Huccaby Ring

Summary

A prehistoric enclosure called Huccaby Ring.

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.

Despite being cut by a track, and having been subject to disturbance through past stone robbing the prehistoric enclosure called Huccaby Ring survives comparatively well and will contain archaeological and environmental evidence relating to its construction, use, agricultural practices, social organisation, possible domestic arrangements and overall landscape context.

History

See Details.

Details

This record was the subject of a minor enhancement on 11 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.

The monument includes a prehistoric enclosure situated on the gently sloping south eastern side of Huccaby Tor. The enclosure survives as an oval earthwork measuring up to 49m long by 48m wide internally defined by a stony bank of up to 3.5m wide and 0.7m high. There is no clear entrance. It lies within part of the Dartmeet coaxial field system but has no direct interconnecting banks or close associations with surviving reaves. There are some large natural boulders in the vicinity. In the interior is a very slight circular platform terrace measuring up to 4m in diameter and 0.3m high, which is the site of a possible hut circle. The enclosure is cut by a track.

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

DV 799

Legacy System:

RSM - OCN

Sources

Books and journals
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, (1991)

Other
PastScape Monument No:-442916

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