Prehistoric sites within 5km of SX 59214 94456

Guidance for walkers: The monuments featured in this database are archaeological treasures and need to be protected and preserved - please do not disturb any sites. Please check access and firing times before visiting sites, not all sites listed are on open access land. Firing ranges and boundaries of open access areas are marked on the OL28 OS Dartmoor Explorer map. Please stick to the country code and consider giving support to the numerous agencies that help to keep Dartmoor a fabulous natural and historic environment!

About the database listings: In all listings clicking on the photo or the site name will open a page for the site with a larger photo and further details from the database. The database now has over 6680 records covering nearly all publicly listed sites on Dartmoor including around 4800 round houses. This level of detail is of interest to archaeologists but tends to swamp listings of sites more likely to be of interest for walkers. For this reason, the listings default to around 550 core sites only. These are the stone circles, stone rows and the ring cairns listed by Turner. The default search radius is 2 km. The controls below the map can be used to start a new search by entering a 6- or 8-digit reference (without the prefix "SX"). The search radius can be specified and you can add incremental Display layers of detail on top of the core sites. If using a more detailed layer you will need to decrease the search radius to avoid getting hundreds of search results.

• Core sites Default listing of core sites consisting of stone circles & rows and some of the major ring cairns.
• Plus cairns adds approx. 1000 cairns and other minor sites not included in the core listings but excluding round houses.
• Plus round houses adds approx. 4800 round houses.
• Plus non-sites adds in the records for sites that no longer exist or are not prehistoric sites.
• Plus duplicates adds records excluded as duplicates. Those maybe duplicate records in external listings (e.g. the Historic Environment Records). For example, some sites have been identified as cairns in some listings and interpreted as round houses in other listings and both records appear.

These listings have incorporated, matched up and merged all of the records from all of the major archaeological listings including: Worth, Grinsell, Turner, Butler, Bill Radcliffe, Sandy Gerrard, Megalithic Portal, the National Monument Records and the Historic Environment Records. The author would like to thank Bill, Sandy, the lovely people both at Megalithic Portal (especially Anne Tate who did an amazing job to link listings) and at ACE Archaeology for collaborative work over the years to synchronise and correct listings across the various websites which now interlink. A culmination of years of work the final merger of cairn records took 3 months of cross referencing in 2017 the result being a snapshot of the records at that time. This data has in turn been refined since by field work and research. The round house data was supplied by Sandy Gerrard. Grid references are in order of accuracy: from Google Earth satellite, if visible and found, from a Garmin GPS reading, if visited by the author and from the literature otherwise. Individual site pages will state the source of the grid reference and provide satellite imagery. If a site listing lacks a photo it has not yet been visited by the author in which case the grid reference is from the literature.

Currently the database only includes sites which can be represented by a grid reference. Reaves are not included as they require GIS shape technology which is beyond the current capability of this system. To see the sources for the records, look at the tables on the resources menu. The database listings can also be viewed on a Google map and downloaded as GPS datasets for Garmin devices.

Corrections, or any feedback or suggestions are very welcome, email: info@dartmoorwalks.org.uk.

NOTE: Clicking on the icons for each monument in the map will give the name of the site. You can zoom in and out and drag the map around.

List of sites within 5km of SX 59214 94456

Black Down W. Platform Cairn Circle and Cist

OS Map: SX 57398 91540
HER: MDV61332
Megalithic Portal: 45801
PMD: Black Down
ShortName: CT:BlackDown W
Butler map: 42.6
Butler Vol 5: p.58 & Fig.35
Notes: Not located at SX 57409153 on 28/08/16. Butler SX57389153. NMR SX57469153."The cairn is 6 metres in diameter and 0.7 metres in height. The cist is 0.9 metres long with 2 end stones in the original position. Remains of a kerb are visible around the north west edge of the mound". 1.6km east of Higher Bowden. nb. Not listed by Turner - assigned as "Platform Circle" type cairn due to description in NMR. "A flat-topped cairn". Butler Black Down W. Vol. 2. Map 42.6 (diagram Vol 5. p.58).
Nearby sites: SX 57398 91540
Distance: 3.44km

Cosdon Hill Encircled Cairn

OS Map: SX 63350 92479
HER: MDV13064
Megalithic Portal: 22695
Alternate name: Cosdon Hill N.4 Encircled Cairn
ShortName: EC Cosdon N4
Butler map: 40.9
Grinsell: ST 10
Notes: Cairn at the junction of two Bronze Age reaves. "Round cairn on Cosdon Hill, measuring 7.3 metres in diameter and standing up to 0.8 metres high. A number of edge set stones visible around the southern side of the cairn mound suggests the existence of a kerb. There is a hollow in the north side of the mound, probably the result of partial robbing or an early excavation."
Nearby sites: SX 63350 92479
Distance: 4.58km

Cosdon Hill (West) Enclosed Settlement

OS Map: SX 63078 91486
HER: MDV52466
ShortName: ES:CosdonW
Notes: HER: Southern of two settlement to the south-west of Cosdon Hill of 86 metres by 56 metres with at least three enclosed areas and at least eleven hut circles. A short distance to the north is a second settlement, see MDV6920. Three or four adjoining enclosures to the south-west of Cosdon Hill with seven associated hut circles. A diagram of these enclosures can be found in Gerrard (1997), diagram 29 p.50.
Nearby sites: SX 63078 91486
Distance: 4.87km

Cullever Steps Ring Setting Cairn and Cist

OS Map: SX 60787 91954
HER: MDV6867
Megalithic Portal: 17956
PMD: Cullever Steps
ShortName: CT Cullever
Butler map: 40.14
Butler Vol 5: p.181 & Fig.123
Grinsell: BEL 2
Turner: D11
Notes: "A Bronze Age ring cairn situated below Belstone Tor within the valley of the East Okement River. The cairn survives as a 0.5 metre high bank surrounding a 4.1 metre diameter internal area. The bank around the southern and eastern side of the cairn is faced on both sides with edge set stones. A large flat stone lying on the south western part of the ring bank may represent a displaced cist coverstone. The overall dimensions of the cairn are 9.5 metres east to west by 8.5 metres north to south." Butler Vol. 2. Map 40.14 (diagram Vol. 5. p.181).
Nearby sites: SX 60787 91954
Distance: 2.96km

East Hill Fort

Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Resource: Table of Devon Iron Age Forts
OS Map: SX 60397 94162
HER: MDV6880
Megalithic Portal: 47073
ShortName: FT East Hill
Notes: "A promontory fort of likely Iron Age date containing a further, probably earlier, enclosure. It occupies an elevated position at the tip of the spur between the East Okement River and the Moor Brook. The southern and eastern sides of the site are formed by precipitous slopes that fall into wooded gorges while the west and northwest are delimited by a well-defined rampart and ditch pierced by a single entrance. The highest point within the fort, the SE quadrant, is occupied by the earlier enclosure which does not possess an entrance. Traces of ridge and furrow are visible in the southern part of the interior."
Nearby sites: SX 60397 94162
Distance: 1.22km

Halstock Standing Stone

OS Map: SX 60461 93334
HER: MDV13056
ShortName: SS Halstock
Notes: HER: Small standing stone north of East Bowden, near three prehistoric cairns. Gerrard p.63: There are possible standing stones at Halstock and Butterdon Down. Two of the cairns (East Bowden 2 and 3) align on the stone.
Nearby sites: SX 60461 93334
Distance: 1.68km

Homerton Hill N. Cist

OS Map: SX 56132 90651
HER: MDV12884
Megalithic Portal: 45808
PMD: Homerton Hill
ShortName: CT Homerton N
Butler map: 43.15
Butler Vol 5: p.177 & Fig.119
DPD page: 157
Notes: Butler Homerton Hill N. Vol. 2. Map 43.15 (diagram Vol. 5. p.177). A small, disturbed cairn containing three edge set stones of a cist ... The turf covered cairn measures 3.5 x 3.1m and 0.3m max. height. The top and north side of the mound has been disturbed exposing the three in situ cist stones. The cist measures 0.8 x 0.6m and 0.3mdeep. It is now open to the north. A large stone lying flush with the ground lies immediately north east of the cairn and probably represents the missing endstone or the coverstone. Lethbridge diagram p.156 and photos p157.
Nearby sites: SX 56132 90651
Distance: 4.90km

Longstone Hill Standing Stone

OS Map: SX 56725 90890
HER: MDV5571
Megalithic Portal: 36422
PMD: Longstone Hill Standing Stone
ShortName: SS Longstone
Butler map: 42.
Butler Vol 5: p.220
DPD page: 156
Notes: Possible recumbent longstone on summit of Longstone Hill, east of Meldon Reservoir. Suggested as possible menhir by Butler and Newman. Historic England:A sinuous 50 metres long, 2 metres wide and 0.25 metres high bank lying within the monument leads towards a large recumbent stone. This stone measures 1.75 metres long, 0.8 metres wide and 0.45 metres thick and is the only large stone visible on Longstone Hill. It has been suggested that this may be the longstone which once stood upright to give the hill its name. The presence of this stone, which would have been broadly contemporary with the cairns, provides additional support for the ritual and funerary character ascribed to many cairns within the group.
Nearby sites: SX 56725 90890
Distance: 4.35km

Metheral Stone Circle

OS Map: SX 62049 90436
Megalithic Portal: 61225
ShortName: SC:Metheral
Nearby sites: SX 62049 90436
Distance: 4.92km

Nine Stones, Belstone Cairn Circle

Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Site: Nine Maidens Cairn Circle, Belstone Tor
OS Map: SX 61232 92849
HER: MDV6865
Megalithic Portal: 535
PMD: The Nine Stones
Alternate name: Nine Stones Cairn Circle
ShortName: CC Nine Stones
Butler map: 40.13
DPD page: 156
Grinsell: BEL 1
Turner: G23
Barrow Report: 21 42
Notes: The "Nine Stones" cairn circle "survives as a ring of at least 16 upright stones, standing up to 0.7 metres high, surrounding a slightly raised 7 metre diameter internal area". "A loose granite boulder in the centre of the circle may cover a cist; and there are vestiges of a mound around it. Well preserved."
Nearby sites: SX 61232 92849
Distance: 2.58km

Watchet Hill Cairn

OS Map: SX 61477 93055
HER: MDV13049
Megalithic Portal: 23222
ShortName: CN WatchetHill
Butler map: 40.12
Grinsell: BEL 3
Notes: "A Bronze Age round cairn situated on the summit of Watchet Hill. The cairn survives as a 0.8 metre high oval mound measuring 16.6 metres long north to south by 13.8 metres wide east to west. A T-shaped trench, the consequence of a partial early excavation, cuts through the central part of the mound. Adjacent to the south eastern side of the mound there is a 2.3 metre wide and 0.2 metre deep ditch. This represents the remains of the quarry ditch from which material was derived during the construction of the cairn. The ditch would have originally surrounded the mound but now survives largely as a buried feature."
Nearby sites: SX 61477 93055
Distance: 2.66km

Winter Tor Cist

OS Map: SX 61112 91352
HER: MDV6881
Megalithic Portal: 45779
PMD: Winter Tor
Alternate name: Higher Tor S.1 Cist
ShortName: CT HigherTor 1
Butler map: 40.15
Butler Vol 5: p.169 & Fig.108
Grinsell: LYD 1
Notes: [Formerly listed as Higher Tor (S), renamed after PMD] Butler Higher Tor (S) Vol. 2. Map 40.15. (diagram Vol. 5. p.169). Ths cist was excavated by Prowse as described in his article of 1890. About 300 yards south-south-east of Winter Tor is a tumulus diameter 9 yards and height 3 feet, the top of which has been hollowed out. Within the hollow was a granite slab 4 feet 6 inches by 2 feet 9 inches, covering the remains of a cist, and another slab approximately 4 feet 9 inches by 3 feet 3 inches, either a second capstone or possibly part of the first cist. The cist contained nothing of interest except a few small porous and very brittle fragments of what is apparently bony tissue. After examination the capstone was replaced and covered with soil and stones.
Nearby sites: SX 61112 91352
Distance: 3.64km

Yes Tor E Cairn

OS Map: SX 58044 90185
HER: MDV4814
Megalithic Portal: 36416
Alternate name: Yes Tor 2 Cairn
ShortName: CN Yes Tor E
Butler map: 42.1.2
Grinsell: OKE 2
Notes: One of two cairns on Yes Tor. On the top of the flat outcrop of Yes Tor and piled against the west side is an amorphous mass of stones representing a ruined cairn. The patch of stones on the top is more or less 14.0m across and 0.3 m high and the piling against the outcrop is 2.3m high. It is possible that this has resulted from bulldozing the cairn over the side of the outcrop but the stones appear quite stable and compacted.
Nearby sites: SX 58044 90185
Distance: 4.43km

Yes Tor W Cairn

OS Map: SX 57955 90210
HER: MDV4813
Megalithic Portal: 36416
Alternate name: Yes Tor 1 Cairn
ShortName: CN Yes Tor W
Butler map: 42.1.1
Grinsell: OKE 1
Notes: Western of two round barrows on the summit of yes tor. About 36.6m nw of flag staff on the top of yes tor is an incomplete ring of rough granite boulders varying in size but generally 0.3m - 0.9m. Long. The ring is about 6.1m long and is defective on the north east side where there is evidence of a slightly sunken trackway. In the interior of this ring the ground is slightly irregular and contains blocks of granite. At the south western part of the circle a smaller circle of stones abuts on the previous circle. Butler Volume 2 Map 42.1.
Nearby sites: SX 57955 90210
Distance: 4.43km