An agglomerated enclosed settlement 480m west of Stoneyhurst

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

Heritage Category:: Scheduled Monument
List Entry Number:: 1017285
Date first listed:: 04-Feb-1999

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Scheduled Monument
List Entry Number:: 1017285
Date first listed:: 04-Feb-1999
Date of most recent amendment:: 24-Sep-1999

Location

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

County:: Devon
District:: West Devon (District Authority)
Parish:: South Tawton
National Park:: DARTMOOR
National Grid Reference:: SX 65144 91369

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 agglomerated enclosed settlement 480m west of Stoneyhurst survives well and forms a focal point within a coaxial field system. The settlement provides a valuable contrast with the nearby settlements on Throwleigh Common.

Details

The monument includes an agglomerated enclosed settlement situated on a relatively steep east facing slope of Cosdon Hill overlooking Shilley Pool. The agglomerated enclosure includes two enclosed areas, each defined by rubble bank walling. The eastern enclosure is earliest and contains a stone hut circle. Both enclosures are irregular in shape and lynchetted in places. The stone hut circle survives as a 1.6m wide and 0.4m high rubble bank surrounding a 5.1m diameter circular internal area.

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:: 28705
Legacy System:: RSM

Sources

Other
MPP fieldwork by S. Gerrard, Gerrard, S., (1997)

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.