Hoar Moor and Codsend Moors, Exford and Cutcombe, Somerset, Exmoor National Park: Historic Landscape Analysis
Author(s): Hazel Riley
A survey and analysis of the archaeology and historic landscape surviving on Hoar Moor and Codsend Moors in the parishes of Exford and Cutcombe, West Somerset, and within Exmoor National Park, was carried out by the English Heritage Archaeological Survey and Investigation Team (Exeter) in 2008. The work was carried out following concerns about the degradation of the historic environment features in the area resulting from the MIRE Project and from changes in land use on the moors. Hoar Moor and Codsend Moors preserve an extensive prehistoric and historic landscape, which, in close association with palaeoecological deposits and an excellent set of documentary evidence, contain some of the most complete evidence for the story of the development of Exmoor’s landscape from the 3rd millennium BC to the present day. The prehistoric elements include a ritual or ceremonial landscape of burial cairns and standing stones dating from the late 3rd/early 2nd millennium BC which is associated with the great barrow cemeteries on Rowbarrow and Dunkery Beacon. The most important component of the prehistoric landscape is an extensive relict field system and associated settlement features which date from the mid-late 2nd millennium BC to the 1st millennium BC. Overlying the prehistoric landscape are relict field systems which date from the 16th/17th century AD and deserted farmsteads from the 19th century.
- Report Number:
- 15/2009
- Series:
- Research Department Reports
- Pages:
- 41
