St Neot
DigVentures headed to Cornwall to unearth a recently-discovered Bronze Age village on Bodmin Moor - and what we found was astounding!
The British Bronze Age spans well over a thousand years from 2,400 – 800 BC, and can be broadly described as the period during which the first metals, including copper, silver and gold, were introduced to the region. During this time, bronze became the must-have material in Britain, Europe, and beyond.
Making bronze requires plenty of copper and tin, and it just so happened that Cornwall sits on one of the richest tin sources in Europe. As a result, it became the nexus of a vast trade network that stretched down the Atlantic coast, into central Europe and beyond. How did Cornwall’s Bronze Age people react to this new-found natural wealth?
The newly discovered settlement at West Northwood Farm near St Neot provides us with an incredible opportunity to learn more about this important period. By examining a Cornish Bronze Age village, and by looking at the remains left behind by its occupants, this site enabled us to explore how life changed over the Middle to Late Bronze Age, and even into the Early Iron Age.
Our combined team or professional archaeologists, local residents, and Venturers from across the country made a series of fascinating discoveries.
Over the course of the excavation, we investigated two roundhouses and part of the ditch enclosing the settlement, from which we recovered a range of tools, pottery and dating evidence.
Following analysis by our experts, the final report is now available to download and read.
