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, which falls into seven areas, includes three agglomerated
enclosures containing stone hut circles, a round cairn and part of the Stannon
block field system lying on White Ridge within Great Stannon Newtake. The
northern agglomerated enclosure is attached to a reave belonging to the
Stannon block system and includes at least eight irregular shaped areas each
defined by boulder and rubble walling. Seven stone hut circles survive within
the enclosure and five of these are butted by enclosure walling. The second
agglomerated enclosure lies south of the first and includes at least five
enclosed areas denoted by 1.2m wide and 0.3m high rubble walling. Two stone
hut circles are linked to the enclosure walling and the remaining two huts are
freestanding within the enclosed areas. The round cairn lies immediately to
the west of this settlement and survives as a 7.2m diameter and 0.9m high
mound defined on the western side by a stone kerb which may survive elsewhere
as a buried feature. A small pit in the centre of the mound suggests robbing
or partial early excavation.
The eastern agglomerated enclosure is attached to a reave belonging to the
Stannon block field system and includes at least nine enclosed areas. The two
largest enclosures are rectangular in shape, although many of the others are
irregular in plan. At least six stone hut circles survive within the
enclosures and one has been converted into a shelter in historic times.
The stone hut circles within the three settlements all survive as banks
surrounding an oval or circular internal area which varies from 7.06 square
metres to 60.79 square metres with the average being 27.65 square metres. The
height of the surrounding walls varies between 0.3m and 1.4m, with the average
being 0.6m. The orthostatic, rubble bank and coursed walling building
traditions are all represented. Eleven of the huts have visible doorways, one
has an annex and eight were partially excavated by the Dartmoor Exploration
Committee towards the end of the 19th century.
Part of the Stannon block field system survives within this monument. The
northern and eastern settlements are attached to the reaves of this field
system. The field system within the monument survives as four parallel reaves
leading westward from a north to south terminal reave. The reaves forming the
field system vary in character, but are generally composed of rubble walling
measuring up to 2m wide and 0.5m high. The terminal reave is cut in two
places by leats which carried water from the East Dart River to the tinworks
at Birch Tor and Vitifer.
The interior of the fields are excluded from the monument except where
other archaeological remains are known to survive.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
28683
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
