A project undertaken by Cornwall county council’s historic environment service to microchip unique and valuable ancient stone monuments to help protect them from theft, is nearing completion.

Among those listed are on The Lizard and around the peninsular During a successful pilot project in 2006 one hundred easily accessible medieval granite wayside crosses were discretely fitted with a tiny microchip, fully recorded, and their details logged on a database to aid in the recovery of any that might be stolen.

Ann Preston-Jones, senior archaeologist said: “The initial project focussed on crosses that are easily accessible and could be vulnerable to theft because they are located in hedges and on roadside verges. Many of the crosses fitted with a microchip were Scheduled Ancient Monuments, but such a designation does not help to protect against theft.’”

This latest project sees a further group of wayside crosses microchipped and many fragments of medieval sculptured crosses lying loose in churches. The need was highlighted by the theft a few years ago of a small cross, originally from the gable of St Ruan’s holy well, which had been stored for safe-keeping in Grade Church.

Andrew Langdon, the contractor undertaking the said that once fitted, the tiny microchip is impossible to detect and is extremely tough and durable.

“One fitted in 2006 to the Tremethick Cross, just outside Penzance, remains functioning even though the cross was hit by a lorry, broken into three pieces, thrown into a field nearby, rescued and finally restored,” he said.

The project is being undertaken as part of Cornwall County Council’s ‘Conserving Cornwall’s Past’, a two year project which aims to conserve, protect, and raise awareness in local communities and schools of the need to care for Cornwall’s archaeological heritage. The project is funded jointly by English Heritage, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Cornwall Heritage Trust and other partners.