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.
Details
This monument includes an enclosure, ten stone hut circles, a clearance cairn
and a length of field boundary situated on a gentle south west facing slope of
Raddick Hill overlooking the valley of the River Meavy.
The enclosure measures 106m long by 80m wide and is defined by a 2m wide and
0.4m high orthostatic wall faced by slabs on both sides and infilled with
rubble. A gap in the southern side of the enclosure is considered to be an
original entrance. Nine of the stone hut circles lie within the enclosure and
the other is attached to the south eastern corner of the enclosure boundary.
The stone hut circles are composed of stone and earth banks surrounding
an internal area. Nine of the huts are circular in plan and one is oval. The
internal diameter of circular huts varies between 2.6m and 4.7m with the
average being 3.5m. The oval hut measures 2.7m long by 1.3m wide. The height
of all the surrounding walls varies between 0.4m and 0.6m with the average
being 0.48m. Three of the huts are linked to the enclosure walling and appear
to pre-date it. Seven of the huts have visible doorways and one has an annexe.
The clearance cairn, which lies towards the east side of the enclosures,
measures 5m long by 4m wide and stands up to 0.5m high. This feature suggests
that the interior of the enclosure may have been cultivated, though whether
this activity was contemporary with the settlement is not known. A lyncheted
field boundary leading into the south eastern corner of the enclosure,
measures 26m long by 3.5m wide and 0.8m high, and may represent an unfinished
field-plot.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
22299
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
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
