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Summary

Cairn situated near two others, south-east of Roundhill Farm, described by Prowse (1901) as a possible hut. This site is on the local list of Nationally Important Dartmoor sites. A turf covered stony mound on level moorland pasture with rising ground to the north and a river flood plain 100m to the south. The immediate area is peat covered.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Earthworks of a Bronze Age cairn 380 metres south-east of Roundhill Farm with a short curvilinear length of bank beside it

Other References/Statuses

• Dartmoor Non-designated Heritage Asset (Historical): NI site
• National Monuments Record: SX67SW13
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 443268
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX67SW/83
• Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division: SX67SW13

Monument Type(s) and Dates

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

Full description

Prowse, A. B., 1901, The Antiquities of Ockery and Roundhill, Dartmoor, 497 (Article in Serial). SDV233834.

(SX 60997411) Hut circle on level ground three yards (2.74 metres) in diameter. Other details: Figure.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1950/1980, SX67SW13 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV266228.

(04/09/1950) SX 6103 747408 No sign of the hut circle noted by Prowse (1901).
(28/01/1980) SX 60987410. This is not a hut circle but a cairn with a central excavation hollow. It measures 4.6m. in diameter and 0.3m. in height, and is constructed of small stones.
Surveyed at 1:10 000 on MSD and at 1:2500 (See SX 67 SW 15).

Grinsell, L. V., 1978, Dartmoor Barrows, 151 (Article in Serial). SDV273224.

Probably a ruined cairn, with hollow towards centre. Described by Prowse as a hut circle. Measures 4.5 metres in diameter, and 0.2 metres in height. (Visited on 25/7/1976)

Greeves, T. A. P., 1982, Dunnabridge Farm (Plan - measured). SDV266230.

Survey shows hut circle at approximately SX61017408, with possible prehistoric field system adjacent.

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

Cairn not visible, although a short curvilinear bank was noted.

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

(10/03/1988) SX 60987410. A turf covered stony mound on level moorland pasture with rising ground to the N and a river flood plain 100m to the S. The immediate area is peat covered.
The mound is circular, 4.6m in diameter and 0.3m high, with a slight hollow in the centre. There is no evidence of a kerb. Two short lengths of walling, 0.3m high, extend southwards and westwards from the mound; the former is 23m long and the later about 15m long. Both may continue beneath the peat and represent the remnants of small field plots.
Though Prowse (1901) described it as a hut circle there is no entrance gap, and if it was a hut it is the sole outlier of the apparently bounded settlement to the east (SX 67 SW 6) and in an area otherwise confined to ritual monuments. The utilization of a cairn as a field corner is repeated to the N (SX 67 SW 3). On balance Grinsell's classification seems preferable.
(The grid reference quoted by Greeves (SMR SX 67 SW 016) is incorrect, hence two SMR entries for the same site. A short curvilinear bank noted on the RCHME APP (1985) is in part one of the walls extending from the mound and partly a water filled depression).

ADAS, 1988, ADAS Dunnabridge Farm Survey (Duchy of Cornwall) (Report - Survey). SDV266231.

Royal Commission on the Historic Monuments in England plan included in survey. Other details: 10/3/1988 Plan.

Butler, J., 1993, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Four - The South-East, 229, Map 65 (Monograph). SDV337765.

Round Hill S. '1' cairn at SX60997415 of 5.0 metres diameter by 0.3 metres high with a smooth rounded surface.

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.

Ordnance Survey, 2010, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV344030.

Feature shown on modern mapping.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV8627 - Roundhill Farm Duchy Farms Survey
• EDV8409 - Dartmoor Royal Forest Project
• EDV8423 - Duchy Farms Project

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