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.
The length of reave lying close to the settlement is broadly contemporary
and was built to mark out a territorial division. The vermin traps and pillow
mounds are by contrast of historic date and form part of the important
Trowlesworthy Warren. Warrens are areas of land set aside for the breeding
and management of rabbits or hares. They usually include a series of
purpose-built breeding places, known as pillow mounds and buries, vermin traps
and enclosures designed to contain and protect the animals, and living
quarters for the warrener who kept charge of the warren. All well preserved
warrens are considered worthy of protection.
The enclosed settlement, length of reave, two vermin traps and pillow
mound 770m east of Trowlesworthy Warren House, together form an important part
of the archaeological evidence relating to the prehistoric and historic
exploitation of the Upper Plym Valley.
Details
This monument, which falls into three areas of protection, includes an
enclosed stone hut circle settlement, a length of reave together with a
further hut circle, two vermin traps and a pillow mound situated on a gentle
north facing slope of Little Trowlesworthy Tor overlooking the valley of the
River Plym.
The enclosed stone hut circle settlement survives as a 45m long by 40m wide
sub-rectangular enclosure containing three stone hut circles. The reave lies
to the east of the settlement and survives as a 204m long rubble bank
measuring up to 5m wide and 1m high. A stone hut circle is attached to the
eastern side of the reave, which is also cut by a number of historic trackways
and two`X'-shaped vermin traps. The pillow mound lies south west of the reave
and survives as a 21m long, 6m wide and 0.5m high, flat-topped, sub-
rectangular mound of soil and stones. A ditch from which material was quarried
during its construction surrounds the mound and survives as a 2m wide and 0.6m
deep hollow. A gully leading westward from the eastern end of the pillow mound
may represent an animal run in which vermin and rabbits were trapped.
Other archaeological features surviving within the vicinity of this monument
are the subject of separate schedulings.
This monument is in the care of the Secretary of State.
MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.
