Details

The monument, which falls into two areas, includes a partially enclosed stone
hut circle settlement, cairn and cache lying on a gentle west facing slope of
Lints Tor overlooking the West Okement River. The settlement survives as a
group of rubble banks forming at least four incomplete enclosures, in which a
large number of stone hut circles are situated. The stone hut circles all
survive as banks each surrounding circular or oval internal areas which vary
from 2.4 square metres to 27.32 square metres, with the average being 14.09
square metres. The height of the surrounding walls varies between 0.25m and
0.7m, with the average being 0.49m. Seven of the huts have visible doorways,
seven are butted by enclosure walling, one is attached to an enclosure and
most of them are of rubble bank construction.
The cairn lies on the western edge of the settlement and survives as a 7m
diameter mound of stones standing up to 1.6m high. Cut into the top of this
cairn is a cache or shelter with internal dimensions of 1.5m long by 1.3m wide
and 0.7m high. This structure is roofed with a large single slab which
extends from one side to the other.

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 partially enclosed stone hut circle settlement 290m north west of Lints
Tor survives well and forms part of a group of at least three settlements
situated within the upper reaches of the West Okement River. This monument
lies beyond the normally accepted distribution of Dartmoor prehistoric
settlements and will therefore provide a valuble insight into Bronze Age
activity on the high moorland.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
MPP Fieldwork by S. Gerrard, Gerrard, S., (1998)

Source: Historic England