stones in open countryside and exposed to the elements for thousands of years will always suffer damage and degradation from all manner of influences including human ones. I find it ironic that if we were to travel forward in time 2000 years and carried out archaeology that told us that sometime around 2000ad, humans had buried wax effigies and Chrystal’s at the base of the stones, we would find this fascinating and puzzling over the question “why?” this is not vandalism, this is our cultural heritage and legacy being created in our lifetime and by definition is ‘archaeology’ being formed in real time. Embrace the fact that to this day, all manner of people are interested in such stones in many different ways and for differing reasons and that cant be a bad thing. If we are. To get upset over a 4 inch clod of turf then what next? Ban the earthworms digging around the stones? Let us keep this in perspective and not get too precious about things.
26/06/2014 at 22:48
zelda
Metal detecting pixies at work?
27/06/2014 at 13:12
heritageaction
“not get too precious….”
Yes it’s a small matter but Alan’s point was “it’s a crass thing to do, as it harms our heritage in more than just a physical way, sending out signals that this kind of damage is in some way ‘acceptable’.”
People paint stones, burn them, chip bits off them etc. Anything that weakens the concept that “taking possession” of what belongs to all is a bad thing IMO.
27/06/2014 at 22:21
tia griffiths
It does come across as being precious I’m afraid to say, especially a 4 inch bit of turf scraped away. This just seems like pedantry and weakens the real issues as it is fiddling while Rome burns.
28/06/2014 at 03:34
Pat
So what would you have happen? Allow people to bury crystals at scheduled sites and not complain about it?
28/06/2014 at 13:30
Dom
At least people are visiting these sites and feel they are important to them for their own reasons. These could be the very same people you would rub shoulders with in protest if the site was under real threat, such as development for example.
28/06/2014 at 13:55
Pat
Shoulder to shoulder with real Pagans who don’t dig holes at sites, yes, but probably not the dippy wannabee sort who do!
See the update btw.
28/06/2014 at 14:08
Dom
What sort of elitist claptrap is this “Real Pagan” comment? By definition, Paganism has no defining criteria that separate one pagan belief from another. It is a very broad polytheistic concept so to even try and say ‘Real Pagan’ is saying “my Paganism is better and more valid than your lesser Paganism” . You even demean by using the term ‘dippy’ as if to say one person spiritual belief is again, a lesser, inferior belief than yours. Truly horrible and unpleasant stuff.
28/06/2014 at 14:16
Packwood
Tell you what, toddle off to a Pagan forum and ask them if people that damage sites are true pagans!!!
Truly horrible and unpleasant my eye! It’s not us who are defending people who damage sites. If disapproving of it makes us elitist then fine, we’re elitist and proud of it!
28/06/2014 at 15:10
archer
More damage is done by moles so should we campaign to ban the mole at historic sites? The more people that visit and enjoy these sites the better they are cared for.
28/06/2014 at 15:21
Packwood
No-one should be banned.
28/06/2014 at 16:24
Jen
CASPN are aware of the damage and mitigating measures will shortly be undertaken by their team of volunteers.
—————————————————————————————————
What are these mitigating measures? Fence of the stones to prevent access? (hope not) How do you mitigate people removing or scraping away the turf?
28/06/2014 at 20:12
Owlwoman
Alan, less than 3 years ago when you visited, you acknowledged that the site attracts those that want to leave offerings and you did not condone it then.
“Certainly the circle is still an important spiritual meeting place for local Pagan groups and ritual offerings are often placed here beneath the leaning stone.”
https://heritageaction.wordpress.com/2011/10/21/focus-on-cornish-stone-circles-boscawen-un/
There isn’t even anything left in the hole you photo’s so why the fuss this time?
28/06/2014 at 20:26
Alan S.
Quite simply, on previous occasions, offerings were simply left on the ground, causing no damage. This time, the damage is plain to see (and it’s an offence to dig within a scheduled monument).
28/06/2014 at 20:27
Alan S.
I understand the hole(s) will be filled, and turves relaid to maintain the integrity of the monument. There has been siome discussion regarding more explicit signage warning about damage too. I have no further details.
28/06/2014 at 20:32
Owlwoman
Alan, anyone can see that is not digging. You even admitted it is 2 inches deep and perhaps 4 inches across so probably just done with the heel of a boot. Anyway, nothing was left in the scrape mark so I really think this is an over reaction. First bit of rain and a few weeks later the grass grows back and all is well again.
28/06/2014 at 20:46
Alan S.
At the risk of repeating: how much damage would have to be caused for it to not be acceptable? The law clearly states that it is illegal to excavate within a scheduled monument. And we’re going round in circles on this one, clearly. Damage was done, it was notified to CASPN, and will be rectified in accordance with any guidance they may seek. Our intent here on the Journal is to bring to the wider public’s notice an awareness of the existence of our ancient heritage and to point out the fragility of the sites, in hope of changing people’s perceptions and behaviour towards the sites when they visit.
29/06/2014 at 11:07
Anglian
Am I the first person to notice the Tea Light Candle on the stone? Interestingly it is unlit so who out it there and did you remove it as the aluminium containers constitute rubbish on the site.
29/06/2014 at 11:17
Packwood
“At the risk of repeating: how much damage would have to be caused for it to not be acceptable?”
That’s the question isn’t it?
Personally I like the “leave only footprints” and “don’t change the site” mantras that 99.99% of visitors believe in.
29/06/2014 at 14:50
Ben
Its animals digging, that’s for sure. That sort of damage is unavoidable and at that level, acceptable.