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A new archaeology
of Cornwall
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Above The Mên-an-Tol or Holed Stone megalithic monument
stands on the wild, gorsecovered moors of West Penwith. It consists
of four stones: one fallen, two uprights and between them a pierced,
circular stone (once known as the Devil's Eye) set on edge. It
is assumed to date from the Bronze Age, between 3,000 and 4,000
years ago.
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Born in Redruth,
Caradoc Peters spent his early childhood in Nigeria. He
studied at Helston School, Cornwall, the University ofWales,
Cardiff, the University of Bradford and the University
of Auckland, New Zealand (PhD). While at Auckland, his doctoral
thesis concerned the archaeology and |
environment
of the Polynesian island of Rarotonga (the Cook Islands).
He has worked in fieldarchaeology in Germany, France, Switzerland
and New Zealand. Since 1998 he has been a lecturer in Archaeology
at Truro College.
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Unchanging facts
or shifting viewpoint?
Dr Caradoc Peters has completed the
text of his major new work on the archaeology of Cornwall, commissioned
by Cornwall Editions and scheduled for publication in mid-2006.
Caradoc’s approach is as far from the ‘dry-as-dust’ school
of archaeology as Bude is from St Buryan. He covers a vast time-scale,
from pre-history to the present, bringing to life the social
structures and the shifting patterns of livelihood of the different
phases of history shadowed forth by the fragments retrieved from
the soil and the sea and the marks in the ground left by our
ancestors. He develops a theme of the ever-changing view of history – can
we really know what the ‘facts’ were, or can we only
ever see the past through the prism of the different ages? What
impact does the perspective of the 18th-century antiquarians
have on our own understanding? Are we still seeing the past through
Victorian eyes? Caradoc Peters questions some of the conventional
views and reinterprets our landscape in fascinating ways,offering
new insights and fresh interpretations.
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Revealing insights from the past
A new approach to archaeology
This is the first book to cover the
whole of the Cornish past in archaeological terms. Archaeology
is essentially the study of the human past with emphasis on
its material remains. So the buildings, artefacts, traces of
past environments and landscapes as well as the physical remains
of people form the backbone of this work.Yet the aim of the
book is not to be an inventory of things, but a chronicle of
people. It sets out to show how the people of Cornwall in past
ages led their lives, socially, economically, philosophically
and religiously. It looks at the natural and political world
they inhabited. And in later chapters it makes occasional forays
overseas to see what happened to emigrants from Cornwall, and
what their going meant to those they left behind.
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Since
Cornish Archaeology published its Silver Jubilee volume
in 1986, ideas in archaeology have undergone great changes.
They stem partly from redefinition of what constitutes
archaeology, partly from new methods and new approaches.
Today Cornish archaeology does not stop anywhere, ranging
from the most remote human past to the present day. Its
scope is also wider, taking in maritime archaeology and
integrating it into the same framework as land archaeology.
Material evidence is still at the heart of it but it
will happily look for other sorts of evidence (and insights)
from other disciplines. |
Above: The Georgian port
of Charlestown was founded to serve St Austell and the
export of china clay from the nearby pits. |
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The Storm
Lion of Penzance
A story for children everywhere, set firmly in Penzance
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Troon Harrison
Troon
was born in the Canadian Rocky Mountains but grew up on Clodgy
Moor (a few miles outside of Penzance). She attended Mousehole
primary school. During these years, Troon loved to sit on the lion
statues on Penzance promenade. During a severe winter gale Troon’s
parents brought her down at dusk to watch the colossal waves surging
in. The memory of these huge waves reappears in The Storm Lion,
as Troon recalls her childhood fear in the face of nature’s
power. |
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Mark
Foreman
Mark is a senior lecturer in Illustration at Falmouth
College of Arts, Cornwall. He has an MA in Illustration from
the Royal College of Art. Mark worked as an illustrator for a
wide variety of clients and as a visiting lecturer at many London
art colleges. He has written and illustrated a number of books
for children over the last 15 years. Mark lives with his wife
Caroline and children Sam and Chloe in St Ives. |
Troon Harrison and Mark Foreman have combined their
respective talents to create this new book of character, drama and
charm. Set in the Penzance of the late 19th century, it
deals with the universal theme of innocence, loss, exile,
fear, strength and triumph. Mark captures the sights and
we can imagine the sounds and smells of old Penzance. Troon’s
story derives from a West Penwith childhood that shines
through her text. Children who have learned to read will
enjoy the strong, vivid writing; young and old will respond
to the fresh, energetic illustration.
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Home thoughts from abroad:
The Cornish Overseas
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The story of the migration of
the Cornish people throughout the world is an epic. Philip
Payton is a leading scholar of the movement of Cornish people
over time, both within the United Kingdom and to the major
mining and agricultural districts of the world. The accessible,
detailed narrative covers the United States, Canada, Australia,
New Zealand, South Africa, continental South America, Mexico,
Cuba and other destinations.
The Cornish Overseas was first
published in a limited hardcover edition in 1998, now
out of print. This new high-quality paperback edition,
revised and updated following new research over the last
six years and published in April 2005,makes this important
work available once more. The beautifully produced book
is illustrated with newly commissioned line drawings and
maps. Available from April from all good bookshops,or in
case of difficulty, direct from Cornwall Editions.
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John Penrose –
a reader’s response
Penny McGuire White, of Mentone,Victoria,Australia
wrote to our Sales Director Asia-Pacific, Roger Bendall: ‘I am
writing in reply to your letter regarding The Cornish Family
to tell you how absolutely thrilled I am about J.C. Tregarthen’s
John Penrose being published in paperback.
My Father gave me his 1932 edition of
the book and it is the only Cornish book that I have got
that I will not lend to anyone outside my immediate family
in case it gets lost. This book is so precious to me – just
as it was precious to my Father.
My Grandfather was Vicar of Madron for
many years, and, while he was there he started (or-restarted)
the ‘Old Cornwall
Society’ there. He always used to say that John Penrose
was the best portrayal of life in the 1800s that there was
in existence. (Life in that district that is). As I was born
in Penzance and have lived both there and in St Just, as well
as spending a holiday at Lanyon Farm, the whole area in which
the book is set is very dear to me.
I simply love this book. Please keep
me informed as to when the new editions are going to be available
so that I can buy one or two copies for presents.’
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Click
here for order infomation
Judy Martin joins the team
Many of our readers know Judy Martin,
who has attended to customers’ queries and requirements
as we have built up our business. Although Judy had a full-time
job at May,Whetter & Grose in Fowey, she worked apparently
tirelessly for Cornwall Editions in her evenings and weekends.
Now we are very pleased that Judy has taken up full-time employment
with us as Customer Services Manager and will be available during
working hours to respond to all our customers’ needs. Judy
knows more about our business than anyone else – her telephone
number is 01726 832 483; her e-mail address is cornwalleditions@cornishinternet.com
The Cornish Family – a few copies
remain
There are a
small number of copies of the limited edition of The Cornish
Family still available for sale. Make sure your collection of
limited editions will be complete. Buy The Cornish Family and
The Archaeology of Cornwall together and receive a 10% reduction
on the price of the new book.
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