Enclosure, two stone hut circles and an alignment of upright stones 780m north west of Little Links 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. 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 and a substantial proportion of surviving examples are considered worthy of protection.

The enclosure and alignment of upright stones 780m north west of Little Links Tor survive well within an area containing a variety of archaeological monuments. The settlement contains archaeological remains and environmental evidence relating to the monument, the economy of its inhabitants, and the landscape in which they lived. As such, it provides a valuable insight into the nature of Bronze Age occupation on the north west side of the Moor. The proximity of this settlement to rich tin deposits may mean that information relating to early tinworking may survive.

Details

This monument includes an enclosure, two stone hut circles and an alignment of upright stones situated on a gentle west-facing slope overlooking the River Lyd. The interior of the enclosure measures 30m north to south by 31m east to west and is defined by a rubble wall up to 1.8m wide and 0.8m high. One stone hut circle lies within the northern part of the enclosure, whilst the other is attached to a length of boundary wall leading ENE from the enclosure. Both huts are composed of circular stone and earth walls, 1.1m wide and 0.4m high surrounding an internal area measuring 4.2m in diameter. The alignment of upright stones is orientated from ESE to WNW and includes a 55.5m long single row of four upright stones standing 0.6m high. The nearest stone to the enclosure lies 32m ESE from the south eastern corner and the orientation of the alignment follows on from that of the enclosure's southern wall. The enclosure and alignment may be contemporary and the stones may represent a marking out of a second enclosure which was never completed.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract. It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features, considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

22333

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, (1991), 151&217

Other
MPP fieldwork by S. Gerrard,
Gibson, A, Single Monument Class Description - Stone Hut Circles, (1987)

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