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
The monument includes five stone hut circles within an irregular aggregate
field system situated at the northern tip of Long Ridge, known locally as
Langridge, overlooking the valley of the River North Teign. The irregular
aggregate field system includes at least four fields formed by orthostatic and
rubble bank walling. A length of walling leading west from the settlement may
be part of a larger scale land division boundary.
At least five stone hut circles lie within the field system and of these,
three are free standing and the remainder are butted by lengths of field wall.
The hut circles which are butted by the field walling are clearly earlier than
the field system. The field system shows obvious signs of having developed
over time and was added to a previously unenclosed settlement. The stone hut
circles within the settlement all survive as banks each surrounding circular
internal areas which vary from 18 square metres to 37.37 square metres with
the average being 30.45 square metres. The height of the surrounding walls
varies between 0.3m and 0.75m, with the average being 0.61m. Three of the huts
have visible doorways and all of them are of orthostatic construction.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
28665
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals
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
