Ancient Monuments

History on the Ground

This site is entirely user-supported. See how you can help.

Stone hut circle 370m north-east of Sharpitor forming part of a stone hut circle settlement

A Scheduled Monument in Walkhampton, Devon

We don't have any photos of this monument yet. Why don't you be the first to send us one?

Upload Photo »

Approximate Location Map
Large Map »

If Google Street View is available, the image is from the best available vantage point looking, if possible, towards the location of the monument. Where it is not available, the satellite view is shown instead.

Coordinates

Latitude: 50.5179 / 50°31'4"N

Longitude: -4.0303 / 4°1'49"W

OS Eastings: 256160.257256

OS Northings: 70644.291308

OS Grid: SX561706

Mapcode National: GBR Q1.QW04

Mapcode Global: FRA 27FP.KNL

Entry Name: Stone hut circle 370m north-east of Sharpitor forming part of a stone hut circle settlement

Scheduled Date: 8 November 1993

Source: Historic England

Source ID: 1007438

English Heritage Legacy ID: 22278

County: Devon

Civil Parish: Walkhampton

Traditional County: Devon

Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Devon

Details

This monument includes a stone hut circle situated on a gentle north-east
facing slope of Sharpitor overlooking the valley of the River Meavy and
forming part of an unenclosed stone hut circle settlement. The stone hut
circle is composed of a stone and earth wall 1.6m wide and 0.4m high on the
west side defining an internal platform area measuring 4.7m in diameter. The
doorway faces SSE and is clearly defined by upright slabs on the western edge.

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.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

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 stone hut circle settlement on the slopes of Sharpitor survive
comparatively well and will contain archaeological structures, features and
deposits in addition to environmental evidence which, combined, will provide
an insight into settlement and agricultural practice on the western side of
the Moor.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
Gibson, A, Single Monument Class Description - Stone Hut Circles, (1987)

Source: Historic England

Other nearby scheduled monuments

AncientMonuments.uk is an independent online resource and is not associated with any government department. All government data published here is used under licence. Please do not contact AncientMonuments.uk for any queries related to any individual ancient or schedued monument, planning permission related to scheduled monuments or the scheduling process itself.

AncientMonuments.uk is a Good Stuff website.