Mên Scryfa

Mên Scryfa is a standing stone with an early medieval inscription in Madron, Cornwall. It stands alone in the middle of a field near the road from Madron to Morvah. About 300 metres to the south lie the prehistoric Mên-an-Tol stones, another ancient site. The stone is roughly rectangular, about 1.7 metres high, with sides of 0.4 by 0.5 metres. Its northern face bears the inscription, though part of it remains buried in the ground. The inscription reads "Rialobrani Cunovali fili", meaning "Rialobranus son of Cunovalus". Rialobranus may have been a petty king or tribal leader in Cornwall. The name could translate as "royal raven son of famous leader", linking him to local legend. Antiquarians once thought Cunovalus might be the pre-Roman king Cunobeline. The stone itself may be much older, possibly prehistoric, though the inscription dates from the 5th to 8th century. Visitors find a simple field with the standing stone as its main feature. Two plain crosses once marked the top of the stone, but only the lower one remains partly visible. The inscription is hard to read because part is buried and the stone has been damaged over time. Nearby, the Mên-an-Tol stones add to the sense of ancient history in the area. The site reflects centuries of use, from prehistoric times through the early medieval period.