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 and a substantial proportion of
surviving examples are considered worthy of protection.
Details
This monument includes 12 stone hut circles sitting within an enclosure
situated on the lower west-facing slope of Sharp Tor overlooking Doe Tor. The
interior of the enclosure measures 105m east to west by 75m north to south and
is defined by a 1m wide and 0.6m high orthostatic wall faced by slabs on both
sides and infilled with rubble. The stone hut circles are composed of stone
and earth banks each surrounding an internal area. Of the huts, 11 are
circular in plan and one is D-shaped. The internal diameter of the circular
huts varies between 3.5m and 5.3m with the average being 4.8m. The D-shaped
hut measures 4m long by 3.6m wide and is attached to the enclosure wall. The
height of all the surrounding walls varies between 0.4m and 0.9m with the
average being 0.72m. One hut is attached to the enclosure boundary and one has
a visible doorway.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
22352
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals 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
