Rillaton Barrow

Rillaton Barrow is a Bronze Age round barrow on Bodmin Moor in Cornwall. It stands on the eastern flank of the moor, about six kilometres north of Liskeard. The site was excavated in 1837 and found to contain a central stone cist measuring two metres by one metre. Human remains were discovered alongside grave goods including a bronze dagger, beads, pottery, glass and other items. The most famous find was the Rillaton Gold Cup, a biconical gold vessel about nine centimetres high. The Rillaton Gold Cup resembles a late Neolithic ceramic beaker with corded decoration. It shows Aegean style and resembles finds from Mycenae, suggesting links with the Eastern Mediterranean. The cup was once thought to date to around 1650–1400 BC but is now dated closer to 1700 BC. After discovery, the finds were sent to King William IV and later to the British Museum, where the cup remains on show. A replica is held at the Royal Cornwall Museum in Truro. Visitors to Rillaton Barrow find a grassy mound on open moorland with wide views across the landscape. The site is quiet and remote, typical of Bodmin Moor’s rugged terrain. A legend tells of a druid spirit haunting the barrow, offering travellers a drink from an undrainable cup. The cup’s story adds a layer of folklore to the ancient burial site.