Hut circles E of the Saddle Tor

Summary

Two stone hut circles forming part of an unenclosed stone hut circle settlement 520m east of Saddle Tor.

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. Stone hut circles and hut settlements were the dwelling places of prehistoric farmers on Dartmoor. They mostly date from the Bronze Age, with the earliest examples on the Moor in this building tradition dating to about 1700 BC. The stone-based round houses consist of low walls or banks enclosing a circular floor area; remains of the turf or thatch roof are not preserved. The huts may occur singly or in small or large groups and may lie in the open or be enclosed by a bank of earth and stone. Although they are common on the Moor, their longevity and their relationship with other monument types provide important information on the diversity of social organisation and farming practices amongst prehistoric communities. They are particularly representative of their period. The two stone hut circles forming part of an unenclosed stone hut circle settlement 520m east of Saddle Tor survive well and lie within the largest coaxial field system on Dartmoor, albeit away from the main concentrations of settlement connected with this particular part of the moor. They will contain archaeological and environmental evidence relating to their construction, use, longevity, social organisation, farming practices, domestic arrangements and overall landscape context.

History

See Details.

Details

This record was the subject of a minor enhancement on 17 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 two stone hut circles which form part of an unenclosed stone hut circle settlement within the Rippon Tor coaxial field system situated on the eastern slopes of Saddle Tor close to the source of the River Sig. The stone hut circles survive as two circular interiors of 7.7m in diameter defined by rubble built walls of up to 2m wide and 1m high and are spaced approximately 5m apart. Both are terraced into the slope and the eastern hut has a possible entrance to the south west.

Further archaeological remains survive within the vicinity, some are scheduled but others are not included 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 929

Legacy System:

RSM - OCN

Sources

Books and journals
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, Volume One - The East , (1991), 21

Other
PastScape Monument No:-445026

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