Details

The monument includes a stone hut circle settlement, round cairn and part of a prehistoric field system situated on the north facing slopes of Trewey Common. The settlement includes at least three stone hut circles which are defined either by stone and earth banks of up to 0.9m high or by double faced stone walls of up to 1m high. Within the banks, their circular interiors range from 5m up to 7m in diameter. One of the huts lies within a small enclosure. The settlement was excavated by FC Hirst and D Dudley in 1936 - 1937, and a number of Bronze Age artefacts were recovered. Trackways through the field system, apparently bounded by banks, lead to the settlement. The round cairn survives as an oval stony mound measuring 6.2m long, 4.2m wide and up to 0.8m high. It appears to lie between two separate parts of the field system. Partially excavated by Dudley in 1936 a cist was revealed and finds included flints, pebbles and a piece of slate. The field system covers an area of approximately 13ha. The fields are defined by low stone and earth banks of up to 0.5m high and some lynchets of up to 0.3m high. The field system was developed over at least two chronological phases with the southern half added to the northern. A further enclosure to the east may be an annexe to this system or the start of another separate one. There are many field clearance cairns scattered throughout the field system. The fields on the lower slopes contain ridge and furrow indicating medieval re-use of the earlier field system. To the west a number of post medieval prospecting pits and shafts associated with Trewey Downs Mine cut through some of the fields.

Sources: HER:-
PastScape Monument No:-423330

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

Stone hut circles and hut circle settlements were the dwelling places of prehistoric farmers. Most date from the Bronze Age (c.2000-700 BC). The stone- based round-houses consist of low walls or banks enclosing a circular floor area; the remains of the turf, thatch or heather roofs 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 or stone. Frequently traces of their associated field systems may be found immediately around them. These may be indicated by areas of clearance cairns and/or the remains of field walls and other enclosures. The longevity of use of hut circle settlements and their relationship with other monument types provides important information on the diversity of social organisation and farming practices amongst prehistoric communities. They are particularly representative of their period. Round cairns are prehistoric funerary monuments dating to the Bronze Age. They were constructed as stone mounds covering single or multiple burials. These burials may be placed within the mound in stone-lined compartments called cists. In some cases the cairn was surrounded by a ditch. Often occupying prominent locations, cairns are a major visual element in the modern landscape. They are a relatively common feature of the uplands and are the stone equivalent of the earthen round barrows of the lowlands. Their considerable variation in form and 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. The stone hut circle settlement, round cairn and part of a prehistoric field system 500m south of Foage Farm survives well and is an example of a Bronze Age landscape containing domestic, ritual, agrarian and pastoral elements which will contain archaeological and environmental evidence relating to the construction, development, relative chronologies, relationships, territorial and ritual significance, agricultural practices, domestic arrangements and overall context of the constituent parts.

Source: Historic England