Details

The monument includes a small unenclosed hut circle settlement with an
adjacent ovoid enclosure and attached boundary wall, situated near a
Prehistoric field system and other scattered hut circles in the broad valley
between Kilmar Tor and Hawk's Tor, part of Twelve Men's Moor on eastern Bodmin
Moor.
The hut circle settlement includes four stone hut circles. Three are situated
south of the enclosure's eastern end and form a cluster separated by gaps 1-2m
wide; the fourth hut circle is situated 33m north of the other three, on the
opposite side of the enclosure's eastern end. The hut circles survive with
circular walls of heaped rubble, up to 1.5m wide and 0.8m high, around
levelled internal areas ranging from 3m to 6.5m in diameter. The walls
contain occasional inner facing slabs and entrance gaps are visible in two
examples, facing north and ENE respectively. One of these entrances is
flanked to one side by an end-set slab, called an orthostat. The smallest hut
circle incorporates two massive ground-fast boulders in the northern sector of
its wall. The enclosure is defined by a wall of heaped rubble, up to 1.25m
wide and 0.7m high, incorporating some lengths of boulders placed in a
contiguous line. The wall encloses an ovoid internal area measuring 46m ENE-
WSW by 25m maximum NNW-SSE and encompasses a small but marked natural terrace
in the hillslope. A low rubble wall, up to 1.5m wide and 0.4m high, extends
WSW for 52m from the western end of the enclosure, causing an angular change
of direction in the enclosure wall where the two walls meet. All of the
walling in the monument has a considerable build-up of deposits against its
uphill, southern, sides comprising material washed down the hillslope since
its construction.

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 settlement, enclosure and boundary wall on Twelve Men's Moor
has survived well without any evident or recorded disturbance. The soil
build-up since their construction will also preserve contemporary land
surfaces and environmental deposits. It contains a small group of
contemporary, inter-related structures which, together with its proximity to
other broadly contemporary hut circles and field boundaries, demonstrates well
the nature of settlement during the Bronze Age.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
9/1991, Carter, A./RCHME, 1:2500 AP transcription for SX 2575 (Consulted 9/1991),
Consulted 9/1991, Cornwall SMR entries for PRN 1190.05/6/7/8,
consulted 9/1991, Cornwall SMR entry for PRN 1014,
consulted 9/1991, Cornwall SMR entry for PRN 1173,
consulted 9/1991, Cornwall SMR entry for PRN 1190,
Consulted 9/1991, Cornwall SMR entry for PRN 1190.11,

Source: Historic England