Details

The monument, which falls into 11 areas, includes part of the prehistoric
coaxial field system known as North Teign, ten broadly contemporary
settlements, two agglomerated enclosures, an irregular aggregate field system,
nine funerary cairns, six stone alignments, a standing stone and stone circle.
Archaeological features of historic date include two field systems, an
enclosure, shelter, animal pen, two streamworks, a lode back tinwork together
with an adit, a cache, three lengths of leat, two areas of stone splitting
pits and three boundary stones.
The coaxial field system includes a large number of fields arranged on a
single prevailing axis, subdivided by transverse boundaries. Within the area
defined by the fields there are seven settlements. The largest of these lies
on the west facing slope of Shovel Down overlooking the Stonetor Brook and
includes 22 stone hut circles sitting within or close to a group of relatively
small fields. On the eastern side of Shovel Down an irregular aggregate field
system together with at least six huts forms a further settlement. The
remainder survive as groups of huts varying in number from one up to 12
scattered throughout the coaxial field system.
Three settlements lie just outside the coaxial field system. The largest
lies at Stonetor Brook Head and includes at least 48 stone hut circles, many
of which are associated with an agglomerated enclosure. The remaining huts
within this settlement are apparently unenclosed. Another settlement lies to
the north and includes a group of four unenclosed stone hut circles. The
remaining settlement includes a solitary hut lying on gently sloping ground on
the northern side of Shovel Down.
Most of the prehistoric ritual monuments lie on the eastern side of Shovel
Down where, six alignments associated with a stone circle, a standing stone,
two round cairns and a ring cairn survive. Further cairns survive in the
centre of Shovel Down and in the valley between Shovel Down and Stonetor
Hill.
The historic archaeology includes a wide range of remains relating to the
exploitation of this area during the medieval and post medieval periods. A
number of field boundaries cutting through the earlier field system indicate
historic attempts to enclose the area. Within the Langridge Newtake a large
stone built enclosure associated with a shelter, animal pen and another
building indicate more prolonged and intensive agricultural use during post
medieval times. In two places areas of medieval alluvial tin streamworking
earthworks survive. The streamwork at the western edge of Shovel Down
contains a large number of parallel banks and a cache, whilst the one on the
eastern edge of the down survives close to a small lode back tinwork complete
with a small adit. Evidence for further extraction of mineral resources is
provided by two distinct concentrations of stone cutting pits from which
surface granite was quarried during the post medieval period. The most
extensive of these lies on the northern side of Shovel Down and the other on
the northern slopes of Stonetor Hill. Two of the three leats surviving within
the monument were cut to serve tinworks within the area, whilst the third
carried water to a mill at Southill.
Two of the boundary stones surviving within the monument denote the boundary
between Gidleigh and the neighbouring parishes. Both stones originally formed
part of the stone alignments on the eastern side of Shovel Down.

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. Elaborate complexes of fields and
field boundaries are some of the major features of the Dartmoor landscape. The
reaves are part of an extensive system of prehistoric land division introduced
during the Bronze Age (c.2000-700 BC). They consist of simple linear stone
banks used to mark out discrete territories, some of which are tens of
kilometres in extent. The systems are defined by parallel, contour and
watershed reaves, dividing the lower land from the grazing zones of the higher
moor and defining the watersheds of adjacent river systems. Occupation sites
and funerary or ceremonial monuments are often incorporated in, or associated
with, reave complexes. Their longevity and their relationship with other
monument types provide important information on the diversity of social
organisation, land divisions and farming practices amongst prehistoric
communities. They show considerable longevity as a monument type, sometimes
surviving as fossilised examples in medieval field plans. They are an
important element in the existing landscape and, as such, a substantial
proportion of surviving examples are considered worthy of protection.

The coaxial field system on Shovel Down, Stonetor Hill and Long Ridge (known
locally as Langridge) is a well preserved example of its class which, with
associated settlements, funerary and ritual remains, illustrates well the
varied nature and the scale of prehistoric land use on this part of the moor.
Field boundaries and the remains of industrial activity of later periods
provides further evidence for the history of exploitation of the moor's
natural resources. The time depth represented at this monument will provide
the opportunity for understanding changes in land use and management practice
over at least a 4000 year period.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Books and journals
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, (1991), 178-81
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, (1991), 183
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, (1991), 185
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, (1991), 188
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, (1991), 182
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, (1991)
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, (1991), 179
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, (1991), 185
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, (1991), 186
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, (1991), 189
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, (1991), 181
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, (1991), 182
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, (1991), 183
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, (1991), 183
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, (1991), 183
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, (1991), 179
Butler, J, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, (1991), 180
Other
Devon County Sites and Monuments Register, SX68NE173,
Devon County Sites and Monuments Register, SX68NE231, (1993)
Devon County Sites and Monuments Register, SX68NE274, (1995)
Devon County Sites and Monuments Register, SX68NE283,
Devon County Sites and Monuments Register, SX68NE285,
Devon County Sites and Monuments Register, SX68NE58, (1995)
Devon County Sites and Monuments Register, SX68NW034,
Devon County Sites and Monuments Register, SX68NW109, (1995)
Devon County Sites and Monuments Register, SX68NW114, (1995)
Devon County Sites and Monuments Register, SX68SW135,
MPP fieldwork by S. Gerrard, Gerrard, S., (1997)
MPP fieldwork by S. Gerrard, Gerrard, S., (1997)
National Archaeological Record, SX68NE110, (1991)
National Archaeological Record, SX68NE116, (1991)
National Archaeological Record, SX68NE124, (1991)
National Archaeological Record, SX68NE41.4, (1991)
National Archaeological Record, SX68NE41.5, (1991)
National Archaeological Record, SX68NE52, (1991)
National Archaeological Record, SX68NE75, (1991)
National Archaeological Record, SX68NW20.6, (1991)
National Archaeological Record, SX68NW20.9, (1991)
National Archaeological Record, SX68NW21, (1991)
National Archaeological Record, SX68NW21.1, (1991)
National Archaeological Record, SX68NW21.25, (1991)
National Archaeological Record, SX68NW21.26, (1991)
National Archaeological Record, SX68NW21.27, (1991)
National Archaeological Record, SX68NW21.4, (1991)
National Archaeological Record, SX68NW21.8, (1991)
National Archaeological Record, SX68NW24, (1991)
National Archaeological Record, SX68NW53.1, (1991)
National Archaeological Record, SX68NW53.2, (1991)
National Archaeological Record, SX68NW53.4, (1991)
National Archaeological Record, SX68NW56, (1991)
National Archaeological Record, SX68NW57, (1991)
National Archaeological Record, SX68NW60, (1991)
National Archaeological Record, SX68NW67, (1991)

Source: Historic England