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Summary

One of a group of stone alignments on Shovel Down, thought to date to the Bronze Age. A double stone row measuring approximately 150 metres in length, with 83 stones recorded in the late 1970s; over 20 pairs. Badly robbed at the southern end, it terminates at the Longstone (MDV6149). Row F (MDV6148) is probably a continuation of this row.

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/57
• Old SAM County Ref: 144
• Old SAM Ref: 28663

Monument Type(s) and Dates

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

Full description

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 (Article in Serial). SDV273188.

Wilkinson saw this row as continuous with row south of the Longstone (SX68NE/109) measured for about 140 metres, suggests that it may have continued to the cairn (SX68NE/60).

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.

Northern part of the 'Stone Row (remains of)' shown on 19th century map.

Worth, R. H., 1932, The Prehistoric Monuments of Scorhill, Buttern Hill, and Shuggledown (Shoveldown), 287 plate 13, fig. 1-2, Row 37 (Article in Serial). SDV239731.

Shuggledown stone row 37G. Length 99 metres, approximately South 25 degrees from the cairn which forms the south extreme of row ‘C’ is the north end of another double row, terminating to the south in a fine menhir, known as the Longstone. Fairly complete at its northern end, but becomes ragged as it approaches the Longstone.

Worth, R. H., 1946, The Stone Rows of Dartmoor. Part 1, 302, plate 37 (Article in Serial). SDV251172.

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

Lady Fox refers to the whole Shovel Down complex as a sanctuary and suggests that all the monuments are contemporary with the Beaker period.

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

13/06/1974 and 16/07/1974. Stone row E (SX66028582 to SX66028567). A double row, 150 metres long and much robbed towards its southern termination at the 'Longstone'.

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.
Greeves states its northernmost point seems to be as Worth planned it (Worth recorded 55, including 10 pairs). Greeves records 87 stones, including 22 pairs.

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

Row running northwards from Longstone.
Greeves states its northernmost point seems to be as Worth planned it (Worth recorded 55, including 10 pairs). Greeves records 87 stones, including 22 pairs.

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.

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

Not visible on Royal Air Force 1947 aerial photographs.

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

Gerrard, S., 1990-2002, Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological Item Dataset., MPP 143946, 1997 (Report - Survey). SDV277946.

Stone row 5 on Butler’s plan. A 2 metre diameter, 0.4 metre deep pit lies a short distance north of the Long stone on the same alignment as this row and may represent the site of a stone which has been robbed.

Butler, J., 1991, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Two - The North, 178-183, Map 36, Figures 36.7 & 36.14 (Monograph). SDV219155.

Shovel Down double stone Row '5' with the upper end at SX66018582 of 148 metres long with 78 stones and a 'Longstone' at the lower southern end. There is 1.4 metres beyween the rows and 1.35 metres between the stones which have an average height of 0.12 metres.

Quinnell, N. V., 1995, Shovel Down stone rows notes, 22/3/1995 (Personal Comment). SDV274190.

Shovel Down 37. Runs from SX66028565 to SX66028581. Approximately 152 metres long.

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.
E: SX 66028582 to SX 66028567. A double row (83 stones visible July '78), 147.0 metres long, and much robbed towards its southern termination at the 'Longstone' (SX 68 NE 39) (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.
All the double rows have foci of some kind: Row E-F has two pairs of pillar-like stones at its northern end, the long Stone within it (SX 68 NE 39) and the Three Boys (SX 68 NE 40), presumably a blocking feature at the southern end (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

• EDV8409 - Dartmoor Royal Forest Project
• EDV8423 - Duchy Farms Project

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