See important guidance on the use of this record.

If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.

Summary

One of a group of probably Bronze Age stone alignments. A double stone row measuring approximately 150 metres in length, with around 80 stones recorded in the late 1970s. Three gaps; the result of robbing. A probable cairn at SX65928607 (MDV13011) abuts the western side but there are no terminal features unless the row formerly extended a further 10.0 metres southwards to a cairn mentioned by Worth and Pettit (MDV6158), now unidentifiable. Appears to align on the Scorhill stone circle (MDV6122), over a kilometre away.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1017874: The North Teign coaxial field system (western part) and associated later remains at Shovel Down, Stonetor Hill and Long Ridge

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX68NE16
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 443524
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX68NE/43
• Old SAM County Ref: 144
• Old SAM Ref: 28663

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• STONE ALIGNMENT (Constructed, Bronze Age - 2200 BC to 701 BC)

Full description

Unknown, Undated image of Shovel Down stone rows (Photograph). SDV274189.

Undated image of Shovel Down stone rows

Ormerod, G. W., 1857-1858, On some British and druidical remains in the parishes of Chagford and Gidleigh, 22 plan (Article in Serial). SDV274183.

Wilkinson, J. G., 1860, The Rock-Basins of Dartmoor, and Some British Remains in England, 113-114, fig plate 6 (Article in Serial). SDV273188.

Traced by Ormerod for 125 metres in north-north-westerly direction, author considered that it had joined, by a sharp turn, another row (SX68NE/110), but a trackline (reave SX68NE/112) crosses them. This avenue is not apparently related to any other monuments, but it is imperfect at both ends. It can be traced for about 200 metres in a fairly straight line.

Spence Bate, C., 1870-1871, On the Prehistoric Antiquities of Dartmoor, 504-505 (Article in Serial). SDV277110.

Ordnance Survey, 1880-1899, First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map (Cartographic). SDV336179.

'Stone Avenues (Remains of)' shown on 19th century map.

Worth, R. H., 1932, The Prehistoric Monuments of Scorhill, Buttern Hill, and Shuggledown (Shoveldown), 185 (Article in Serial). SDV239731.

Worth, R. H., 1946, The Stone Rows of Dartmoor. Part 1, 302, plate 37, (Row No. 35) (Article in Serial). SDV251172.

Shovel Down East. To the west of row 'A' lies row 'E', 67 metres distant from it at the northern end, and 18 metres distant at the southern end. Double row. Considerable variation in distance between the lines. No special feature marks either end. Much robbed and the greater part of its length now single.

Fox, A., 1957, Cairns and stone alignments on Shovel Down, 155-158 (Article in Serial). SDV348211.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1974, SX68NE16 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV274181.

Visited 16/7/1974 and 25/7/1978 Row A SX65888617 to SX65948602. A double row, now 155.0 metres long, excluding two displaced stones at the southern end. Three gaps of 8 - 15 metres are the result of robbing. A probable cairn at SX65928607 (MDV13011) abuts the western side but there are no terminal features unless the row formerly extended a further 10.0 metres southwards to a cairn mentioned by Worth and Pettit (MDV6158), now unidentifiable.

Greeves, T. A. P., 1976, Report of Field Visit to the Shovel Down stone rows (13/08/1976) (Report - non-specific). SDV362905.

See notes from visit on 13/08/1976.

Walrond, L. F. J., 1976, Shovel Down stone rows (Correspondence). SDV274168.

Row D-E. Double row apparently aligned on cairn (SX68NE/43/2) south of fourfold circle (SX68NE/36), but from which some stones are absent at south end, probably removed when fourfold circle and row 34 (SX68NE/46) were constructed. 35 pairs of stones, 7 singles counted, two form part of circle (SX68NE/43/1).

Greeves, T. A. P., 1976, Site visit notes and plan of the Shovel Down stone rows (Site Visit). SDV274180.

Row D-E. A stone which would appear to be part of this row is now visible 10.2 metres south of the southern most point recorded by Worth. 71 stones counted, including 30 pairs, total length 155.2 metres, circle (SX68NE/43/1) is at 51.2 metres north.

National Monument Record, 1977, NMR SX6586, 3 (Aerial Photograph). SDV220197.

National Monuments Record, 1977, NMR SX6685, 10 (Aerial Photograph). SDV254388.

Quinnell, N. V., 1978, Resurvey of the Shovel Down Stone Rows (Plan - measured). SDV362907.

Resurvey in July 1978 of the rows by N. Quinnell of the Ordnance Survey. Five double rows were recorded and four single rows but T. Greeves believes the latter may in fact be parts of one row (the eastern row).

Emmett, D. D., 1979, Stone Rows: The Traditional View Reconsidered, 111 (Article in Serial). SDV251087.

Greeves, T. A. P., 1981, Notes and plan of the Shovel Down Stone Rows for Dartmoor Conference booklet (Un-published). SDV362906.

Details of the history of the study on the rows compiled for 1981 conference, accompanied by a plan based on the Ordnance Survey 1978 resurvey of the rows.

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

Visible on 1953 and 1977 National Monuments Record aerial photographs and recorded on map overlay.

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

Griffith, F. M., 1989, DAP/LT, 8-10 (Aerial Photograph). SDV346554.

Gerrard, S., 1990-2002, Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological Item Dataset., MPP 143944, 1997 (Report - Survey). SDV277946.

Stone row No. 3 on Butler's plan. Runs from SX65878619 to SX65928604.

Butler, J., 1991, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Two - The North, 178-183, 235, Map 36, Figures 36.7 & 36.12 (Monograph). SDV219155.

Shovel Down double stone Row '3' of 155 metres long with the upper end at SX65938604 and including 71 stones. The rows are 1.2 metres apart and the stones are 2.4 to 3.1 metres apart with an average height of 0.19 metres. No terminals define the ends of this row.

Quinnell, N. V., 1995, Shovel Down stone rows notes (Personal Comment). SDV274190.

Shovel Down 35. Runs from SX65948601 to SX65898616. Approximately 162 metres long.

Griffith, F. M., 20/02/1987, DAP/ID, 7-9 (Aerial Photograph). SDV306073.

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

Stones shown on survey.

Greeves, T. A. P., 2018, Culture and nature need equal weight for good of Dartmoor (Article in Serial). SDV361729.

Ordnance Survey, 2018, MasterMap 2018 (Cartographic). SDV360652.

'Stone Rows (remains of)' depicted on the modern mapping, generally in accurate positions, when compared with the Royal Commission survey (1991) and aerial photograph information.

Historic England, 2018, National Heritage List for England, 1017874 (National Heritage List for England). SDV360653.

See Designation record for details.

National Monument Record, 2018, Pastscape (Website). SDV360651.

Original field work of July 1974 was supplemented by minor revision in July 1978 following a report (1976, Greeves) of a new single stone row location (see Row 'J'), and additional stones made visible by peat shrinkage during the very long summer drought of 1976. Stones range in height from those just visible as stumps at ground level to up to about 1.0 metres and the 'standing' angles vary from the vertical to near recumbent. The definite possibility exists that further stones will be located, and the present stone count (July 78) cannot be considered as final.
Five double, and four single stone rows can be identified; others including Pettit's double row, appear to be mis-identifications of denuded probable Bronze Age reaves (see SX 68 NE 63) containing stone.
A: SX 65888617 to SX 65948602. A double row (78 stones visible July '78), now 155.0 metres long excluding two displaced stones at the south end. Three gaps of 8.0 metres to 15.0 metres are the result of stone robbing. Stones are missing (? Contemporary damage)
at the south end where a ?Bronze Age reave (SX 68 NE 63) cuts diagonally across the rows at SX 65948602 (citing Ordnance Survey Field Investigators Comments 16/07/74, amended 1978).
A complex of four double stone rows A, B, C and E-F and one single row D-G-H-J. They lie between 398 metres and 425 metres Ordnance Datum on north facing slopes between Chagford Common and Shovel Down.
They occupy the head of a gentle combe in the angle formed by the northern flank of the ridge running from Kestor to Shovel Down and immediately below the ridge. Two of the rows run over the crest and onto the south-east facing slopes of Shovel Down.
A 1:200 survey was carried out in August 1991. The survey revealed fewer stones than were recorded in 1978, but no probing was done. The rows are generally as described by the Ordnance Survey in 1974, but an updated description is held in the archive.
The general preservation of the complex is good. However, some peat cutting has taken place and stones have been removed for the newtake walls at Batworthy Corner and Thornworthy Corner. This is particularly noticeable at the southern end of E - F where only three stones survive, but a large number of very slight hollows are visible confirming Ormerod’s observations made in 1858 (1858, 20-24).
Other features which effect the preservation of the rows include prospecting at the northern end of the complex, a hollow way and the Southill Leat. This is especially serious on B and C where paths have developed between the lines of stones, and have eroded the surface by up to 0.2 metres. Animal erosion exacerbates the problem.
All the double rows have foci of some kind:
'A' aligns on the Scorhill stone circle over 1 kilometre to the north-north-west at SX65468738 (citing Wilson-North, R., 19/09/1991, Royal Commission on the Historic Monuments in England Field Investigation).

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6198 - Geophysical Survey on Shovel Down and Kes Tor
• EDV8423 - Duchy Farms Project

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.