Skeletons of the past (colour)
So, its official, 2022 was the warmest year on record. During last summer water levels at Cornwall’s largest reservoir dropped dramatically. A fall that continued, despite spells of heavy rain, throughout the autumn. Capable of holding more than 28,500 megalitres of water, water levels at Colliford Lake on Bodmin Moor were, as we headed into winter, at little more than 20% of its capacity - a low water level not seen since 1995.
The reservoir, which covers an area equivalent to more than 680 football pitches, came up against some opposition at its planning stage in 1976, with local farmers set to lose almost 1,000 acres of agricultural land. But with compulsory purchases made and a huge dam built, water from the River St Neot was allowed to flood the fields and marshland until it reached full capacity in 1983.
The fallen water level has revealed a forgotten landscape that has not been seen for decades. Before the water flooded the fields of Redhill, Menniridden, Stuffle and Colliford Downs, archaeologists surveyed the landscape and excavated sites around the lake bed. 40 years later, the evidence of the medieval field systems, farms, tin mills and clay pits that they found, have once again revealed themselves.
Skeletons of the past (colour)
So, its official, 2022 was the warmest year on record. During last summer water levels at Cornwall’s largest reservoir dropped dramatically. A fall that continued, despite spells of heavy rain, throughout the autumn. Capable of holding more than 28,500 megalitres of water, water levels at Colliford Lake on Bodmin Moor were, as we headed into winter, at little more than 20% of its capacity - a low water level not seen since 1995.
The reservoir, which covers an area equivalent to more than 680 football pitches, came up against some opposition at its planning stage in 1976, with local farmers set to lose almost 1,000 acres of agricultural land. But with compulsory purchases made and a huge dam built, water from the River St Neot was allowed to flood the fields and marshland until it reached full capacity in 1983.
The fallen water level has revealed a forgotten landscape that has not been seen for decades. Before the water flooded the fields of Redhill, Menniridden, Stuffle and Colliford Downs, archaeologists surveyed the landscape and excavated sites around the lake bed. 40 years later, the evidence of the medieval field systems, farms, tin mills and clay pits that they found, have once again revealed themselves.