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,
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. Cairnfields are concentrations of three or
more cairns sited within close proximity to one another; they may consist of
burial cairns or cairns built with stone cleared from the land surface
(clearance cairns). Round funerary cairns were constructed during the Bronze
Age (c.2000-700 BC) and consisted of earthen or rubble mounds, sometimes
ditched, which covered single or multiple burials. Often occupying prominent
locations, they are a major visual element in the modern landscape. The
considerable variation in the size of cairnfields and their longevity as a
monument type provide important information on the diversity of beliefs and
social organisation amongst early 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 18 cairns, a length of bank and a recumbent stone
situated on the ridge south of Longstone Hill forming part of a cairnfield,
including at least 64 mounds, overlooking the valleys of the Redaven Brook and
West Okement River. Other cairns lie in the immediate vicinity and these are
covered by separate schedulings. Of the mounds, 15 are sub-circular in shape
and range in size from 2m to 7m in diameter and stand between 0.2m and 1m
high. The remainder are ovoid in shape, and these range between 4.5m to 11m
long, 3m to 5m wide and stand between 0.6m and 0.8m high. The average height
of all the mounds is 0.52m. Four cairns have a shallow hollow in the mound,
suggesting robbing or partial early excavation. Many of the cairns are crest
sited and are therefore clearly visible from long distances to the east and
west. This situation strongly suggests that many of these cairns probably
contain burials, although the size and shape of some mounds suggests that some
may also be associated with stone clearance connected with cultivation of the
area. A sinuous 50m long, 2m wide and 0.25m high bank lying within the
monument leads towards a large recumbent stone. This stone measures 1.75m
long, 0.8m wide and 0.45m thick and is the only large stone visible on
Longstone Hill. It has been suggested that this may be the longstone which
once stood upright to give the hill its name. The presence of this stone,
which would have been broadly contemporary with the cairns, provides
additional support for the ritual and funerary character ascribed to many
cairns within the group.
A small number of V-shaped trenches and shallow circular hollows survive
within the monument and are the result of military training carried out within
this area during the Second World War. The trenches represent small temporary
defensive positions and the hollows are probably shell holes.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
24163
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
