Details

The monument comprises a small stone hut circle situated near a Prehistoric
linear boundary on the upper SW slope of the Langstone Downs on SE Bodmin
Moor. It is located above extensive Prehistoric field systems and settlement
sites on the lower slopes of the Langstone Downs.
The hut circle survives with a circular rubble wall, up to 1.5m wide and 0.5m
high, around an internal area 4m in diameter and levelled into the hill
slope.
The wall has a 1m wide gap facing ESE marking the site of the original
entrance. There is no evidence of disturbance to the hut circle itself but a
modern granite boundary marker post, 1.5m high, has been erected immediately
beyond the SSW edge of the hut circle wall and others have been laid on the
turf against its western side.
The erect and prone modern boundary posts are excluded from the scheduling but
the ground beneath them is included.

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 hut circle on the Langstone Downs has survived reasonably well with no
evidence of disturbance. Its proximity to a broadly contemporary land
boundary and to hut circle settlements and field systems on the lower slopes
of the Downs provides an insight into the nature of settlement
organisation and farming practices during the Bronze Age.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
consulted 9/1991, Carter, A./RCHME, 1:2500 AP transcriptions for SX 2473 SX 2474 SX 2573,
consulted 9/1991, Cornwall SMR entries for PRN 1398 (NW edge);1274 (SE edge);1287,
consulted 9/1991, Cornwall SMR entry for PRN 1398,
consulted 9/1991, Cornwall SMR entry for PRN 1398.23,

Source: Historic England