The North Teign coaxial field system (western part) and associated later remains at Shovel Down, Stonetor Hill and Long Ridge

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. Elaborate complexes of fields and field boundaries are some of the major features of the Dartmoor landscape. The reaves are part of an extensive system of prehistoric land division introduced during the Bronze Age (c.2000-700 BC). They consist of simple linear stone banks used to mark out discrete territories, some of which are tens of kilometres in extent. The systems are defined by parallel, contour and watershed reaves, dividing the lower land from the grazing zones of the higher moor and defining the watersheds of adjacent river systems. Occupation sites and funerary or ceremonial monuments are often incorporated in, or associated with, reave complexes. Their longevity and their relationship with other monument types provide important information on the diversity of social organisation, land divisions and farming practices amongst prehistoric communities. They show considerable longevity as a monument type, sometimes surviving as fossilised examples in medieval field plans. They are an important element in the existing landscape and, as such, a substantial proportion of surviving examples are considered worthy of protection.

The coaxial field system on Shovel Down, Stonetor Hill and Long Ridge (known locally as Langridge) is a well preserved example of its class which, with associated settlements, funerary and ritual remains, illustrates well the varied nature and the scale of prehistoric land use on this part of the moor. Field boundaries and the remains of industrial activity of later periods provides further evidence for the history of exploitation of the moor's natural resources. The time depth represented at this monument will provide the opportunity for understanding changes in land use and management practice over at least a 4000 year period.

Details

The monument, which falls into 11 areas, includes part of the prehistoric coaxial field system known as North Teign, ten broadly contemporary settlements, two agglomerated enclosures, an irregular aggregate field system, nine funerary cairns, six stone alignments, a standing stone and stone circle. Archaeological features of historic date include two field systems, an enclosure, shelter, animal pen, two streamworks, a lode back tinwork together with an adit, a cache, three lengths of leat, two areas of stone splitting pits and three boundary stones. The coaxial field system includes a large number of fields arranged on a single prevailing axis, subdivided by transverse boundaries. Within the area defined by the fields there are seven settlements. The largest of these lies on the west facing slope of Shovel Down overlooking the Stonetor Brook and includes 22 stone hut circles sitting within or close to a group of relatively small fields. On the eastern side of Shovel Down an irregular aggregate field system together with at least six huts forms a further settlement. The remainder survive as groups of huts varying in number from one up to 12 scattered throughout the coaxial field system. Three settlements lie just outside the coaxial field system. The largest lies at Stonetor Brook Head and includes at least 48 stone hut circles, many of which are associated with an agglomerated enclosure. The remaining huts within this settlement are apparently unenclosed. Another settlement lies to the north and includes a group of four unenclosed stone hut circles. The remaining settlement includes a solitary hut lying on gently sloping ground on the northern side of Shovel Down. Most of the prehistoric ritual monuments lie on the eastern side of Shovel Down where, six alignments associated with a stone circle, a standing stone, two round cairns and a ring cairn survive. Further cairns survive in the centre of Shovel Down and in the valley between Shovel Down and Stonetor Hill. The historic archaeology includes a wide range of remains relating to the exploitation of this area during the medieval and post medieval periods. A number of field boundaries cutting through the earlier field system indicate historic attempts to enclose the area. Within the Langridge Newtake a large stone built enclosure associated with a shelter, animal pen and another building indicate more prolonged and intensive agricultural use during post medieval times. In two places areas of medieval alluvial tin streamworking earthworks survive. The streamwork at the western edge of Shovel Down contains a large number of parallel banks and a cache, whilst the one on the eastern edge of the down survives close to a small lode back tinwork complete with a small adit. Evidence for further extraction of mineral resources is provided by two distinct concentrations of stone cutting pits from which surface granite was quarried during the post medieval period. The most extensive of these lies on the northern side of Shovel Down and the other on the northern slopes of Stonetor Hill. Two of the three leats surviving within the monument were cut to serve tinworks within the area, whilst the third carried water to a mill at Southill. Two of the boundary stones surviving within the monument denote the boundary between Gidleigh and the neighbouring parishes. Both stones originally formed part of the stone alignments on the eastern side of Shovel Down.

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:

28663

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, (1991), 178-81
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, (1991), 183
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, (1991), 185
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, (1991), 188
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, (1991), 182
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, (1991)
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, (1991), 179
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, (1991), 185
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, (1991), 186
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, (1991), 189
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, (1991), 181
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, (1991), 182
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, (1991), 183
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, (1991), 183
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, (1991), 183
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, (1991), 179
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, (1991), 180

Other
National Archaeological Record, SX68NW53.1, (1991)
National Archaeological Record, SX68NW21.26, (1991)
National Archaeological Record, SX68NE124, (1991)
National Archaeological Record, SX68NE41.5, (1991)
National Archaeological Record, SX68NW53.4, (1991)
Devon County Sites and Monuments Register, SX68NE231, (1993)
Devon County Sites and Monuments Register, SX68NW114, (1995)
MPP fieldwork by S. Gerrard, Gerrard, S., (1997)
MPP fieldwork by S. Gerrard, Gerrard, S., (1997)
National Archaeological Record, SX68NW67, (1991)
National Archaeological Record, SX68NE41.4, (1991)
National Archaeological Record, SX68NW56, (1991)
National Archaeological Record, SX68NW24, (1991)
National Archaeological Record, SX68NE75, (1991)
National Archaeological Record, SX68NW20.9, (1991)
National Archaeological Record, SX68NW21.8, (1991)
Devon County Sites and Monuments Register, SX68NE283,
Devon County Sites and Monuments Register, SX68NE285,
National Archaeological Record, SX68NE52, (1991)
National Archaeological Record, SX68NW21, (1991)
National Archaeological Record, SX68NW60, (1991)
Devon County Sites and Monuments Register, SX68NE274, (1995)
Devon County Sites and Monuments Register, SX68NW109, (1995)
National Archaeological Record, SX68NE110, (1991)
National Archaeological Record, SX68NW20.6, (1991)
National Archaeological Record, SX68NW21.4, (1991)
Devon County Sites and Monuments Register, SX68NE173,
National Archaeological Record, SX68NE116, (1991)
National Archaeological Record, SX68NW53.2, (1991)
National Archaeological Record, SX68NW57, (1991)
Devon County Sites and Monuments Register, SX68NW034,
National Archaeological Record, SX68NW21.27, (1991)
Devon County Sites and Monuments Register, SX68NE58, (1995)
Devon County Sites and Monuments Register, SX68SW135,
National Archaeological Record, SX68NW21.1, (1991)
National Archaeological Record, SX68NW21.25, (1991)

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