| The area around Bellever Tor, Lakehead Hill and
Laughter Tor was forested by the Duchy of Cornwall in 1921 and the forest
is today owned and managed by the Forestry Commission. The forestation of
this area has unfortunately obscured much of the extensive old Bronze Age
settlements, tombs (cairns, cists and kistvaens), stone circles and stone
rows that inhabit this area. However, with careful searching, much can still
be seen. This is helped by the fact that many of the ancient sites have
been marked by wooden stakes with various numbers on them. One of the best
is the ring cairn and kistvaen on Lakehead Hill marked with the number 14a
and its associated stone row. Over 40 sites have been identified which led
to Bellever becoming known as the 'Ancient Metropolis of the Moor' by the
late 19th century antiquarians who studied the area. |
