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 provides 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.
Elaborate complexes of fields and field boundaries are some of the major
features of the Dartmoor landscape. They have important implications for
studying Prehistoric land divisions and communal systems of land-holding,
not just in this region but also nationally. Eylesbarrow Reave is a major
watershed reave in the South Moor system; this section is closely associated
with two cairns immediately on its south side.
Details
The Dartmoor reaves are part of a highly elaborate and extensive system of
Prehistoric land division, introduced some time around 1700 BC. The reaves
consist of simple linear stone and earth banks used to mark out discrete
territories, some of which are defined by parallel, contour and watershed
reaves, dividing the lower land from the grazing zones of the higher moor.
Eylesbarrow Reave is a watershed reave which separates the watershed of the
Plym from that of the Meavy, it extends from the Plym at Cadworthy Wood to
the summit of Eylesbarrow, a distance of approximately 6km. Though the reave
can be traced from end to end, there are now gaps along its length which
result in its preservation in separate sections of unequal length. This
section runs across a spur on the 320m contour and down the north-east slope
of Ringmoor Down and Gutter Tor for a distance of some 700m and consists of
a stone and earth bank up to 0.75m in height and 3m in width. There are two
cairns immediately on its south side.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
10627
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
