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Summary

Three hut circles and associated enclosures on the south-west slope of Vag Hill. The remains consist of stony turf-covered banks set within the Dartmeet parallel reave system and there is also evidence of later reuse during the medieval period, where stone-faced banks have been formed. Three areas of ridge and furrow survive, as well at three pillow mounds associated with Vaghill Warren.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Dartmeet Parallel Reave System. Earthworks of an extensive area of prehistoric remains including complex field system, numerous hut circles, enclosures and cairns, overlain by medieval remains including Vaghill Warren, farmsteads and a large field syste

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX67SE50
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 443001
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX67SE/95

Monument Type(s) and Dates

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

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1890, 2374-2376 (Aerial Photograph). SDV169268.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1950 - 1951, SX67SE50 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV283297.

Group of (?)four Bronze Age hut circles. Huts A and D are turf-covered.
Hut circle A; measures 10.0 meters in diameter, height 0.2 m - 0.5 meters.
Hut circle B; measures 8.0 meters in diameter, height 0.3 meters.
Hut circle C; measures 10.0 meters in diameter, height 0.3 meters.
Hut circle D; measures 8.0 meters in diameter, height 0.2 meters.

Fox, A., 1954, Celtic Fields and Farms on Dartmoor in Light of Recent Excavations at Kestor, 99,101 (Article in Serial). SDV231175.

Other details: Figure.

Ordnance Survey, 1972, OS/72/066, 018 (Aerial Photograph). SDV346967.

National Monuments Record, 1977, NMR SX6672/1, 80-84 (Aerial Photograph). SDV244382.

Beeson, M. M. R. + Masterman, M. C. H., 1979, An Archaeological Survey of Enclosed Land in Widecombe-In-The-Moor Parish, 1012 (Report - Survey). SDV337078.

Other details: Volume 5.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1980, SX67SE50 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV347090.

(20/05/1980)At 288m. OD near the top of a broad spur and within an extensive field system (SX 67 SE 94) are three hut circles of Type 2 (SX 56 NE 71). Two huts are contiguous with a communicating entrance. The southmost hut has a small store or annexe measuring 1.3m. by 2.0m. beside the entrance (see plan). All the huts have levelled interiors with average diameters of 7.8m. and walling 1.3m. wide and 0.6m. high. Entrances are to the south and east. The huts are in fair condition. (See GP).
Surveyed at 1:2500 on MSD.
Exact location of huts and field walls shown on undated (approximately 1980?) drawing in Sites and Monuments Record.

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

A triple hut circle at SX67527268 and one at SX67447265 within an area of ridge and furrow. One of the triple hut circles contains a very small rectangular building. Visible on 1977 National Monuments Record and 1946 Royal Air Force aerial photographs. Within Dartmeet parallel reave system (PRN 6030).

Butler, J., 1991, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume One - The East, 122-3 (Monograph). SDV299725.

Three huts survive within a number of fields also occupied by later ridge and furrow and three rabbit buries, or pillow mounds. The pair of hut circles lie within the eastern strip and measure 8.5 meters and 7.0 respectively. The larger lies at one end of a narrow paddock while the other is connected by a bank to the opposite reave.
The single hut measures 8.7 meters in diameter and has a surviving entrance to the south. All three huts are fairly well-preserved, despite later ridge and furrow. Other details: Map 13, 6-7.

Gerrard, S., 2004, List of Sites Remaining to be Considered for Designation on Dartmoor (Un-published). SDV345444.

Part of Dartmeet coaxial field system (Northern Part) which was considered for designation as a Scheduled Ancient Monument in 2004. Other details: Site 43.

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

Three hut circles and associated fields shown on survey. Map object based on this Source.

Newman, P., 2008, Dartmeet Premier Archaeological Landscape (PAL) Field Investigation Project (Report - Survey). SDV347061.

Two hut circles and associated enclosures on the south-west slope of Vag Hill. The enclosures comprise stony turf-covered banks which extend between the remnant elements of the Dartmeet reave system, creating sub-divisions. Some of the walls have been refurbished during the medieval period to form stone-faced banks with external ditches.
SX67447266; A large freestanding hut circle with level interior, and elements of the internal wall lining in situ. Internal diameter is 8.5 meters. The walls spread to 3.0 meters wide and up to 0.6 meters high. There is a possible entrance opening on the south-east side.
SX67517269; Attached to the end of a narrow linear enclosure with parallel sides, this hut circle survives as a stony bank with much stone visible, built into a slight slope. It has a level interior with no definable entrance. This hut measures 8.0 meters in diameter with walls of 1.8 meters thick and 0.6 meters high.
A third hut described by the Ordnance Survey (1980) is more likely to be a small enclosure with a curved wall at the end of the parallel curving banks, which has a cross wall giving the appearance of an approximate circle. Butler has recorded diagonal ridge and furrow within the large enclosure here but this cannot be confirmed due to the current density of the gorse.

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

Three potential hut circles and also ridge and furrow is visible on aerial photograph.

Ordnance Survey, 2011, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV346129.

Enclosures and three hut circles all marked onto the modern mapping, as well as two of the three pillow mounds in the area. Map object based on this Source.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV8296 - Dartmeet Premier Archaeological Landscape (PAL) Field Investigation Project

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