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 includes a stone hut circle settlement and cairn situated on a
gentle north facing slope of Holne Ridge overlooking the O Brook. The
settlement includes an agglomerated enclosure and three stone hut circles,
which survive as circular banks each surrounding an internal area which varies
from 7 sq m to 15.9 sq m, with the average being 10.7 sq m. The heights of the
surrounding walls vary between 0.4m and 0.8m, with the average being 0.63m.
One of the huts has a visible doorway and abuts the enclosure walling, one
underlies a later cairn and another lies outside the enclosures. The cairn
measures 7.6m in diameter and stands up to 1m high.
The agglomerated enclosure includes two elements. The wall of the eastern
enclosure is substantial, measuring 2.2m wide by up to 0.9m high. This wall is
composed of large rocks which are coursed in places and surrounds an area
measuring 30m by 20m. Two of the stone hut circles lie in this enclosure.
The second enclosure is much slighter in character being defined by a 1m wide
orthostatic wall standing up to 0.6m high.
The western enclosure is cut by two later leats which form part of the
complex leat system carrying water to tinworks on and beyond Holne Moor.
Within the monument, the southern leat is 0.6m wide, 0.15m deep and the upcast
thrown up during its construction forms a 1m wide and 0.1m high bank on the
downslope side. The northern leat is more substantial, measuring 1.7m wide
and 0.7m deep. The associated bank is 1.5m wide and 0.5m high.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
28771
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
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
