Details

The monument comprises a stone hut circle situated in a broad saddle near the
north-western edge of a field system extending from the earlier Prehistoric
hillfort on Stowe's Hill on Bodmin Moor.
The hut circle survives as a low circular wall of stone rubble, 9m in external
diameter, up to 2m wide and 0.4m high, with six large edge-set inner facing
slabs around a level, circular interior area 5m in diameter. Another of the
facing slabs has become dislodged from the wall's SW sector and now lies flat
in the hut circle interior. Two other facing slabs have recently been
removed, leaving clear sockets in the wall's inner edge where they were
formerly positioned.

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

Bodmin Moor, the largest of the Cornish granite uplands, has long been
recognised to have exceptional preservation of archaeological remains. The
Moor has been the subject of detailed archaeological survey and is one of the
best recorded upland landscapes in England. The extensive relict landscapes of
prehistoric, medieval and post-medieval date provide direct evidence for human
exploitation of the Moor from the earliest prehistoric period onwards. The
well-preserved and often visible relationship between settlement sites, field
systems, ceremonial and funerary monuments as well as later industrial remains
provides significant insights into successive changes in the pattern of land
use through time. Stone hut circles were the dwelling places of prehistoric
farmers on the Moor, mostly dating from the Bronze Age (c.2000-700 BC). The
stone-based round houses survive as low walls or banks enclosing a circular
floor area; remains of a turf or thatch roof are not preserved. The huts occur
singly or in small or large groups and may occur in the open or be enclosed by
a bank of earth and stone. Although they are common on the Moor, their
longevity of use and their relationship with other monument types provides
important information on the diversity of social organisation and farming
practices among prehistoric communities. They are particularly representative
of their period and a substantial proportion of surviving examples are
considered worthy of protection.

This stone hut circle near Sharptor has survived reasonably well. Despite
some recent disturbance limited to some of the larger facing slabs it will
retain its original sub-surface features besides the visible evidence for its
wall construction. It is located in an unusual valley floor situation at the
edge of a Prehistoric field system bordering an earlier Prehistoric hillfort.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Books and journals
Fletcher, M J, 'From Cornwall to Caithness. Papers presented to Norman Quinnell' in Stowe's Pound, , Vol. 209, (1989)
Other
consulted 6/1991, Carter, A./RCHME, 1:2500 AP transcription for SX 2573,
consulted 6/1991, Cornwall SMR entry for PRN 1463,
consulted 9/1991, Cornwall SMR entry for PRN 1398,

Source: Historic England