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An agglomerated enclosed settlement 480m west of Stoneyhurst

A Scheduled Monument in South Tawton, Devon

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Coordinates

Latitude: 50.7063 / 50°42'22"N

Longitude: -3.9112 / 3°54'40"W

OS Eastings: 265141.20429

OS Northings: 91370.27539

OS Grid: SX651913

Mapcode National: GBR Q7.9WK7

Mapcode Global: FRA 27P6.Q21

Entry Name: An agglomerated enclosed settlement 480m west of Stoneyhurst

Scheduled Date: 4 February 1999

Last Amended: 24 September 1999

Source: Historic England

Source ID: 1017285

English Heritage Legacy ID: 28705

County: Devon

Civil Parish: South Tawton

Traditional County: Devon

Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Devon

Church of England Parish: South Tawton St Andrew

Church of England Diocese: Exeter

Details

The monument includes an agglomerated enclosed settlement situated on a
relatively steep east facing slope of Cosdon Hill overlooking Shilley Pool.
The agglomerated enclosure includes two enclosed areas, each defined by
rubble bank walling. The eastern enclosure is earliest and contains a stone
hut circle. Both enclosures are irregular in shape and lynchetted in places.
The stone hut circle survives as a 1.6m wide and 0.4m high rubble bank
surrounding a 5.1m diameter circular internal area.

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 agglomerated enclosed settlement 480m west of Stoneyhurst survives well
and forms a focal point within a coaxial field system. The settlement
provides a valuable contrast with the nearby settlements on Throwleigh Common.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
MPP fieldwork by S. Gerrard, Gerrard, S., (1997)

Source: Historic England

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