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. Elaborate complexes of fields and
field boundaries are some of the major features of the Dartmoor landscape. The
reaves are part of an extensive system of prehistoric land division introduced
during the Bronze Age (c.2000-700 BC). They consist of simple linear stone
banks used to mark out discrete territories, some of which are tens of
kilometres in extent. The systems are defined by parallel, contour and
watershed reaves, dividing the lower land from the grazing zones of the higher
moor and defining the watersheds of adjacent river systems. Occupation sites
and funerary or ceremonial monuments are often incorporated in, or associated
with, reave complexes. Their longevity and their relationship with other
monument types provide important information on the diversity of social
organisation, land divisions and farming practices amongst prehistoric
communities. They show considerable longevity as a monument type, sometimes
surviving as fossilised examples in medieval field plans. They are an
important element in the existing landscape and, as such, a substantial
proportion of surviving examples are considered worthy of protection.
The length of reave 290m and 280m south east of Cox Tor survives well and
forms part of an extensive coaxial field system. The military emplacements
associated with this reave provide an insight into the later use of this area
of the Moor for military training purposes during the 20th century.
Details
The monument, which falls into two separate areas of protection, includes a
length of reave and three military mortar emplacements situated on a
moderately steep south facing slope of Cox Tor overlooking Whitchurch Common.
The reave, which forms part of a coaxial field system that extends over much
of Whitchurch Common, survives as a 2m wide and 0.6m high rubble bank which is
faced in places with larger stones. Two main lengths of reave survive, with
the western part measuring 140m long and the eastern section being 500m long.
The western military emplacement cuts into the southern edge of the reave
and survives as a 3.5m long by 3.5m wide triangular shaped area denoted by a
1.4m wide earthwork bank standing up to 0.4m high. A south facing gap in the
bank represents an entrance. The central emplacement also cuts into the
reave, but this one survives as a 4.7m diameter circular area denoted by a
0.8m wide bank standing up to 0.4m high. A lowering of the southern bank may
represent an entrance. The western emplacement is situated at NGR SX53507605
and survives as a 4.7m diameter circular area surrounded by a 1.7m wide bank
standing up to 0.6m high. The interior of this structure is sunken about 0.6m
below the surrounding ground surface. These three military emplacements fall
within a former military training area and represent the use of this area for
training purposes by allied troops in the build up to D-Day.
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.
