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.
This agglomerated enclosure is a well-preserved example with hut circles
and is associated with Piles Reave. It provides important insight into human
land use and 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 - 500 BC), though earlier and later ones also exist.
This agglomerated enclosure with hut circles, has three enclosures and
further lengths of walling, five of the hut circles are attached to
enclosure walls. Walls are up to 4m wide and a metre high, some terraced
into the slope, some show orthostatic entrances and wall-facing. The complex
would have provided human accommodation and stock pens or growing areas. It
appears to be associated with Piles Reave, which curves across the hillside
above.
The modern track which runs through the monument is excluded from the
scheduling, but the underlying deposits are included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
10515
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
