Enclosure with hut circles south-west of Penn Beacon

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. Within the landscape of Dartmoor there are many discrete plots of land enclosed by stone walls or banks of stone and earth, most of which date to the Bronze Age (c.2000-700 BC), though earlier and later examples also exist. They were constructed as stock pens or as protected areas for crop growing and were sometimes subdivided to accommodate stock and hut circle dwellings for farmers and herdsmen. The size and form of enclosures may therefore vary considerably depending on their particular function. Their variation in form, longevity and relationship to other monument classes 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.

This enclosure with hut circles south-west of Penn Beacon is closely associated with Penn Beacon and Cholwich Town South reaves and several cairns.

Details

This enclosure with hut circles lies on the south-west slope of Penn Beacon and is sub-circular, measuring 60m by 50m, with banks up to 3m in width and 1m in height. There is a probable entrance to the south which is 3m in width and there are traces of orthostatic facing around the bank. There are two huts within the enclosure, one is 10m in diameter with walls 2m in thickness and up to 1m in height and an entrance to the south-east; the other is 5m in diameter with walls 2m in thickness and 0.7m in height.

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:

10744

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
SX56SE-004, SX56SE-004, (1990)

End of official list entry

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