Reasons for Designation
Exmoor is the most easterly of the three main upland areas in the south
western peninsula of England. In contrast to the other two areas, Dartmoor and
Bodmin Moor, there has been no history of antiquarian research and little
excavation of its monuments. However, survey work has confirmed a comparable
richness of archaeological remains with evidence of human exploitation and
occupation from the Mesolithic period to the present day. The well-preserved
and often visible relationships between settlement sites, major land
boundaries, trackways and ceremonial and funerary monuments give insight into
successive changes in the pattern of land-use through time.
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
are often sited close to prehistoric burial monuments, such as small cairns
and cists, and to ritual monuments, such as stone circles, and are therefore
considered to have had an important ceremonial function. Stone alignments were
being constructed and used from the Late Neolithic period to the Middle Bronze
Age (c.2500-1000 BC) and provide rare evidence of ceremonial and ritual
practices during these periods. The recorded examples on Exmoor form an
important subgroup of the total population and are considered to be of
national importance.
Details
The monument includes two standing stones, a recumbent stone and the
archaeologically sensitive area between and around these features. The
alignment is located on the level, southern part of the ridge of Furzehill
Common 850m north west of Hoaroak Farm. The monument forms a row 14.8m long
and orientated north east to south west. The stone at the south western end
has fallen and is 700mm long by 330mm wide and lies within an erosion hollow.
The central stone lying midway between the two outer stones is 100mm high,
240mm wide by 140mm thick and also lies within an erosion hollow. The stone at
the north eastern end of the row is 600mm high, 200mm wide by 150mm thick. It
too has an erosion hollow around it and, though leaning at an angle of some 25
degrees to the north west, is earthfast.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
25216
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals
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
