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Cornwalls Ancient Monuments - Lanyon Quoit - OK0140
A virtual cache at an ancient Cornish Monument.
Owner: Ky Devas
Please log in to see the coordinates.
Altitude: 188 m. ASL.
 Region: United Kingdom (UK) > Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
Cache type: Virtual
Size: No container
Status: Ready for Search
Date hidden: 11-04-2010
Date created: 11-04-2010
Date published: 11-04-2010
Last modification: 02-07-2010
6x Found
0x Not found
1 notes
watchers 1 watchers
8 visitors
3 x rated
Rated as: Excellent
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Cache attributes

Available 24/7  Parking nearby  Listed on Opencaching only  All seasons  Password needed to post log entry! 

Please read the Opencaching attributes article.
Description EN

As this is the site of an ancient monument there is no physical cache here. Instead you need to enter the date on the plaque at N50 08.835  W005 35.978 as the password in order to log your find.

Lanyon Quoit is situated in a field by the Penzance to Morvah road between Madron Well and Men An Tol. Parking is available for a couple of cars in laybys and access to the field is via steps over a hedge.

It is one of the oldest ancient sites in West Cornwall. It dates from between 10000 -2000 BC, being constructed during the late mesolithic to early neolithic period. Quoit is the Cornish term, elsewhere these structures are known as dolomens or cromlechs. At that time it consisted of 4 upright stones and a capstone, being partially covered in turf with the capstone and front portal stones uncovered. According to William Borlase's Antiquities of Cornwall, in 1769 it was possible to ride a horse underneath the capstone.

It is believed to be the burial chamber of a long mound and may have had a role as a mausoleum or cenotaph. It was said to have been aligned with the cardinal directions (North, South, East, and West) giving historians and archaeologists reason to believe that it was used for ritual activity.

In “the great storm” of 1812 the capstone of Lanyon Quoit toppled off its supporting stones. It was said to have been hit by lightening, but local landowners had been excavating underneath the Quoit which may have played a part. Locals raised the money to have it reconstructed, but unfortunately a piece had broken off the capstone and during the reconstruction one of the supporting stones broke, so it was not reconstructed accurately. Only 3 of the supports were used (making it lower than before) and it was rotated by 90 degrees.

Now, the capstone is about 9ft x 17.5ft and weighs 13.5 tons; the chamber height is about 6-7ft.


Log entries: Found 6x Not found 0x Note 1x All entries