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, which falls into three separate areas of protection, includes a
partially enclosed stone hut circle settlement situated on both sides of the
Hentor Brook on a gentle north west facing slope of Hen Tor.
The enclosure lies on the northern side of the Hentor Brook and survives as a
55m long by 40m wide sub-rectangular area defined by a 2m wide and 0.5m high
rubble bank with large boulders and occasional orthostats. The enclosure
contains two stone hut circles and a third is linked to the circuit wall. A
length of rubble bank leads north from the enclosure and to the east of this
is a stone hut circle, which is itself attached to another short length of
curved rubble bank.
On the southern side of the Hentor Brook are a cluster of three stone hut
circles, two of which are joined to each other. Three distinct lengths of
rubble bank lead away from this group of huts and these may represent the
remnants of another enclosure which survives largely beneath peat deposits.
The third element of the monument is an isolated stone hut circle which lies
downstream on the southern side of the Hentor Brook.
Other archaeological features surviving within the vicinity of this
monument are the subject of separate schedulings.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
28792
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals 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
