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 irregular shaped enclosure, six stone hut circles, a
length of reave and several prospecting pits situated on a gentle
east-facing slope overlooking the valley of the River Meavy. The interior of
the enclosure measures 120m north to south by 76m east to west and is defined
by a rubble wall, up to 2.6m wide and 0.7m high on the north, lynchets
standing up to 2m wide and 0.8m high on the east and west, and a 2m wide and
0.4m high reave on the south. Five stone hut circles lie within the enclosure
and another is attached to the outer face at the north-east corner, where a
boundary bank leads downslope away from the enclosure. The stone hut circles
are composed of circular stone and earth banks surrounding an internal area.
The internal diameter of the huts varies between 2.9m and 4m with the average
being 3.26m. The height of the surrounding wall varies between 0.4m and 0.9m
with the average being 0.62m.
The length of reave denoting the southern side of the enclosure forms part
of the Leather Tor reave. The enclosure is attached to the reave, and this
relationship strongly suggests that the reave is earlier in date than the
enclosure.
Several prospecting pits lie within the enclosure surviving as small
rectangular pits with an associated crescent-shaped bank on the downslope
side. These pits were excavated by tinners searching for tin
ore during the medieval or post-medieval period.
A layer of overlying peat has provided a protective blanket for the
sensitive underlying archaeological deposits as well as being a source of
contemporary environmental information.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
20294
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
