Details

The monument includes a stone hut circle situated on the lower SE flank of
Hawk's Tor on eastern Bodmin Moor, near other broadly contemporary hut circle
settlements, enclosures, field systems and cairns.
The hut circle survives with a wall of heaped rubble, up to 0.7m high and 1.5m
wide, faced both internally and externally by edge-set slabs. The wall
defines a circular internal area, 9.75m in diameter, levelled into the
hillslope. The interior of the hut circle contains two small free-standing
slabs, called orthostats, 0.5m and 0.6m high respectively and 1m apart on an
east-west axis, situated slightly NW of the hut circle centre. A marked
accumulation of deposits washed down the hillslope is present against the
uphill, NW, side of the hut circle wall. This hut circle is an outlying
member of a dispersed, unenclosed settlement containing at least 23 hut
circles, whose main concentration is centred 110m SW of this monument.

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 Hawk's Tor has survived well. It displays a most unusual
feature in the form of the paired internal orthostats. The substantial
build-up of deposits against its uphill side will preserve buried land
surfaces and environmental evidence contemporary with, and subsequent to, its
construction and use. Its proximity to other broadly contemporary settlement
sites, enclosures, field systems and cairns demonstrates well the nature of
farming practices and the organisation of land use during the Bronze Age.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Books and journals
King, G, Sheppard, P, 'Cornish Archaeology' in Parochial Checklist of Antiquities 10: Parish of North Hill, , Vol. 18, (1979)
Other
consulted 10/1991, Carter, A./RCHME, 1:2500 AP transcription for SX 2576,
consulted 10/1991, Cornwall SMR entry for PRN 1178,
consulted 10/1991, Cornwall SMR entry for PRN 1178.19,
consulted 9/1991, Cornwall SMR entry for PRN 1014,
consulted 9/1991, Cornwall SMR entry for PRN 1190,

Source: Historic England