Archaeology is the study of the material evidence for past human
activity, and archaeological fieldwork is based on the thoughtful
and detailed observation of our contemporary landscape. Many ‘known’
sites are imperceptible on the ground today, or have been recognised
as cropmarks, visible only from aerial photographs, or from
digital geophysical surveys.
However, a surprising number of sites have survived and are visible
in the landscape of the early 21st century. They range from the
scatters of flint and stone tools which represent the camps created
by nomadic bands of hunter gatherers, up to the concrete remains of
the global conflicts of the 20th century. The range of visible, and visitable, monuments encompasses every period of history and
prehistory, and reveals insights into changing patterns of
agriculture and subsistence, ritual and religion, industry and
transport - in short, all facets of human culture over a timespan
exceeding 10,000 years.
The A2M website is an online guide to accessible monuments in
Cornwall, compiled by the Historic Environment service of Cornwall Council. It is aimed at all those with an interest in the
countryside who wish to experience for themselves the wealth of the
county’s remarkable heritage of sites and monuments.
Each site listed here is located on a public right of way or is
sited in open-access land. Although some of the routes included here
are bridleways, most are footpaths and access is restricted to
walkers; most of the sites can only be reached by people on foot.
Visiting the sites
The sites described here are often our only tangible link with our
distant, and not so distant, past. They are an essential component
of the Cornish landscape and the information they contain may be
unique and is certainly irreplaceable. Some sites will be quite
robust, but others may be fragile and vulnerable to disturbance -
even those which have survived for hundreds or even thousands of
years and appear to be very stable.
The archaeological value of sites often lies not so much in their
visible remains, but in the accumulated layers of soil and stone
beneath the modern turf. These contain unique information about the
lives of the people who built and used them and about how they
adapted to and changed their environment. It is essential to avoid
any disturbance to these sites if their archaeological value is to
be preserved and they are to provide inspiration and enjoyment to
Most of the sites included in the A2M website are protected as
Scheduled Monuments and it is an offence to disturb them in any way.
In particular, metal detecting is expressly forbidden in the
vicinity of scheduled sites.
When visiting sites, please remember that it is unwise to clamber
onto walls or to attempt to move stones in any way, and that digging
holes and lighting fires are not appropriate activities. Please
respect other visitors right to quietly enjoy their own experience
of the site.
Undisturbed sites in the landscape often have a high ecological
value and the plants and other living creatures which share these
sites with us should also be respected and left as far as possible
The A2M Project
The creation of the A2M website is a long term project; new sites
will be added periodically to provide a comprehensive overview of
the archaeology and history of the county. Future
developments which we hope to introduce will include a guide to
sustainable transport links and a special guide to sites which are
suitable for disabled people to visit.