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Summary

Two hut circles of probable Bronze Age to Iron Age date are recorded from field investigation and aerial survey as earthworks on the west facing slopes of Crownhill Down. The hut circles are two of seven probably associated with a surrounding prehistoric field system crossing Crownhill Down. Banks linking the hut circles might define a small enclosed settlement.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• HUT CIRCLE (Early Bronze Age to Late Iron Age - 2200 BC (Between) to 42 AD (Between))
• HUT CIRCLE SETTLEMENT (Constructed, Early Bronze Age to Late Iron Age - 2200 BC (Between) to 42 AD (Between))

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1190, RAF/106G/UK/1190 RS 4252-4253 27-FEB-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV363067.

Circular features are visible as subtle banked earthworks.

Butler, J., 1994, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Three - The South-West, 194-6, Map 52, Figure 52.16 (Monograph). SDV137656.

Several hut circles are shown but not in any sort of enclosure at this location.

Environment Agency, 1998-2017, LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) EA: South Devon Coast to Dartmoor, LIDAR SX5760 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 31-MAY-2017 (Cartographic). SDV361470.

Circular and curvilinear banked features are visible as earthworks.

Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R., 2019-2021, The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping Survey. Area 2, Avon Valley to Plymouth (AI&M, formerly NMP) (Interpretation). SDV362982.

Earthwork banks are visible as a very slight earthworks on aerial photographs of 1946 defining two closely spaced roughly circular features circa 10m in diameter, on the higher west-facing slopes of Crownhill Down.
The features are clearly identifiable on visualisations derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2017, as banks up to circa 2m wide enclosing roughly circular or oval hollows approximately 6 and 8m in diameter.
The circular earthwork features are connected by further curvilinear banks, incorporating them into the perimeter of an enclosure up to circa 20m across, which in turn abuts one of the north-north-east to south-south-west aligned banks that comprise a prehistoric field system crossing Crownhill Down (MDV2558).
The circular earthworks are interpreted as hut circles of probable Bronze Age to Iron Age date, possibly forming a small enclosed settlement associated with the surrounding field system.
The hut circles are two of seven identified within and immediately adjacent to the wider field system.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV8098 - The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping (formerly NMP) Survey, Area 2, Avon Valley to Plymouth (Ref: ACD2040)

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