Merrivale 2 in the foreground and Merrivale 1 beyond. View from south east.
A fine double stone row measuring 263.5m long, including at least 169 mainly medium-sized stones together with some small and large-sized stones situated on a gentle west facing slope with extensive views towards Bodmin Moor. The row is orientated east to west, unusually, the blocking stone is at the upper (east) end and uniquely the row is interrupted at one point by a small kerbed cairn with cist. A restricted view of the sea may be of significance. This row forms part of an impressive ritual complex including six stone rows, nine cairns and a stone circle. There is also a prehistoric settlement in the vicinity.
Location
| England Devon Dartmoor SX 55567 74788 Lat 50.554959 Long -4.0402832 |
Map showing the location of Merrivale 2 stone row.
Simplified plan showing the stone alignments at Merrivale (Source: Butler, Google Earth and fieldwork).
Characteristics
| Type: Double | Length: 263.5m |
| No. of stones: 233 | Size of stones: Small, medium and large |
| Orientation: 84° | Altitude: 347m |
| Upper end: Blocking stone | Lower end: Blocking stone |
| Straight (Yes or No) : No | Sea View: Yes |
| Context: Stone alignments, cairns, cist, stone circle, standing stone, prehistoric settlement and reave | |
| Notes: | |
Other Information
| Public Access: Yes |
| Land Status: National Park |
| Scheduled Ancient Monument: Yes |
Identification
Category: Plausible. No doubts have been expressed regarding the prehistoric interpretation of this row.
Typology
This stone row is of Type D12. Information on this form of stone row and other rows of this type is available here.
Photographs
Looking westward along Row 2. The impressive blocking stone is visible in the foreground.
View from above and south east.
View from above and east. Large cist cover visible in the upper left hand side of the photograph.
View from above and west of the kerbed cairn built on top of the row.
View from above and south west of the kerbed cairn with cist.
Kerbed cairn and stone row. View from the east.
Looking east along the stone row.
The eastern end of the stone row. View from west.
Looking west along the row. The stones vary considerably in size.
The large blocking stone at the eastern end of the row. View from east.
Access Information
Car parking is available at SX 55313 75017 or SX 56050 74895. The row is a short walk away from either car park. It is worth having a look at the well preserved Bronze Age settlement a short distance to the north of the row.
Online Resources
Megalithic Portal Modern Antiquarian 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., 1994, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities – Vol. 3 – The South-West, Devon Books Exeter, pgs. 23-27.
Timeline
VISITED:- 24th March 2013, 20th October 2014, 6th July 2016 and 5th July 2018
FIRST PUBLISHED:- 24th January 2016
LAST UPDATED:- 13th January 2020
The Stone Rows of Great Britain 