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 provide 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. Stone hut circles and hut settlements
were the dwelling places of prehistoric farmers on Dartmoor. They mostly date
from the Bronze Age, with the earliest examples on the Moor in this building
tradition dating to about 1700 BC. The stone-based round houses consist of low
walls or banks enclosing a circular floor area; remains of the turf or thatch
roof are not preserved. The huts may occur singly or in small or large groups
and may lie in the open or be enclosed by a bank of earth and stone. Although
they are common on the Moor, their longevity and their relationship with other
monument types provide important information on the diversity of social
organisation and farming practices amongst prehistoric communities. They are
particularly representative of their period and a substantial proportion of
surviving examples are considered worthy of protection.
Details
This monument includes an unenclosed stone hut circle settlement situated on a
gentle north west facing slope overlooking the River Plym. The settlement
includes eight stone hut circles, all terraced into the hillside and lying
within a tight cluster. Most of the stone hut circles survive as banks of
earth and stone each surrounding a circular or oval internal area. Five of the
huts are circular in plan and measure between 4m and 6.5m in diameter. The
remaining huts are oval in shape and measure between 7m and 10m long by 4.5m
and 7m wide. One hut survives as a ring of protruding stones whilst all of
the others are composed of walls measuring between 1m and 1.3m wide and
between 0.25m and 0.4m high. The average width and height of the walls is
1.14m and 0.36m respectively. One of the huts has an annex, and another has a
visible doorway.
A structure attached to the southern outer face of one stone hut circle is
a cache. The cache survives as a 1m wide and 0.3m high rubble wall
surrounding an internal area with a diameter of 1m. The size of this
structure suggests that it was used for storage purposes rather than as a
shelter.
Other archaeological features surviving in the vicinity of this monument are
the subject of separate schedulings.
This monument is in the care of the Secretary of State.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
24240
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
