St Merryn Gallery

Workmen uncovering a group of cists at the excavation site of the Iron Age cemetery at Harlyn Bay, St Merryn, Cornwall. 1900

A view of men excavating cists (stone lined graves) in 1900 with a horse and cart in the background. A policeman watches from the right hand side. 2000 tons of blown sand was excavated to a depth of 20 feet and carted away. The Iron Age cemetery in Harlyn Bay was excavated between 1900 and 1906. When digging foundations for a new house to be built, Mr Reddie Mallett made an important archaeological discovery by finding a cist containing human remains. Excavations over the next 6 years found Harlyn Bay to be the largest Iron Age burial site in Cornwall. Bronze Age barrows had been discovered in 1864, on the west side of the bay, near the cliff edge, by a labourer digging a pond on land owned by Mr Hellyar. Photographer: Reddie Mallett

© From the collection of the RIC