Looe

Sister cities

• Quiberon

History

Archaeological evidence indicates that the area around Looe has been inhabited since the Neolithic period, although a possible series of ancient field systems, south of nearby Penarthtown, could suggest earlier Palaeolithic activity. A Neolithic stone axe, made of greenstone, was found in 1978 on a tidal gravel bank in the bed of West Looe River. Further Neolithic finds, such as flint arrow heads, have also been found in the fields above Trenant Point. A large Bronze Age tumulus, which was likely also used as the site for a post-medieval beacon, was located in a field just north of Hillcrest Nursing home in East Looe. Some time after 1823 the site was levelled. Other tumuli are also recorded as having previously existed in the area, such as at Wooldown field, and at the base of Shutta hill. Throughout the Looe area, there are also numerous Iron Age and Romano-British forts. These include the nearby forts/settlements near Trelawne and Great Tree. Archaeological evidence suggests there was some small-scale Roman influence and possible occupation in Looe. A probable Roman urn was found in 1840 whilst building a new road up the hill to St Martins. The urn was brown, about high, and contained several burnt human bone fragments. Pieces of a Roman amphorae, stone boat anchors, Roman coins and a number of late prehistoric or Romano-British finds have been made in the vicinity of nearby Looe Island. A large bronze ingot was found by divers to the south of the island. This has led to a number of historians to suggest that the island could possibly be Ictis, the tin trading island seen by Pytheas in the 4th century BC and recalled by Diodorus Siculus in the 1st century BC. A small hoard of eight late Roman coins, dating to the late 3rd or early 4th century AD, was recovered in…