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 containing a stone hut circle and
rectangular building situated on a terrace on the steep west slope of Cox Tor.
The enclosure has a semi-cleared area of ground measuring 30m north to south
by 26m east to west defined by a rubble spread 2m to 3m wide standing up to
0.6m high. A gap in the western side of the enclosure represents the site of
an entrance to which an 8m long and 2m wide rubble faced passage is attached.
The stone hut circle is composed of coursed drystone walling defining an
internal area measuring 6.6m in diameter. The wall measures 2.3m wide and
stands up to 0.7m high. The doorway faces south and is defined by two fallen
slabs.
A small rectangular building built against the inner face of the enclosure
immediately to the south of the entrance measures 4.1m long by 2.3m wide. The
walls are composed of rubble, measure 1.5m wide and stand up to 0.4m high.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
22233
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
