Boden fogou was only discovered in 1996 when the farmer’s tractor wheel disappeared into a hole. This later turned out to be a well.

We first visited in 2008 when the site was still fairly simply presented. Since then the Meneage Archaeological Group has been carrying out a very active excavation under the watchful eye of James Gossip. They also involved the newly re-created Time Team in a three day exercise. So the story is constantly changing.

Boden fogou lies in a field on the the crest of a hill at the 77m contour with magnificent views eastwards towards the mouth of Gillan Creek and Falmouth Bay.

The main passage has lost its capping stones and, in 2008, consisted of about 4m of open ditch. There are two quartz pillars at the entrance to the passage which is 1.4m wide with shillet walls. The orientation is to the south.

Close by are two large underground chambers which hint at a structure like that at Carn Euny. One of these was formerly covered by a large metal plate with a hatch.

In 2024, the excavators replaced the main entrance lintel which had wandered down the passageway. The result makes a strong statement.

Just outside the entrance the excavators uncovered another passageway, with descending steps into a tunnel. This is just visible on the left of the above image. The purpose of this, is unclear but it appears to lead into the surrounding ditch.

From the main entrance, the main passageway of the fogou turns a sharp right and runs straight for about 4m. It then turns sharp left and descends through a large void – previously covered by a large metal plate – emerging at a creep exit which gives access to a surrounding ditch.

How the various parts are connected or used is still a matter of speculation.

There is still much to discover around the fogou. In the same and neighbouring fields, the excavators have found evidence of activity over a very long period: Bronze age round houses, other Iron age sites, and Romano-British activity. The story will continue to change.

Hauntingly, the fogou was originally identified as being ‘close to an apple tree’. For how many generations had apples been growing here, we wonder?

Boden fogou is on the edge of a field here.