Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks, walking the Stone Rows and Stone Circles of Dartmoor
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Dartmoor Site: Shovel Down Ceremonial Complex

Shovel Down Complex

This site is featured on the Warren House Inn: Kestor, Shovel Down & Scorhill Stone Circle walk. These photos are of the Shovel Down Ceremonial Complex (SX65978596 Butler Vol. 2. Map 36, 7). The first 3 photos are of the Long Stone SX66028567 which is the terminal of the Stone Row [Butler Rows 5]. Kes Tor can be seen in the background of the 1st photo. The Shovel Down 4-fold Cairn Circle is featured in the next 2 photos [end of Butler Rows 2]. The complex including Butler rows 2 & 4 and the 4-fold cairn circle can be seen in the next photo. The Butler row 4 is featured descending the hill towards the 4-fold circle in many of these photos (also in the Photo Set 2 - below). The Butler Row 2 veers off at a right angle down hill from the 4-fold circle towards Batsworthy Corner.

Shoveldown Complex Diagram

Diagram of the stone rows on Shoveldown

Note on Shoveldown

Different sources report different numbers of stone rows on Shovel Down. These vary from 5 to 10 rows. Worth describes 3 double rows (NMR Rows A,B,C) and one single row with an additional double row south of the Longstone. He speculates on whether the double row heading south from the Longstone to the Three Boys might be a continuation of the double row to the north of the Longstone with the Longstone in the middle. Butler treats these as two separate rows. The most recent update to the NMR record suggests that they are one and the same row (NMR Row E-F). The NMR records also mention accounts which suggest a total of up to 10 rows but later accounts suggest that there is one long single row broken into several sections (NMR Row D-G-H-F) which give the appearance of separate rows. This leaves a total of 4 double rows and one single row. Unfortunately, the NMR, Butler and Worth all use different systems for labelling the Shoveldown rows. Worth confusingly uses two letters per double row so there is a row A (presumably A & B) then a row C (C & D) etc. We will adopt the labelling used in the NMRs.

These photos were taken on the 6th June 2010.

See also:

Bibliography & references

Butler, J. Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Vol. 2. - The North (Devon Books, 1991)

Long Stone and Kestor
Long stone
Long stone
Shovel Down 4-Fold Cairn Circle
Shovel Down 4-Fold Cairn Circle
Shovel Down Complex
Shovel Down 4-Fold Cairn Circle
Shovel Down Complex
Shovel Down Complex
Shovel Down Complex
Shovel Down Complex
Shovel Down Complex
Shovel Down Complex
Shovel Down Complex
Shovel Down Complex

Shovel Down Complex [Photo Set 2] - 14th April 2008.

Shovel Down Complex
Shovel Down Complex
Shovel Down Complex
Shovel Down Complex
Shovel Down Complex
Shovel Down Complex
Shovel Down Complex

Page last updated 5/8/11