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 is a well-preserved enclosure with hut circles, forming an integral part
of the concentration of settlement along this stretch of the Erme Valley. 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.2500-500BC)
though earlier and later ones also exist.
This enclosure, on a steep west-facing slope overlooking the River Erme, is
approximately 45m. wide and 65m. long, with a drystone wall 0.3m. high and
up to 2m. thick and a probable entrance at the south-east. There are two hut
circles joined to the inside of the east wall, one 5m. in diameter with
walls up to 2m. thick and 0.3m. high, the other 10m. in diameter with
walls up to 3m. thick and 0.7m. high. Immediately outside the enclosure
wall on the west side there are two hut circles built on a slight terrace.
They are 5m. and 10m. diameter with walls up to 3m. thick and 0.3m. to
0.5m. high. The site is covered by dense bracken up to waist height.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
10529
Legacy System:
RSM
End of official list entry
