Stone hut circle 425m south east of Sparretts Farm

Overview

Heritage Category: Scheduled Monument

List Entry Number: 1013211

Date first listed: 15-Apr-1997

Location

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

National Grid Reference: SX 24027 71511

Reasons for Designation

Bodmin Moor, the largest of the Cornish granite uplands, has long been recognised to have exceptional preservation of archaeological remains. The Moor has been the subject of detailed archaeological survey and is one of the best recorded upland landscapes in England. The extensive relict landscapes of prehistoric, medieval and post-medieval date provide direct evidence for human exploitation of the Moor from the earliest prehistoric period onwards. The well-preserved and often visible relationship between settlement sites, field systems, ceremonial and funerary monuments as well as later industrial remains provides significant insights into successive changes in the pattern of land use through time. Stone hut circles were the dwelling places of prehistoric farmers on the Moor, mostly dating from the Bronze Age (c.2000-700 BC). The stone-based round houses survive as low walls or banks enclosing a circular floor area; remains of a turf or thatch roof are not preserved. The huts occur singly or in small or large groups and may occur in the open or be enclosed by a bank of earth and stone. Although they are common on the Moor, their longevity of use and their relationship with other monument types provides important information on the diversity of social organisation and farming practices among prehistoric communities. They are particularly representative of their period and a substantial proportion of surviving examples are considered worthy of protection.

This hut circle on Craddock Moor survives well and has not been excavated. Its proximity to other broadly contemporary hut circles, enclosures and clearance cairns demonstrates well the nature of land use during the Bronze Age.

Details

The monument comprises an unenclosed stone hut circle situated on the south west edge of Craddock Moor on Bodmin Moor. The hut circle survives with a well preserved circular wall, 1.5m wide and 0.5m high, composed of rubble and large boulders up to 1m across. The wall fully encloses a circular internal area 5.5m in diameter, levelled into the hillslope. The hut circle is one of several prehistoric settlement features dispersed about this hillside, including other unenclosed hut circles, enclosures and heaps of cleared stone.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract. It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features, considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number: 15074

Legacy System: RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Sharpe, A, The Minions Area Archaeological Survey and Management (Volume 2), (1989)
Other
7/1991, Carter, A./RCHME, 1:2500 AP transcription for SX 2471,
consulted 6/1991, Cornwall SMR entry for PRN 1280,
consulted 6/1991, Cornwall SMR entry for PRN 1282,
consulted 6/1991, Cornwall SMR entry for PRN 1299,
consulted 6/1991, Cornwall SMR entry for PRN 1356,
consulted 6/1991, Cornwall SMR entry for PRN 14113,

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 Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.