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.
The enclosure north of Harrowthorn Plantation is a well-preserved example
with hut circles. It provides important insight into farming practices on
the Moor during the prehistoric period.
Details
The Dartmoor landscape includes many discrete plots of land enclosed by
stone walls or earth and stone banks, which acted as stock pens or protected
areas for crop growing. Some of them were subdivided to accommodate hut
dwellings for farmers and herdsmen. Many examples date to the Bronze Age
(c.2500 to 500BC), though earlier and later ones also exist.
The enclosure north of Harrowthorn Plantation lies on the west slope
of Stalldown and contains 19 hut circles terraced into the slope, it is
bisected by a stream which would have provided a convenient supply of
essential fresh water. The enclosure is 180m by 130m., its wall is up to a
metre high and 2m. wide, it is faced with orthostats and includes large
boulders as well as smaller stones. The hut walls remain to a height of
three courses of stone up to 0.7m high and 3m thick with hut diameters
of up to 12m.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
10507
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
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
