Cairnfield and field 1030m north west of Archerton

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, 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. Cairnfields are concentrations of three or more cairns sited within close proximity to one another; they may consist of burial cairns or cairns built with stone cleared from the land surface (clearance cairns). Round funerary cairns were constructed during the Bronze Age (c.2000-700 BC) and consisted of earthen or rubble mounds, sometimes ditched, which covered single or multiple burials. Often occupying prominent locations, they are a major visual element in the modern landscape. The considerable variation in the size of cairnfields and their longevity as a monument type provide important information on the diversity of beliefs and social organisation amongst early prehistoric communities. They are particularly representative of their period and a substantial proportion of surviving examples are considered worthy of protection.

The cairnfield and field 1030m north west of Archerton survive well and will contain important environmental and archaeological information relating to the colonisation of this area during the prehistoric period. Deep peat deposits within this area mean that there are opportunities for the preservation of material culture not usually found on the Moor.

Details

The monument includes a cairnfield and field situated on a south east facing slope overlooking the valley of the East Dart River. The cairnfield includes two clusters containing four cairns each. The cairns are circular or oval in shape and average 0.4m high. The associated field survives as an irregular shaped area defined by a 2m wide rubble wall standing 0.2m high.

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:

34487

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
NMR, English Heritage, NMR Monument Report SX 67 NW 223, (2003)

End of official list entry

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