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Summary

Complex enclosure west of Zeal Hill consisting of three sections, with at least three (but possibly as many as six) small internal hut circles. This site is on the local list of Nationally Important Dartmoor sites.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Walling remains of a Bronze Age hut circle settlement with at least five associated hut circles, three inside and two outside the enclosure, to the west of Zeal Hill, South Brent

Other References/Statuses

• Dartmoor Non-designated Heritage Asset (Evidential): NI Site
• National Monuments Record: SX66SE35
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 441870
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX66SE/79

Monument Type(s) and Dates

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

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1946, CPE/UK 1890, 2279-2280 (Aerial Photograph). SDV140289.

Royal Air Force, 1948, RAF/CPE/UK/2494, 4045-6 (Aerial Photograph). SDV147533.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1950/1977, SX66SE35 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV150999.

(14/04/1950) Enclosures and five hut circles.
(24/07/1977) This enclosed settlement is situated on the south-west facing slopes of Zeal Hill at approximately 320 metres OD. The enclosure measures 42.0 metres by 36.0 metres and contains the remains of five hut circles, three inside and two outside the enclosure, and possibly the remains of three others. The enclosure appears to be sub-divided into three parts by low fragmentary walls; the outer wall is on average 1.3 metres thick (non-orthostatic). The huts are probably of Type 1. Their internal diameters vary from 3.5 metres to 4.0 metres, and three of them have entrances on the south. There is no evidence of clearance inside or outside the enclosure. Surveyed at 1:10 000 on PFD.

National Monuments Record, 1976, NMR SX6662/1, 46-49 (Aerial Photograph). SDV151022.

Robinson, R., 1978, Complex enclosure with hut circles east of Bala Brook (Worksheet). SDV346083.

A pound with hut circles on the left bank of the Bala Brook above its junction with the Middle Brook. This is a complex that appears to be three enclosures, the first two possibly being one subdivided and the third added later on the south side. There are six hut circles within the pound, two just outside it. It is visible on the 1946 Royal Air Force aerial photograph. Other details: Sketch plan included.

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

Agglomerated enclosure of three elements. Two hut circles are incorporated into the central element with two hut circles attached to the internal wall. A further (two?) hut circles, one incorporated, one attached in the other two elements. The two hut circles just outside the enclosure are SX66SE/448 and SX66SE/449 and these and the enclosure may be associated with the fragmentary walls of SX66SE/447. Visible on Royal Air Force 1946 and National Monuments Record 1976 aerial photograph.

Butler, J., 1993, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Four - The South-East, 107-108, Map 57, Figure 57.7 (Monograph). SDV337765.

Hut circle settlement at 'Zeal Hill West 1' comprising a connected series of three enclosures, with six small internal hut circles of 3.0 to 3.5 metres diameter. The circuit walls are up to 0.6 metres high and originally 1.7 metres wide. There are an additional two hut circles to the north of the enclosures, one of which may be connected with a curving section of boundary or reave.

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.

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

Three adjoining elements visible on aerial photograph.

Ordnance Survey, 2020, MasterMap 2020 (Cartographic). SDV363413.

'Settlement' shown on modern mapping as two elements with three internal hut circles with two other hut circles to the north and east.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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