Enclosure and stone hut circle 740m south east of Penn Beacon, forming part of a stone hut circle settlement

Overview

Location

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.

The enclosure 740m south east of Penn Beacon survives comparatively well, forms part of a larger settlement and 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 south side of the Moor.

Details

This monument includes an enclosure and stone hut circle situated on a south east facing slope overlooking the valley of Ford Brook and forms part of a settlement including at least 13 stone hut circles and three enclosures. The interior of the enclosure measures 50m north to south by 43m east to west and is defined by a partly faced 2m wide and 0.6m high rubble wall. A gap in the southern length of the boundary wall may represent an original entrance. A 4m diameter ring of stones protruding through the turf on the western side of this gap represents a stone hut circle. An L-shaped rubble bank measuring 7m long east to west and 4m long north to south, 1.8m wide and 0.7m high, lies within the northern half of the enclosure. No positive identification of this feature was possible. Stone hut circles and enclosures lying to the north of this monument are the subjects of separate schedulings.

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:

24093

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
Devon County Sites and Monuments Register, SX66SW38,
MPP fieldwork by S. Gerrard,

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 Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.