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 includes three stone hut circles and a length of rubble
walling situated on a gentle south west-facing slope of Hookney Tor
overlooking the valley of the West Webburn River. The northern stone hut
circle survives as a 6.4m diameter internal area surrounded by a 1.6m wide
earthwork bank with occasional protruding stones standing up to 0.7m high.
The central stone hut circle survives as an 8m diameter platform with a
single edge-set slab on the western side, whilst the southern hut measures
6.4m in diameter internally and is denoted on the east by a 0.8m wide
single orthostatic wall standing up to 0.8m high. The western sector of
this building survives as a 2m wide scarp standing up to 0.8m high. The
boundary wall between the two southern huts is of orthostatic construction
and measures up to 2m wide and 0.6m high.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
34503
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
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
