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Summary

North-western hut circle associated with a fragmentary enclosure and two cists to the north-west of Deadman's Bottom

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1016145: A prehistoric settlement with cairns and a historic tin mill, streamwork and buildings lying adjacent to the Langcombe Brook

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX 66 NW 40
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX66NW/37
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX66NW/37/4
• Old SAM County Ref: 506
• Old SAM Ref: 28787
• Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division: SX66NW40
• Pastscape: 441676

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• HUT CIRCLE (Constructed, Bronze Age - 2200 BC (Between) to 701 BC (Between))

Full description

Ancient Monuments, Schedule Notes? (Schedule Document). SDV152661.

Hut circles north-west of Deadman's Bottom. Two hut circles on either side of two cists; circular and of unusual size, but not apparently connected with any fields. The eastern hut is sub-rectangular, possibly Medieval.

Worth, R. H., 1900, 19th Report of the Barrow Committee, 51 (Article in Serial). SDV231259.

Hut circles, connected with the kists. The north-west circle with an inner diameter of 4.5 metres was also opened by Worth. The interior was paved with stones with a little charcoal between them. Here the pavement had been laid on the meat earth, the ground not having been cleared to the sub soil. The protective layer of earth had shielded the subsoil but slight traces of red baked clay were visible. These circles do not resemble the so called "sacred circles", however a feature in common is the evidence of fire which is found on excavation. There were no traces of barrows having been raised within the circles. It is suggested that cremations took place within these two circles and that the ashes were transferred to urns subsequently placed in the adjacent kistvaen.

Ordnance Survey, 1904 - 1906, Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map (Cartographic). SDV325644.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1950, SX66NW40, Hut B (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV143593.

(17/05/1950) Two hut circles correct as shown on the 6 inch map sheet. At SX 6076 6689 Hut circle B (north-western hut). This hut circle is composed of only a few stones. Diameter 4.8m. No definite entrance.

Ancient Monuments, 1961/1996, Schedule note (Schedule Document). SDV151978.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1978, SX66NW40, SX66NW40 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV152667.

(09/09/1978) SX 6081 6687 Both features appear to be type 1 hut circles. levelled into a slight south-west slope at 390 metres above OD. The hut to the north-west has an internal diameter of 2.6 metres with on the south-east, a semi circular annex 2.0 metres across. The hut to the south-east is 3.0 metres internal diameter with an entrance gap on the south side. In both cases the walling is 0.6 metres thick and 0.4 metres high, with turf covering what is probably piled stones.
There is no properly defined field system in the area but over some 5.0 hectares there are widely spaced and fragmentary rickles of stone (MDV57425).
These are seldom more than 10.0 metres long, are contour following, and seem never to have been longer than at present as if they represent clearance which never developed into recognisable fields or plots.

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

Not visible on the Royal Air Force 1946/7 aerial photos.

Turner, J. R., 1990, Ring Cairns, Stone Circles and Related Monuments on Dartmoor, 46 73/d28 (Article in Serial). SDV229817.

Turner records this as a ring setting with paved interior, 3.8 metres internal diameter.

Gerrard, S., 1990-2002, Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological Item Dataset., MPP 140547 , add38 (Report - Survey). SDV277946.

(09/05/1996) SX 6076 6690 Two stone hut circles north-west of Deadman's Bottom.

Butler, J., 1994, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Three - The South-West, 148, Map 50, Figure 50.1 (Monograph). SDV137656.

Hut Circles '2' and '3' to the north of Deadmans Bottom on the Langcombe valley are conjoined with Cist '2' adjoining on the east side. A short section of curving boundary wall extends from the north of the western of the two huts.

Thackray, C., 1994, The Upper Plym Valley: the management of an historic landscape. Management Strategies and Archaeological Site Inventory, 300-2, 102.1172d (Report - Survey). SDV143510.

Probert, S. A. J. + Fletcher, M. J., 2002, Plym Valley survey (Report - Survey). SDV350782.

(28/02/2002) SX 6077 6690 A sub-circular enclosure which probably represents a hut circle with an annex on the south-east side lies on a level stance. It measures internally 10.1 metres by 5.0 metres with a disturbed boulder/stone wall incorporating some upright slabs of 0.4 metres average height. There is no obvious entrance. A stony mound about 4.5 metres across and up to 0.4 metres high which lies to the south-east may be spoil from the excavation.

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

Extended feature shown on survey.

GeoInformation Group Ltd, 2010, 1:625 2010 Colour aerial photography for Dartmoor (12.5cm resolution) (Aerial Photograph). SDV346026.

Adjoining circle visible on aerial photograph.

Ordnance Survey, 2021, MasterMap 2021 (Cartographic). SDV364015.

Hut circle shown on modern mapping.

Historic England, 2021, National Heritage List for England, 1016145 (National Heritage List for England). SDV364016.

Within scheduled area.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV8148 - The Upper Plym Valley: The Management of an Historic Landscape
• EDV8470 - Excavation at Deadman's Bottom
• EDV8965 - Aerial survey of guardianship sites on Dartmoor

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