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Summary

Probable ring cairn to the north-west of the two double stone rows at Merrivale. Described as a hut circle on the Ornance Survey maps. Located within the guardianship area managed by Dartmoor National Park Authority.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1013431: A ring cairn on Longash Common lying 400m south east of Merrivale Bridge

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX57SE/22
• Old SAM Ref: 24195

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• RING CAIRN (Bronze Age - 2200 BC to 701 BC (Between))

Full description

Worth, R. H., 1946, The Stone Rows of Dartmoor. Part 1 (Article in Serial). SDV251172.

Other details: Plate 36.

Ordnance Survey, 1950, Untitled Source (Site Visit). SDV271723.

This circle, diameter 8.5m, does not appear to be a hut as the stones, which are single, are widely spaced. In many ways it resembles a cairn circle, although tentative digging in centre revealed no trace of cist. General condition poor.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1950 - 1955, SX57SE6 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV271727.

This circle, 8.5 meters in diameter, does not appear to be a hut circle because the stones, which are single, are widely spaced. In many ways it resembles a cairn circle, although tentative digging in centre revealed no trace of cist. General condition is poor. Other details: SX57SE6.

Ordnance Survey, 1980, Untitled Source (Site Visit). SDV271724.

Probable hut circle of indeterminate type, isolated from the main group to the east. Clearly much-robbed with a half dozen spaced stones up to 0.4 meters high forming part of a perimeter which is otherwise well defined as a cropmark 8.4 meters in diameter. Virtually no internal rubble and though the possibility of a robbed cairn cannot be entirely discounted it is prudent to accept Worth's early assessment.

Worth, R. H., 1981, Dartmoor, 217 (Monograph). SDV231173.

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

Not visible on National Monument Record / Royal Air Force photos.

Turner, J. R., 1990, Ring Cairns, Stone Circles and Related Monuments on Dartmoor, 60 (Article in Serial). SDV229817.

B8. Turner describes this site as an embanked stone circle; an annular bank of earth and/or stones with an inner edge of orthostats. Internal diameter is 8.0 meters with a bank 0.8 meters wide and 0.3 meters high. Much disturbed.

Butler, J., 1994, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Three - The South-West, 31 (Monograph). SDV137656.

Single ring of stones surrounding a flat interior; likely to be another cairn.

Gerrard, S., 1994, MPP/133474 (Site Visit). SDV271731.

Ring cairn lying within the vicinity of a large number of broadly contemporary ritual monuments, forming one of the densest concentrations of such sites on the moor. Survives as a circular bank measuring 1.3 meters wide and 0.3 meters high, surrounding a 6.4 meters diameter internally. Originally identified by Worth as a stone hut circle, but in recent years archaeological opinion considers it much more likely to be a ring cairn, although as recently as 1980 the Ordnance Survey still preferred the hut circle interpretation. Its location in proximity to three stone alignments and several other cairns, relatively exposed position and isolation from other stone huts circles all lend support to this feature's funerary character. Other details: MPP/133474.

Probert, S. A. J., 2000, The Merrivale Guardianship Area, Walkhampton, Devon, 5 (Report - Survey). SDV344969.

This cairn has been extensively disturbed but there is no sign of antiquarian investigation. A sub-circular ring of boulders and slabs remain, measuring around 8.2 meters in diameter. The southern side of the feature is formed by a semi-circular scarp, which has lead in part (along with its size) to the prior hut circle interpretation. The presence of two drill-split blocks within and immediately outside the ring indicate stone removal in this area which may have caused the formation of this scarp. No evidence has been identified of a cist within this feature and the existing remains have prompted its interpretation as a ring cairn.

Dartmoor National Park + English Heritage, 2004, Merrivale: An Archaeological Landscape (Leaflet). SDV320201.

Ordnance Survey, 2010, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV344030.

Various, 2018-2019, PALs Condition Recording forms (Worksheet). SDV362781.

Various, 2018-2019, PALs Condition Recording forms, MER-12 (Worksheet). SDV362781.

Visited 2/10/2019. Hut circle covered with grass. Overall condition very good. Photo taken.

Various, 2018-2019, PALs Condition Recording photographs, MER-12 (Photograph). SDV363073.

Photo looking 280° showing grass cover.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV4830 - Survey of guardianship area, Merrivale

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