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.
Despite limited damage as a result of stone splitting and the construction of
field walls, the partially enclosed stone hut circle settlement at Foggintor
Quarries, 1140m ENE of Criptor survives well as a visually impressive example
of its class. The settlement also displays chronological range, providing
evidence for use and reuse in the prehistoric and historic periods.
Details
The monument, which falls into five separate areas of protection, includes a
partially enclosed stone hut circle settlement together with later historic
structures situated on a gentle south facing slope overlooking an unnamed
tributary of the River Walkham. The major enclosure is agglomerated and
includes two main enclosed areas, each defined by a double faced orthostatic
wall with rubble infill.
The smaller north western enclosure, which measures 36m east to west by 48m
north to south, is earliest and contains two stone hut circles. The larger and
more recent enclosure measures 100m east to west by 124m north to south and
contains five stone hut circles. Immediately west of the agglomerated
enclosure are a further five stone hut circles. Excavations by the Dartmoor
Exploration Committee in 1897 revealed that the northern of these huts had
been reoccupied by medieval tinners, who had left behind tin slag and pottery.
Further west is a small simple enclosure measuring 46m long by up to 37m wide
denoted by a 2m wide rubble bank standing up to 0.4m high. Two stone hut
circles are associated with this enclosure and a further seven lie a short
distance to the north west.
North of the agglomerated enclosure is a small stone hut circle associated
with a 26m long length of rubble walling, whilst to the south east are two
further huts and another length of rubble walling. At one point this rubble
wall is cut through by a post-medieval leat. Other evidence for historic use
of the monument includes a large number of stone splitting pits and a small
shelter built within an earlier stone hut circle.
There are a total of 24 stone hut circles within the settlement and they
survive as banks each surrounding an oval or circular internal area which
varies in size from 4 sq m to 78.5 sq m, with the average being 33 sq m. The
heights of the surrounding walls vary between 0.4m and 1.7m, with the average
being 0.74m. Eleven of the huts have visible doorways, two have a partition,
another a porch and two are rebuilt within earlier huts.
Seven of the huts were excavated by the Dartmoor Exploration Committee and
the results revealed pottery, cooking stones, charcoal, flint tools and
rubbing stones.
The post-medieval drystone wall leading across the simple enclosure is
excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath it is included.
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.
