Hut circle and enclosure 350m north west of Tarn Dub

Reasons for Designation

Stone hut circles and hut circle settlements were the dwelling places of prehistoric farmers. Most date from the Bronze Age (c.2000-700 BC). The stone- based round-houses consist of low walls or banks enclosing a circular floor area; the remains of the turf, thatch or heather roofs 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 or stone. Frequently traces of their associated field systems may be found immediately around them. These may be indicated by areas of clearance cairns and/or the remains of field walls and other enclosures. The longevity of use of hut circle settlements and their relationship with other monument types provides 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.

Although stone hut circle settlements are generally considered to be Bronze Age in date, evidence for Teesdale suggests that they may sometimes be slightly later, belonging to the Iron Age or Roman period (500BC-AD400). This hut circle and enclosure 350m north west of Tarn Dub survive well. They form an important part of the wider prehistoric landscape of Upper Teesdale, and will contribute to knowledge of late prehistoric settlement patterns.

Details

The monument includes a hut circle with a small attached enclosure below Cronkley Scar. The centre of the site lies 15m south of the centre of a sheepfold and shed between Kirk Sike and Tarn Dub on Cronkley Pasture. The hut circle is approximately 8m in diameter, with whinstone boulder walls 1m wide and up to 0.4m high. The entrance was probably facing west. The hut circle is attached to the east side of a small triangular boulder-walled enclosure 8m wide and 9m long.

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.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

35954

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
Coggins D, MA thesis: The Archaeology of Early Settlement in Upper Teesdale, 1984, No 49: Tarn Rigg Fold

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