DNP ENJOY DARTMOOR 2024 digital - Flipbook - Page 37
However, the hard-wearing nature of Dartmoor’s
granite means many of these incredible monuments
survive. Individual features hold clues to the past –
just as we’ve been finding out in recent times.
Today
In 2023 National Park Archaeologists and
volunteers, alongside Isca Archaeology, excavated
Piles Hill, a double stone row running in an
upward east-west curve for 850-metres across
Ugborough and Harford commons.
The monument, believed to date to the
Neolithic/Early Bronze Age, has around 40 visible
stones; some are upright, but most are flat on
the ground and hidden by vegetation.
It has long posed questions: were the stones all
once upright? Had they fallen over time? Had
they, in fact, been laid flat deliberately? The
excavation aimed to get some answers but the
team also found new and striking evidence.
Not only did the dig uncover large socket holes
underneath the ends of the fallen stones demonstrating the stones once stood upright –
but a paved cobble-like surface was also found.
It seems the rocks, consisting predominantly
of white quartz, aren’t the natural geology of
the area. The finding opens the possibly that
rocks were purposefully brought to the site
and laid to deliberately enhance the setting of
the stone row.
This goes to show how Dartmoor continues
to intrigue, adding to our knowledge, yet still
posing more fascinating questions.
Dartmoor’s rich archaeological
remains is one reason for its
designation as a National Park.
Monuments like those at Piles
Hill mean the moor is one of
the most important places in
Western Europe for Bronze Age
monuments.
Painstaking work on the Piles Hill excavation
Caption
The Piles Hill excavation is part
of the Our Upland Commons
initiative. Funded by the
National Lottery Heritage Fund,
Historic England and Dartmoor
Preservation Association,
Our Upland Commons aims
to increase understanding
of upland commons across
Dartmoor and other areas.
Commons like Ugborough and
Harford form the heartland of
Dartmoor. As well as being noted
for their historic monuments,
commons support a variety of
flora and fauna and are grazed
by hardy hill cattle, sheep, and
ponies. The excavation was
possible thanks to the support of
landowners Dr Leonard Hurrell
and John Howell.
The history of Bronze Age
Dartmoor can be explored at
our National Park Visitor Centre
at Postbridge.
National Park Archaeologist Andy Crabb takes a well-earned break
dartmoor.gov.uk
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