Three stone hut circles forming part of an unenclosed stone hut circle settlement on the north-east slope of Cox Tor

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.

Despite limited damage, the unenclosed stone hut circle settlement on the north-east slope of Cox Tor survives comparatively well. Important and informative archaeological structures, features and deposits survive intact and provide an insight into agricultural practice on the western side of the Moor.

Details

This monument includes three stone hut circles situated on a gentle north-east facing slope overlooking the valley of the Colly Brook and is part of a large unenclosed stone hut circle settlement on the north-east slope of Cox Tor. All three stone hut circles include a stone and earth bank defining a circular interior. The internal diameter of the structures varies between 4m and 6.5m and the banks stand between 0.15m and 0.35m high. A short length of boundary wall leads eastward from the southernmost hut.

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:

20391

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, (1991), 84-5

Other
National Archaeological Record, SX57NW33, (1987)
Gibson, A, Single Monument Class Description - Stone Hut Circles, (1987)

End of official list entry

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