Entrance graves in Britain are also known as Scillonian entrance graves, because the majority of these ancient burial monuments are found on the Isles of Scilly, a group of islands 25 miles (40 m) west of
Cornwall. The islands were originally settled during the
Neolithic era, circa 2500 BC. Burials on the islands range in date from the later Neolithic period to the Middle Bronze Age (c. 2500–1000 BC). Over eighty entrance graves have been recorded on the Isles of Scilly. Many date to the late Neolithic period and continued in use until the beginning of the eighth century BC. Excavated entrance graves have contained human remains, cremation urns, and pottery fragments. The excavation of the Knackyboy Carn entrance grave on
St. Martin's Island uncovered sixty or more cremated individuals. Entrance graves continued to be built on the Isles of Scilly for many years after individual burials had become the standard burial practice on the mainland of Britain. Besides being used for interments, it has been suggested that entrance graves could have been used for ritualistic and cultural purposes, or to mark land boundaries between different family groups. ==Description==