Enclosure 200yds (180m) WSW of Meacombe

Summary

An enclosure 240m south west of Meacombe.

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. Within the landscape of Dartmoor there are many discrete plots of land enclosed by stone walls or banks of stone and earth, most of which date to the Bronze Age (c.2000-700 BC), though earlier and later examples also exist. They were constructed as stock pens or as protected areas for crop growing and were sometimes subdivided to accommodate stock and hut circle dwellings for farmers and herdsmen. The size and form of enclosures may therefore vary considerably depending on their particular function. Their variation in form, longevity and relationship to other monument classes provide important information on the diversity of social organisation and farming practices amongst prehistoric communities. They are particularly representative of their period.

The enclosure 240m south west of Meacombe survives well and has close associations with other types of monument in its immediate vicinity. It will contain archaeological and environmental evidence relating to its construction, function, and overall landscape context.

History

See Details.

Details

This record was the subject of a minor enhancement on 10 November 2015. The 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.

The monument includes an enclosure situated on the crest of a south west facing slope overlooking small valleys of tributaries to the River Teign. The enclosure survives as an almost square enclosed area measuring approximately 20m by 20m externally with rounded corners terraced into the hill slope. The defining banks differ in construction, to the east is a substantial earth and stone bank up to 4.5m wide, whilst to the south this becomes a smaller orthostatic wall with earth, on the west is a steep scarp up to 0.9m high with a slight inner bank and to the north is a slighter bank. The walls seem to widen and extend slightly on the two northern corners. There is no clearly defined entrance.

Aerial photographs suggest this enclosure forms part of a field system, but this is not included in the scheduling because it has not been formally assessed. Other archaeological remains in the area are the subject of separate schedulings.

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

DV 722

Legacy System:

RSM - OCN

Sources

Other
PastScape Monument No:-445476

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