Prehistoric stone hut circle settlement 240m south east of Dow Scar

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

Heritage Category:: Scheduled Monument
List Entry Number:: 1019050
Date first listed:: 17-May-2000

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Scheduled Monument
List Entry Number:: 1019050
Date first listed:: 17-May-2000

Location

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:: Westmorland and Furness (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Murton
National Grid Reference:: NY 76561 22483

Reasons for Designation

Stone hut circles and hut circle settlements were the dwelling places of prehistoric farmers. Most date from the Bronze Age (c.2000-700 BC). The stone- based round-houses consist of low walls or banks enclosing a circular floor area; the remains of the turf, thatch or heather roofs 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 or stone. Frequently traces of their associated field systems may be found immediately around them. These may be indicated by areas of clearance cairns and/or the remains of field walls and other enclosures. The longevity of use of hut circle settlements and their relationship with other monument types provides 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 prehistoric stone hut circle settlement 240m south east of Dow Scar survives well and is a good example of this class of monument. Along with other prehistoric monuments in the vicinity it indicates the importance of this area in prehistoric times and the diversity of monument classes to be found here.

Details

The monument includes a prehistoric stone hut circle settlement located on a gently sloping hillside plateau overlooking Scordale Beck, 240m south east of Dow Scar. It includes a sub-rectangular stone walled enclosure with maximum external dimensions of 21m north east-south west by 17m north west-south east. Attached to the outside of the enclosure's south corner are the lower courses of a stone hut circle measuring approximately 8m in diameter.

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:: 32851
Legacy System:: RSM

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.