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.
Details
The monument includes a group of coaxial fields and associated prehistoric
settlements extending from the western side of the East Dart River over
the western and eastern slopes of Hartland Tor. The coaxial fields survive
as a group of fields arranged on a single east-west prevailing axis,
subdivided by transverse boundaries. The boundaries survive as stony banks
measuring up to 2m wide and 0.4m high. Within the area defined by the
fields there are two settlements. The western settlement straddles the
East Dart River and survives as a sub rectangular enclosure denoted by a
rubble bank measuring up to 3m wide and standing up to 0.5m high. The
interior of the enclosure measures 150m east-west by 120m north-south and
contains at least three stone hut circles. This enclosure forms the
western edge of the coaxial fields which contain the second settlement.
This settlement includes at least four stone hut circles and five small
enclosures.
Within the coaxial fields forming the eastern side of the monument are
traces of ridge and furrow which is aligned east-west on an east facing
slope.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
34495
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals Other
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
