Circular enclosure 290m north of Great Parford

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.

The circular enclosure 290m north of Great Parford survives well and will contain archaeological and environmental information relating to this area during the prehistoric period. This monument is considered to be a round house platform and as such represents a rare example in an area where stone buildings are more common.

Details

The monument includes a prehistoric circular enclosure situated on a steep south west-facing slope overlooking the valley of an unnamed tributary of the River Teign. The enclosure survives as a 15.2m diameter internal area surrounded by a substantial bank which measures up 7.6m wide and 1.5m high. The enclosure is terraced into the side of the hill and may represent the site of a platform for a circular house.

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:

36026

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
Devon County Sites and Monuments Register, SX78NW70, (1992)

End of official list entry

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