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 alignments provide rare evidence of ceremonial or ritual practices on
the Moor during the Late Neolithic and Bronze Age. This double alignment is
additionally significant because it is associated with another alignment and
occupation sites in the vicinity.
Details
Stone alignments or stone rows consist of upright stones set in a single
line or in two or more parallel lines up to several hundred metres in
length. They frequently lead to burial monuments such as small cairns, cists
and barrows and are therefore thought to have had a ceremonial function. The
seventy or so examples known on Dartmoor were probably constructed in the Late
Neolithic period (around 2,500 BC).
This double stone alignment runs north/south down the slope south of Great
Trowlesworthy Tor towards Blacka Brook. It is crossed by Lee Moor China
Clay Works Leat 53.5m from its southern end. The alignment is 128m in length
and changes orientation close to its mid-point, turning slightly to the
south-west in its southern part. The stones are up to 0.95m in height and
are set in opposing pairs of which at least forty-eight remain, 0.96m apart on
average and spaced at an average interval of 1.75m. At least one hundred and
three stones remain in place, another three are fallen and others may lie
under turf and heather. At its higher, northern end there is a circular stone
setting 7m in diameter consisting of eight stones up to 1.3m in height. There
is no trace of a cairn within the circle. There is another alignment c.100m to
the west and occupation sites in the vicinity. The Lee Moor China Clay works
Leat is not included in the scheduling.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
10664
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
