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 circles, or circular
arrangements of upright stones, were set into the ground and acted as
ceremonial and funerary monuments during the later Neolithic and Bronze Age
periods (c.2400-700 BC). On Dartmoor they are often found in association with
stone alignments and burial monuments such as cairns and cists. The circles
may be single or enclose further circles; they may occur as isolated examples
or in groups. The 26 examples on Dartmoor form one of the most dense
concentrations of monuments of this type in the country. Due to their relative
rarity (with a national population of only some 200 examples) and longevity as
a monument type, all stone circles are considered to be nationally important.
Details
The monument, which falls into two areas of protection, includes a stone
circle and an associated outlying outlying standing stone situated on a gentle
north facing slope overlooking the valley of the River Dart. The stone circle
measures 25m in diameter and is denoted by five upright granite slabs,
standing up to 1.45m high, which are confined to its south western sector. A
further six recumbent stones lie where they have fallen. The stone circle was
partially excavated in 1904 by the Dartmoor Exploration Committee and their
work revealed the original ground surface covered with charcoal. The standing
stone lies 85m south east of the stone circle and survives as a triangular
shaped block up to 0.86m high, tapering to a roughly rounded top.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
28737
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
