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, which falls into two areas of protection, includes a partially
enclosed stone hut circle settlement situated on a gentle west facing slope
overlooking the O Brook. The settlement includes at least three enclosures and
18 stone hut circles. The northern area of protection contains two enclosures,
at least 16 stone hut circles, a cairn and a number of prospecting pits. The
stone hut circles survive as circular or oval banks each surrounding an
internal area which varies from 7 sq m to 24.6 sq m, with the average being
14.9 sq m. The heights of the surrounding walls vary between 0.3m and 0.8m,
with the average being 0.53m.
Ten of the huts have visible doorways, four abut lengths of enclosure walling
and one underlies a later cairn. This cairn measures 4.4m in diameter and
stands up to 0.8m high.
Only part of the largest enclosure is visible, but the linear distribution
of the hut circles within its vicinity strongly suggests that these buildings
may have once been linked by a palisade or similar structure which now partly
survives as a buried feature. The two smaller enclosures are more complete
and in particular, the northern one possesses a very fine entrance measuring
0.7m wide and defined on both sides by large edge set slabs standing up to
0.75m high.
The second area of protection contains the southernmost enclosure and two
further stone hut circles.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
28772
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
