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
The monument includes a Prehistoric irregular aggregate field system, stone
hut circles, a medieval field, a clearance cairn and animal shelter situated
on a south-west facing slope overlooking the valley of the Colly Brook. The
irregular aggregate field system survives as stony banks averaging 0.3m high
and 1.8m wide representing over ten distinct field-plots. Some of the
original walling material has been robbed to construct the later rectangular
field. A platform situated towards the southern edge of the field system
represents the site of a stone hut circle. A second stone hut circle lies
outside the now visible extent of the field system but may originally have
been within it. This building is terraced into the hillslope, has an internal
diameter of 8.8m and is defined by a 1.7m wide wall standing up to 0.3m high.
The large, clearly defined rectangular field is superimposed upon the eastern
part of the earlier irregular aggregate field system. The field measures 190m
east to west by 100m north to south and is defined by a flat-topped bank 2m
wide and standing up to 0.4m high. Lying within the field are two lengths of
boundary bank associated with the earlier field system, a clearance cairn
measuring 2.5m in diameter and 0.35m high, a stone hut circle and a small
animal shelter. This field is of medieval or post-medieval origin and is
contemporary with the animal shelter which is constructed against the inner
face of the western boundary wall. This building is triangular in plan and
measures internally 8m long north to south by 4.2m wide east to west. The
walling is composed of a roughly faced rubble bank measuring 1.2m wide and
standing up to 0.2m high.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
22215
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
