The site is open from March/April to early November, and it is in the care of English Heritage, who charge an admission fee.

[3] Another similar Iron Age settlement is Carn Euny about 10 km to the southwest and comparisons can be made with the contemporary Atlantic Castro culture.

Chysauster village is believed to have been inhabited from about 100 BC until the 3rd century AD;[4] it was primarily agricultural and unfortified and probably occupied by members of the Dumnonii tribe.

[3] To the south of the settlement is an underground passage of a type known locally as fogou (from the permanently lenited form of mogow, Cornish for cave).

The fogou at Chysauster was originally recorded as running well over 16 metres in length but was blocked up in the late 20th century for safety reasons.