This row is composed almost entirely of small stones barely protruding through the turf (Scale 1m). View from north with Hangershell Rock and Butterdon Hill cairns on the skyline.
A single stone row measuring 118.7m long, including at least 33 small and medium-sized stones situated immediately next to another stone row on a south facing valley slope. The row is orientated north east to south west and is butted by a second row. Another way of looking at this site is that it forms part of a multiple row that shrinks to a single row somewhat reminiscent of the situation at Learable Hill 1. The row has definable visual links with the sea and a number of nearby cairns.
Location
| England | Devon | Dartmoor | SX 65216 60041 | Lat 50.424649 Long –3.898892 |
Map showing the location of Butterbrook 2 stone row.
Simplified plan of the Butterbrook stone alignments. Row 2 is shown black. Butler believes the stones shown green form part of the row, but there are a lot of stones this size in the area and they are very different to those forming the row further south. (Source: Butler, J., 1993 and GPS Survey by Sandy Gerrard).
Characteristics
| Type: Single | Length: 118.7m |
| No. of stones: 33 | Size of stones: Small and medium |
| Orientation: 36° | Altitude: 319m |
| Upper end: – | Lower end: – |
| Straight (Yes or No) : No | Sea View: Yes |
| Context: Stone alignment | |
| Notes: Butler believes that the line of large stones leading between SX 65234 60077 and SX 65262 60109 formed part of this stone row. However on balance this seems at best uncertain because the stones are different in character to the others forming the row and there are many similar natural stones in the vicinity. Until further work is carried out it would be best to consider this extension as uncertain at best. | |
Other Information
| Public Access: Yes |
| Land Status: National Park |
| Scheduled Ancient Monument: No |
Identification
Category: Plausible. No doubts have been expressed regarding the prehistoric interpretation of this row.
Typology
This stone row is of Type S10. Information on this form of stone row and other rows of this type is available here.
Photographs
29th August 2019
Much of the row is obscured by dense gorse. At this point a few stones can be seen. View from north east (Scale 1m).
Three stone forming part of the row at SX 65175 59976. View from west (Scale 1m).
Tiny stones barely protruding through the turf at SX 65211 60032. View from west (Scale 1m).
A line of recumbent slabs at SX 65248 60094 are considered by Butler to represent a continuation of the stone row. However, there are large numbers of similar stones in the vicinity and these stones are more likely to have been placed by periglacial action. View from the east.
Landscape Comment
As well as the Butterdon Hill cairns being visible on the skyline there is a rather impressive “closed sea triangle” formed by Plymouth Sound. This type of visual link is commonplace at stone rows and its frequency is powerful circumstantial evidence that the rows were deliberately positioned to incorporate these special visual treats.
From the upper end of the row a sea triangle and Penlee Point promontory are clearly visible.
Access Information
Car parking is available at SX 64338 59550. Follow the bridleway heading east for 850m. The row is a short distance to the north of the bridleway.
Nearest Neighbour
Butterbrook 1 (1m)
Nearby Rows
Butterdon, East (1052m)
Butterdon Hill (352m)
Glasscombe Ball (650m)
Glasscombe Corner (1057m)
Piles Hill (1046m)
Spurrell’s Cross (600m)
Online Resources
Megalithic Portal PastScape Historic Environment Record
Prehistoric Monuments of Dartmoor Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks
Other References
Burl, A., 1993, From Carnac to Callanish – The prehistoric rows and avenues of Britain, Ireland and Brittany, Yale University Press, New York and London, pg. 215.
Butler, J., 1993, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities – Vol. 4 – The South-East, Devon Books Exeter, pgs. 32-33.
Timeline
VISITED:- 25th April 2013 and 29th August 2019
FIRST PUBLISHED:- 15th January 2016
LAST UPDATED:- 8th June 2020
