Reasons for Designation
Bodmin Moor, the largest of the Cornish granite uplands, has long been
recognised to have exceptional preservation of archaeological remains. The
Moor has been the subject of detailed archaeological survey and is one of the
best recorded upland landscapes in England. The extensive relict landscapes of
prehistoric, medieval and post-medieval date provide direct evidence for human
exploitation of the Moor from the earliest prehistoric period onwards. The
well-preserved and often visible relationship between settlement sites, field
systems, ceremonial and funerary monuments as well as later industrial remains
provides significant insights into successive changes in the pattern of land
use through time. Stone hut circles were the dwelling places of prehistoric
farmers on the Moor, mostly dating from the Bronze Age (c.2000-700 BC). The
stone-based round houses survive as low walls or banks enclosing a circular
floor area; remains of a turf or thatch roof are not preserved. The huts occur
singly or in small or large groups and may occur in the open or be enclosed by
a bank of earth and stone. Although they are common on the Moor, their
longevity of use and their relationship with other monument types provides
important information on the diversity of social organisation and farming
practices among prehistoric communities. They are particularly representative
of their period and a substantial proportion of surviving examples are
considered worthy of protection.
Details
The monument includes a stone hut circle situated on the north-west slope of a
broad spur occupied by Higher Langdon Farm in the River Fowey valley on
southern Bodmin Moor.
The hut circle forms the easternmost part of a dispersed linear settlement
containing seven hut circles which are arranged along an approximate east-west
line over 134m of the hillslope, and surround a hollow containing thick, damp
peat deposits. The other six hut circles in the settlement are situated from
25m west of this monument.
This hut circle has a wall of heaped rubble and boulders, up to 1.5m wide and
0.4m high, defining a circular internal area 4.5m in diameter, levelled into
the hillslope. The wall has several facing slabs along its outer edge. Modern
pasture improvement in the vicinity has produced two gaps in the wall, 2m wide
in the northern sector and 3m wide in the southern sector, and some of the
resulting rubble has been deposited in the south-east part of the hut circle's
interior.
The settlement containing this hut circle is located close to extensive
prehistoric and medieval settlement sites and field systems on the crown of
the spur and in its eastern and southern flanks.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
15257
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Other
Legal
This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
End of official list entry
