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Summary

A cluster of 27 hut circles forming a large settlement complex with associated lengths of boundary walls. The huts survive as stone and earth banks surrounding circular or oval areas. The interiors vary in diameter between 2.4m and 4.5m, the surrounding wall varies in height between 0.15m and 0.6m. All the huts are of the simple plan type and 9 have visible doorways. The lengths of boundary walls survive either as rubble banks or are of orthostatic construction. Originally these walls probably formed part of a series of enclosures or fields which have either been partly robbed or buried beneath the ground surface.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1015760: A prehistoric settlement complex, length of reave, tin streamwork and stamping mill on the western slopes of Cosdon Hill

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX69SW/234
• Old SAM Ref: 28800.06

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• UNENCLOSED HUT CIRCLE SETTLEMENT (Constructed, Bronze Age - 2200 BC (Between) to 701 BC (Between))

Full description

Untitled Source (Aerial Photograph). SDV225300.

Aph=sx6191/1(18/5/1977).

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

Open settlement visible with nine hut circles visible on NMR 1977 aerial image at SX 6222 9127.

Gerrard, S., 1990-2002, Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological Item Dataset., MPP 140786, MPP 140790 (Report - Survey). SDV277946.

[MPP 140790] (13/06/1996) This cluster of 27 hut circles forms part of a discrete concentration of structures which together with other nucleations form a large settlement complex. They each survive as a stone and earth bank surrounding a circular or oval area. The interiors vary in diameter between 2.4m and 4.5m, the surrounding wall varies in height between 0.15m and 0.6m. All the huts are of the simple plan type and 9 have visible doorways.
[MPP 140786] (13/06/1996) At SX 62299129. These lengths of boundary walls survive either as rubble banks or are of orthostatic construction. Originally these walls probably formed part of a series of enclosures or fields which have either been partly robbed or buried beneath the ground surface.
See related records for Gerrard's 1996 survey detail. The following grid references are recorded for the huts:
HUT A [SX62249125].
HUT B [SX62259125].
HUT C [SX62269124].
HUT D [SX62259129].
HUT E [SX62269128].
HUT F [SX62269125].
HUT G [SX62289127].
HUT H [SX62279128].
HUT I [SX62309132].
HUT J [SX62319128].
HUT K [SX62329128].
HUT L [SX62319127].
HUT M [SX62279124].
HUT N [SX62289123].
HUT O [SX62309125].
HUT P [SX62319125].
HUT Q [SX62329131].
HUT R [SX62369131].
HUT S [SX62359124].
HUT T [SX62359127].
HUT U [SX62329132].
HUT V [SX62339124].
HUT W [SX62349126].
HUT X [SX62239132].
HUT Y [SX62249131].
HUT Z [SX62259132].
HUT AA [SX62669133].

Bluesky International Ltd/Getmapping PLC, 2015-2017, 2015-2017 Aerial Photographs (Aerial Photograph). SDV361462.

Bluesky International Ltd, 2019/2021, 2019/2021 (Aerial Photograph). SDV364921.

Oates, M., 2023, Notes on South Tawton Common hut circle settlement (Correspondence). SDV223081.

Oates has provided the following possible sitings for huts recorded by Gerrard in 1996:
Hut A SX 62278 91215
Hut B SX 62283 91197
Hut C SX 62271 91196
Hut D SX 62246 91212
Hut E SX 62236 91195
Hut F SX 62226 91270
Hut G SX 62191 91250
Hut H SX 62242 91177
Hut I SX 62213 91262
Hut J SX 62284 91256
Hut K SX 62278 91227 which appears to match Gerrard's Hut N recorded at: [SX62289123].
Hut L SX 62382 91060
Only 12 huts could be confirmed on site, but follow up visit anticipated.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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