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Summary

Prehistoric field system south of Little Sherberton recorded from aerial photographs in 1985 project. Field survey in 1988 only identified two lengths of field boundary on the ground, and no hut circles. This site is on the local list of Nationally Important Dartmoor sites.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Walling remains and earthworks of Bronze Age field system and fragments of enclosures and cairns 550 metres south of Little Sherberton

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX67SW129
• National Record of the Historic Environment (e): NI Site
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 912206
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX67SW/287

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• FIELD BOUNDARY (Constructed, Bronze Age - 2200 BC (Between) to 701 BC (Between))

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1946 - 1949, Royal Air Force Aerial Photographs (Aerial Photograph). SDV342938.

Royal Air Force, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/2149, 3428 (Aerial Photograph). SDV282746.

National Monuments Record, 1983, NMR SF2134, 0107 (Aerial Photograph). SDV247915.

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

Agglomerated enclosure of seven to nine elements, containing five hut circles at SX 63257292 and one at SX 63447290. There are fragments of walls at SX 63507295, SX 63487248 and SX 63267280 (the latter incorporating a hut circle at SX 63267277). Although treated as an enclosure, the whole feature is large enough to be considered a field system.

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

(26/04/1988) Only two fragments of the prehistoric enclosure depicted by the RCHM APU transcription (1985) are visible on the ground. One turf-covered wall is visible between SX 63287305 and SX 63247291. Built of large and medium boulders it varies from 1.4m to 1.8m wide with a maximum height of 0.4m. The second section runs from SX 63337288 to an acute corner at SX 63387294 and then on to SX 68417290. Up to the corner it is visible as a line of boulders barely protruding through the peat. From the corner it consists of an earthen bank 2.4m wide and 0.4m high.
These boundaries are on a gently rounded hilltop amidst large areas of peat cutting. The berms between the various cuttings may be depicted by (1985) as further boundaries. No hut circles are visible.

Butler, J., 1993, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Four - The South-East, 215, Map 63 (Monograph). SDV337765.

Western of two settlements between the Swincombe and Dart rivers at 'Swincombe Ford Newtake'. Each group contained at least seven fields about 5 to 6 hectares in area. Little can be seen on the ground apart from occasional short runs of slabs alternating with low banks barely 0.1 metres high as most of the circuit is now completely buried. A single hut circle is visible as a saucer shaped depression about 5 metres across.

Gerrard, S., 2004, List of Sites Remaining to be Considered for Designation on Dartmoor (Un-published). SDV345444.

This site was considered for designation as a Scheduled Ancient Monument during the Monument Protection Programme. The programme ended before the entire list of sites was successfully scheduled so this is included on a local list of Nationally Important Sites.

Cartographic Engineering, 2006, Dartmoor 2006 1:1250 Aerial Photography (digital) (Aerial Photograph). SDV345590.

Some field boundaries visible on aerial photograph.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV8632 - Sherberton Farm, Duchy Farms Survey
• EDV8409 - Dartmoor Royal Forest Project
• EDV8423 - Duchy Farms Project

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