Gurnard's Head, Iron Age promontory fort in Zennor, England
Gurnard's Head is an Iron Age promontory fort on the north coast of the Penwith peninsula, jutting into the Atlantic Ocean. Two stone ramparts cross its narrowest section, marking the outer and inner boundaries of this ancient fortification.
The site was built during the Iron Age to defend this exposed coastal location. Excavations in 1939 revealed that the inner rampart had three steps, creating defensive positions for slingers who protected the settlement.
The Cornish name Ynyal reflects the isolated character of this coastal fortification where people once lived together. Sixteen round houses once stood here, revealing how Iron Age inhabitants organized their settlement on this exposed headland.
The site sits along the South West Coast Path and is easily reached via this popular walking route that crosses the southern part of the headland. The National Trust maintains this scheduled monument and keeps the ramparts and house remains in accessible condition.
The headland contains basaltic pillow lavas formed by underwater volcanic eruptions hundreds of millions of years ago. This ancient rock formation beneath the Iron Age fortification reveals how nature's forces shaped the landscape long before people built here.
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