Three agglomerated enclosures, a round cairn and part of the Stannon block field system lying within Great Stannon Newtake

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 three agglomerated enclosures, round cairn and this part of the Stannon block field system survive well and together with other nearby broadly contemporary settlement sites, ceremonial monuments and land division boundaries provide an important insight into the nature of Bronze Age occupation and exploitation on the eastern fringes of the northern moor. Relatively deep peat and soil deposits cover this monument and these will contain information about past environmental conditions.

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.

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:

28683

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, (1991), 159-161
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, (1991), 159-161
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, (1991), 159-161
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, (1991), 159-161

Other
Title: Duchy Farms Report - Great Stannon Newtake Source Date: 1990 Author: Publisher: Surveyor: 1:10,000 Map

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