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Summary

Double prehistoric enclosure to the west of Steeperton Gorge with an enclosed hut circle

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Group of Bronze Age hut circle settlements on the eastern slope of Oke Tor, comprising at least two enclosures with associated hut circles and a round cairn
• Scheduled Monument 1016640: Two partially enclosed stone hut circle settlements and a round cairn on the eastern slope of Oke Tor

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX68NW39
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 443769
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX68NW/74
• Old SAM Ref: 28723.06

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• ENCLOSURE (Late Neolithic to Late Bronze Age - 3000 BC to 701 BC)

Full description

Greeves, T. A. P., 1975, Field notes (Worksheet). SDV254454.

(1975) Three prehistoric enclosures seen in this area (SX 616894). The two northernmost are conjoined with a hut circle attached to its west side. The southern enclosure is described as by Robinson.

National Monument Record, 1979, SF1510, 424-9 (Aerial Photograph). SDV224088.

Photograph taken on 26th April 1979.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1979, SX68NW39 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV225087.

(02/10/1979) The cropmarks fall on a steep SE facing slope covered with bracken and heather. No trace of hut circles could be found; it is probable that the marks are caused by vegetation variations.

Robinson, R., 1982, List of Field Monument Warden Visits 1982 (Un-published). SDV345608.

Site visited on 6th August 1982. A prehistoric enclosure south east of Oke Tor, just above the break of slope to Steeperton Gorge. Roughly circular circa 60 metres diameter. Walls are low and faint consisting of a single line of stones only. No hut circles found.

Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England, 1985, Aerial Photograph Project (Dartmoor) - Dartmoor Pre-NMP (Cartographic). SDV319854.

Double enclosure with a hut circle attached to the northern internal wall. The two enclosures in the north referred to by Greeves are SX68NW/111.

Price, D. G., 1985, Changing Perceptions of Prehistoric Tinning on Dartmoor, 129-138 (Article in Serial). SDV215975.

Royal Commission for the Historical Monuments of England, 1987-1993, Duchy Farms Project Survey Visit, P. Newman (Report - Survey). SDV350839.

(20/09/1993) Centred SX 61658945. A series of enclosures and hut circles located on the gently sloping western side of Oke Tor Ridge, 700m south-south-west of the Oke Tor granite outcrop, overlooking Steeperton Gorge to the east. The site was first recorded on the RCHME AP Transcription dated 1985. Six small enclosures survive at SX 61558960, SX 61608958, SX 61648955, SX 61658940, SX 61618932 and SX 61578927.
A further two enclosures depicted on the AP plot, at the extreme north-east of the site could not be verified by field investigation. All the enclosures consist of fragmentary, heavily turf-covered stoney banks which are on average approximately 0.3m high by up to 1.5m wide. Some stone is visible protruding through the turf in places. The largest enclosure at SX 61658940 is also the most complete. It is ovoid in shape and measures 80m north to south by 50m. There is a central east to west partition wall which divides the enclosure into two approximately equal, 'D' shape sections. Within the southern section at SX 61628940 adjacent to the west wall, is a hut circle consisting of a circular, turf-covered bank with an internal diameter of 5.8m north to south by 4m east to west and 0.4m high. Of the other five enclosures the curvature of remaining banks suggest they too were approximately ovoid, although their dimensions are uncertain. The southernmost of these has a hut circle attached at SX 61598927. It has an internal diameter of 3.4m and the bank is approximately 0.4m high. At least five stones of the original walling are visible.
There are two isolated hut circles within the settlement: SX 61698954. A turf-covered circular bank of 5m diameter and 0.25m high. SX 61608930. A possible, though rather small, hut consisting of a turf-covered bank with four stones protruding. The approximate diameter is 2.5m.

Gerrard, S., 1990-2002, Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological Item Dataset., MPP 149263 (Report - Survey). SDV277946.

(04/02/1999) At SX61648939 an agglomerated enclosure forming part of a partially enclosed stone hut circle settlement on the east slope of Oke Tor. Rubble bank wall with large orthostats. 2m wide, 0.6m high.

Probert, S. A. J. + Newman, P., 2003-2004, Measured survey North Dartmoor Military Range Okehampton Range: Monument Baseline Condition Survey, S. Probert (Report - Survey). SDV350801.

(21/10/2003) This site is now so densely covered by vegetation that few of the features described by Authority 3 can be discerned let alone the additional items recorded by English Heritage at time of scheduling (1999).

English Heritage, 2005-2008, Prehistoric Survey Information (Cartographic). SDV345521.

Double enclosure shown on survey.

Historic England, 2020, National Heritage List for England, 1016640 (National Heritage List for England). SDV363414.

The monument, which falls into eight areas, includes two partially enclosed stone hut circle settlements and a round cairn situated on the eastern slope of Oke Tor overlooking the valley of the River Taw. The southern enclosure has one hut. The southern settlement includes at least six enclosures together with four stone hut circles. Most of the enclosures are agglomerated and are partially sealed by the peat deposits which cover this area. The stone hut circles within both settlements survive as circular or oval banks each surrounding an internal area.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV8409 - Dartmoor Royal Forest Project
• EDV8679 - Okehampton Range: Management Survey
• EDV8291 - Okehampton Range: Monument Baseline Condition Survey
• EDV8695 - Survey of Okehampton North Dartmoor Military Range
• EDV8423 - Duchy Farms Project

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