Enclosed stone hut circle settlement and kerbed boulder 300m WNW of White Tor summit

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 enclosed stone hut circle settlement and kerbed boulder 300m WNW of White Tor summit survive well. The settlement contains archaeological remains and environmental evidence relating to the development of 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 west side of the Moor. Only two other kerbed boulders have previously been identified in south-west England, both in close association with Bronze Age settlements in Cornwall. The kerbed boulder on the western slope of White Tor is at present the only known example of this type of site in Devon.

Details

This monument includes an enclosed stone hut circle settlement and kerbed boulder situated on the west-facing slope of White Tor overlooking the valley of the Colly Brook. Nine stone hut circles can be identified within the settlement. Eight of the huts are circular in plan and measure between 2.2m and 4m in diameter. The remaining hut is oval and measures 2.4m long by 2m wide. The walls of all the huts are composed of stone and earth and measure between 0.1m and 0.7m high. Two of the huts are attached to the inner face of the enclosure boundary and a third is attached to the outer face. Four huts have visible doorways. The enclosure wall links a number of small granite outcrops and defines in internal area measuring 80m north-west to south-east by 52m south-west to north-east. The wall varies from 1.8m to 2.4m wide and from 0.4m to 0.6m high and is composed of turf-covered stones and boulders. The kerbed boulder lies in the eastern part of the enclosure and includes a large granite earthfast rock surrounded by nine smaller upright stones. This feature measures 4m in diameter and stands up to 0.4m high. The date and function of these structures is not currently known, but others identified in Cornwall are associated with areas of Bronze Age settlement.

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:

22211

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, (1991)
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, (1991), 91

Other
National Archaeological Record, SX57NW32,
Gibson, A, Single Monument Class Description - Stone Hut Circles, (1987)
Hooley, D, (1992)
National Archaeological Record, SX57NW4,

End of official list entry

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