Hut circle on Wigford Down

Summary

A kerbed cairn within the coaxial field system on the northern side of Wigford Down 750m south west of Durance.

Reasons for Designation

Dartmoor is the largest expanse of open moorland in southern Britain and, because of exceptional conditions of preservation, it is also one of the most complete examples of an upland relict landscape in the whole country. The great wealth and diversity of archaeological remains provide direct evidence for human exploitation of the Moor from the early prehistoric period onwards. The well-preserved and often visible relationship between settlement sites, major land boundaries, trackways, ceremonial and funerary monuments as well as later industrial remains, gives significant insights into successive changes in the pattern of land use through time. Round cairns are prehistoric funerary monuments dating to the Bronze Age (c.2000-700 BC). They were constructed as earthen or rubble mounds, the latter predominating in areas of upland Britain where such raw materials were locally available in abundance. Round cairns may cover single or multiple burials and are sometimes surrounded by an outer ditch. Some have a retaining outer kerb of stones. Often occupying prominent locations, they are a major visual element in the modern landscape. Their considerable variation in form and longevity as a monument type provide important information on the diversity of beliefs and social organisation amongst early prehistoric communities. They are particularly representative of their period and a substantial proportion of surviving examples are considered worthy of protection. Dartmoor provides one of the best preserved and most dense concentrations of round cairns in south- western Britain. Despite significant disturbance through early excavation or robbing, which has reduced the height of the cairn significantly, the kerbed cairn within the coaxial field system on the northern side of Wigford Down 750m south west of Durance survives comparatively well and the retaining kerb is almost intact. Its position within the coaxial field system is also significant and it is one of a number of similar monuments in the vicinity. It will contain archaeological and environmental information relating to its construction, funerary practices, use and landscape context.

History

See Details.

Details

This record was the subject of a minor enhancement on 9 November 2015. This record has been generated from an "old county number" (OCN) scheduling record. These are monuments that were not reviewed under the Monuments Protection Programme and are some of our oldest designation records.

This monument includes a kerbed cairn situated on the northern side of Wigford Down on a west facing slope within a coaxial field system. The kerbed cairn survives as a ring of single stones with a diameter of up to 9m and stands up to 0.5m high. The central cairn has been subject to early excavation or robbing. Further archaeological remains survive within the vicinity of this monument. Some are scheduled, but others are not because they have not been formally assessed.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

DV 564

Legacy System:

RSM - OCN

Sources

Books and journals
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, (1994)

Other
PastScape Monument No:-439074

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