Prehistoric Settlements
UPDATE 4/4/12: There are numerous prehistoric settlements on Dartmoor too many to give complete listings. Some of the larger enclosed settlements were added to the database along with some settlements that specifically feature on some of the walks on this website. The main source for the list of enclosed settlements are those that feature in Petit's Prehistoric Dartmoor. This new listing has been added to make the database entries for settlements easy to see in one place. This is a "stub" of a page which will be expanded with a discussion of settlements when time permits!
Bibliography & references
Butler, J. Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Vol. 5. - The Second Millennium B.C. (Devon Books, 1997)
Newman, Phil The Field Archaeology of Dartmoor (English Heritage, 2011)
Pettit, Paul. Prehistoric Dartmoor (David & Charles, 1974)
Worth, R.H. Worth's Dartmoor (David & Charles, 1971)
External Links & Resources
The NMRs can be searched on the English Heritage Pastscape website. The simplest method is to use a location search and reduce the range to 250m to narrow the results (increase to 500m if site not found). The Megalithic Portal is another great resource for looking up sites.
Pastscape: National Monuments Records
Megalithic Portal: Search Page
Listing of some of the Prehistoric Settlements on Dartmoor
About the Database Listings
Details of archaeological sites used to be kept in the Sites and Monuments Records (SMRs). These are now held in National Monument Records (NMRs) maintained by English Heritage although these in turn are being merged into Historic Environment Records (HERs). The NMRs contains details of the site and will often include field notes, a limited bibliography and other useful information. Another rich source of such information is Bill Radcliffe's Prehistoric Monuments of Dartmoor (PMD) website. The records below were compiled independently from books and journals and then matched to the NMR records and then cross-referenced with any corresponding PMD records to ensure accuracy. Each record has a link to corresponding NMR and PMD records, a link to the location on the Ordnance Survey map, a photo (if available) and a link to relevant coverage on Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks and a link giving a listing of nearby sites. The HER records are not included as they do not yet have much information but they can be looked up via the PMD records. The author would like to thank Bill Radcliffe for the helpful correspondence whilst checking records. See also: Database and Web Search Tools
Default listing is by Site Name, click here to order instead by: Site Name, OS
Broadun Enclosed Settlement
OS Map: SX63547993
NMR record: SX 68 SW 11
Nearby sites: SX63547993
Brown Heath Enclosed Settlement
OS Map: SX64086539
NMR record: SX 66 NW 47
Nearby sites: SX64086539
Dean Moor Enclosed Settlement
OS Map: SX67766545
NMR record: SX 66 NE 19
Nearby sites: SX67766545
Dewerstone Hill Enclosed Settlement
OS Map: SX53836393
NMR record: SX 56 SW 32
Nearby sites: SX53836393
Drizzlecombe Enclosed Settlement
Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Site: Drizzlecombe Ceremonial Complex (Photos 1)
OS Map: SX59346714
NMR record: SX 56 NE 90
Nearby sites: SX59346714
Grimspound Enclosed Settlement
OS Map: SX70078084
NMR record: SX 78 SW 11
Notes: Probabaly the best known enclosed settlement on Dartmoor, within walking distance of Warren House Inn. Extensive notes in the NMR record, see also coverage on Wikipedia and Legendary Dartmoor.
Nearby sites: SX70078084
Gripper's Hill Enclosed Settlement
OS Map: SX68156481
NMR record: SX 66 SE 1
Notes: "A Bronze Age pastoral settlement on Gripper's Hill, Dean Prior, was excavated in July 1954 by Lady Aileen Fox on behalf of the Ministry of Works. The site comprises four enclosures containing ten or more huts."
Nearby sites: SX68156481
Harford Moor Settlement
Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Walk: The Neolithic tombs of Cuckoo Ball & Corringdon Ball
OS Map: SX64455931
NMR record: SX 65 NW 2
Notes: On the western side of Harford Moor reservoir.
Nearby sites: SX64455931
Hingston Hill Enclosed Settlement
OS Map: SX59116946
NMR record: SX 56 NE 30
Nearby sites: SX59116946
Kestor Settlement & Round Pound Enclosed Settlement
Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Site: Round Pound and Kes Tor Settlements
OS Map: SX66308680
NMR record: SX 68 NE 14
Nearby sites: SX66308680
Lower Piles Enclosed Settlement
Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Walk: The Neolithic tombs of Cuckoo Ball & Corringdon Ball
OS Map: SX64376048
NMR record: SX 66 SW 53
Nearby sites: SX64376048
Raddick Hill Enclosed Settlement
OS Map: SX57657147
NMR record: SX 57 SE 36
Notes: "A Bronze Age enclosed hut circle settlement. The remains lie on a northerly hillslope and now comprise a D-shaped enclosure wall of boulders and stones containing about twelve hut circles. A small D-shaped enclosure is attached to the uphill south-east side. The northern part of the settlement has been effaced by a tinner's cliff, part of the Hart Tor Brook streamworks. This well preserved settlement now lies under low bilberry bushes."
Nearby sites: SX57657147
Ranny Brook (Yealm) Enclosed Settlement
OS Map: SX62326354
NMR record: SX 66 SW 102
Nearby sites: SX62326354
Riders Rings Enclosed Settlement
OS Map: SX67876436
NMR record: SX 66 SE 2
Notes: "The largest and most important pound in the Avon Valley. Situated on the eastern slope of Zeal Plains. It is best regarded as being two contiguous pounds, of which it would appear that the south west member was constructed first, while the north east member was added as a later extension. The two pounds together cover an area of over
six acres and enclose some three dozen hut-circles."
Nearby sites: SX67876436
Routrundle, north Enclosed Settlement
OS Map: SX55387185
NMR record: SX 57 SE 52
Nearby sites: SX55387185
Routrundle, south Enclosed Settlement
OS Map: SX55257172
NMR record: SX 57 SE 53
Nearby sites: SX55257172
Scad Brook Enclosed Settlement
OS Map: SX66685998
NMR record: SX 65 NE 14
Nearby sites: SX66685998
Shaugh Moor Enclosed Settlement
OS Map: SX556765343
NMR record: SX 56 SE 91
Nearby sites: SX556765343
Shavercombe Enclosed Settlement
OS Map: SX59366629
NMR record: SX 56 NE 97
Nearby sites: SX59366629
Stalldown Enclosed Settlement
Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Site: Stalldown Stone Row [Photo Set 1]
OS Map: SX63706120
NMR record: SX 66 SW 21
Notes: "This settlement consists of 6 enclosures, mostly in poor condition, with 13 associated hut circles and 17 detached ones and extends over 5ha of a gentle to moderate, well drained, southeast facing slope at 270m above OD."
Nearby sites: SX63706120
Trowlesworthy Enclosed Settlement
OS Map: SX57456454
NMR record: SX 56 SE 12
Notes: "Two adjoining enclosures containing four hut circles and two other contemporary structures on the W flank of Lee Moor some 300m W of Little Trowelsworthy Tor. The enclosures measure 24m N to S by 34m and 63m N to S by 46m. Both are bounded by substantial stony banks up to 2.5m wide and 0.9m high."
Nearby sites: SX57456454
Trowlesworthy Warren Enclosed Settlement
OS Map: SX57506445
NMR record: SX 56 SE 13
Notes: "A sub-circular enclosure about 150 paces in diameter situated on the western slope of Trowlesworthy Tor, the wall unbroken except for entrances on the north and south sides. Inside the southern entrance is a hut circle. The structures at the two entrances are vermin traps, these and the square chamber having been built by warreners"
Nearby sites: SX57506445
Walkhampton Enclosed Settlement
Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Site: Walkhampton and Yes Tor Bottom Settlements
OS Map: SX56747286
NMR record: SX 57 SE 41
Nearby sites: SX56747286
Yealm Steps Enclosed Settlement
OS Map: SX62006355
NMR record: SX 66 SW 30
Nearby sites: SX62006355
Yes Tor Bottom Enclosed Settlement
Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Site: Walkhampton and Yes Tor Bottom Settlements
OS Map: SX56747286
NMR record: SX 57 SE 41
Nearby sites: SX56747286