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HER Number:MDV5234
Name:Cist with Retaining Stone Circle 200 metres north of Avon Dam Reservoir, Dean Prior

Summary

Remains of a prehistoric cist, a small stone-lined burial pit, with a retaining stone circle.

Location

Grid Reference:SX 678 656
Map Sheet:SX66NE
Admin AreaDartmoor National Park
Civil ParishDean Prior
DistrictSouth Hams
Ecclesiastical ParishDEAN PRIOR

Protected Status

  • SHINE: Two joining enclosures with seven hut circles and stone circle with cist 200 metres north of the Avon Dam Reservoir

Other References/Statuses

  • National Monuments Record: SX66NE21
  • National Record of the Historic Environment: 441411
  • Old DCC SMR Ref: SX66NE/54
  • Pastscape: 441411

Monument Type(s) and Dates

  • CAIRN CIRCLE (Constructed, Early Neolithic to Late Bronze Age - 4000 BC (Between) to 701 BC (Between))
  • CIST (Constructed, Early Neolithic to Late Bronze Age - 4000 BC (Between) to 701 BC (Between))

Full description

Worth, R. H., 1949, 68th Report on Barrows, 54 (Article in Serial). SDV146939.

Kistvaen on the right of the Brockhill stream, south-west of Brockhill Ford. The kist has been considerably disturbed. About a dozen stones of the retaining circle remain.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1950/1977, SX66NE21 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV146940.

(03/05/1950) Cist with retaining circle, two end stones firmly set in ground. Two side stones lean inwards. Coverstone lies to south-east of cist but still inside retaining circle. 12 stones remain in circle, only one is standing.
(04/07/1977) This cist, internal measurements 1.4 metres by 0.6 metres, lies on a gentle south facing slope at 365 metres above OD. The side stones, both 1.4 metres long, lean inwards and the end stones north-west 0.7 metres long, south-east 0.8 metres long, are firmly set. The probable coverstone, 1.2 metres by 0.8 metres, is displaced and lies to the south-east of the cist. The cist is surrounded by the remains of a stone circle, long axis 8.8 metres, aligned with cist, short axis 7.2 metres. It is constructed of large slabs, up to 1.4 metres long with a single upright stone, 0.5 metres high, set contiguously in the north-west arc. There are no visible
remains of a cairn. See photograph.
1:10 000 survey revised on PFD.

Davidson, C. + Seabrook, R., 1973, Stone Rings on south-east Dartmoor, 28, Fig. 9 (Article in Serial). SDV345864.

Circle is ruinous, reconstructed as an ellipse. It is just out of immediate danger from the reservoir.

Grinsell, L. V., 1978, Dartmoor Barrows, 138 (Article in Serial). SDV273224.

Site visit 11th October 1975. Dean Prior 2. Fairly clost set ellipse of about 12 stones enclosing a cist. Diameter 7.0 metres, stone 0.3 metres.

The Royal Commission on the Historic Monuments of England Aerial Photograph Unit, 1985, The Royal Commission on the Historic Monuments of England Aerial Photograph Project (Interpretation). SDV340940.

Not visible on aerial photographs.

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

Small orthostatic circle, diameter 7.5 metres, with central cist.

Butler, J., 1993, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Four - The South-East, 151, Map 57, Figure 57.19 (Monograph). SDV337765.

'Brockhill Ford West cairn' at SX67806570. Stones of the retaining circle remain in place around the uphill half but only one stands erect and most of the mound has gone. At the centre the sides slabs of the cist have tipped inwards hiding the cavity.

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

'Cairn Circle & Cist' shown on modern mapping.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV146939Article in Serial: Worth, R. H.. 1949. 68th Report on Barrows. Transactions of the Devonshire Association. 81. Unknown. 54.
SDV146940Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card: Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division. 1950/1977. SX66NE21. Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card. Card Index.
SDV229817Article in Serial: Turner, J. R.. 1990. Ring Cairns, Stone Circles and Related Monuments on Dartmoor. Proceedings of the Devon Archaeological Society. 48. Paperback Volume.
SDV273224Article in Serial: Grinsell, L. V.. 1978. Dartmoor Barrows. Proceedings of the Devon Archaeological Society. 36. A5 Paperback. 138.
SDV337765Monograph: Butler, J.. 1993. Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Four - The South-East. Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Four - The South-East. Four. Paperback Volume. 151, Map 57, Figure 57.19.
SDV340940Interpretation: The Royal Commission on the Historic Monuments of England Aerial Photograph Unit. 1985. The Royal Commission on the Historic Monuments of England Aerial Photograph Project. The Royal Commission on the Historic Monuments of England Aerial Photograph Project. Map (Paper).
SDV345864Article in Serial: Davidson, C. + Seabrook, R.. 1973. Stone Rings on south-east Dartmoor. Proceedings of the Devon Archaeological Society. 31. Paperback Volume. 28, Fig. 9.
SDV364015Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 2021. MasterMap 2021. Ordnance Survey Digital Mapping. Digital. [Mapped feature: #94279 ]

Associated Monuments

MDV5233Related to: Enclosed hut circle settlement south-east of Brockhill Ford, Dean Prior (Monument)

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded


Date Last Edited:Jan 4 2022 2:39PM