Northern length of the alignment. View from the east (Scale 1m).
A single stone row measuring 60m long, including 14 small stones and three medium-sized stone situated on a gentle west facing slope with extensive views towards Bodmin Moor. The row is orientated NNE to SSW and the stones at the NNE end have been incorporated into a cairn suggesting that the cairn was added later. 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 55398 74770 Lat 50.554672 Long -4.0427079 |
Merrivale 3 stone row.
Simplified plan showing the stone alignments at Merrivale (Source: Butler and Google Earth).
Plan of Merrivale 3 stone row (Source: Survey at 1:200 by Sandy Gerrard, Janet Daynes, Gordon Fisher and Erica Williamson).
Simplified plan of Merrivale 3 stone row (Source: Survey at 1:200 by Sandy Gerrard, Janet Daynes, Gordon Fisher and Erica Williamson).
Characteristics
| Type: Single | Length: 42.40m |
| No. of stones: 17 | Size of stones: Small and medium |
| Orientation: 24° | Altitude: 340m |
| Upper end: Cairn | Lower end: Edge set slab |
| Straight (Yes or No) : No | Sea View: Yes |
| Context: Stone alignments, cairns, cist, stone circle, standing stone, prehistoric settlement and reave | |
| Notes: | |
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
View from above and south of Row 3. Rows 1 and 2 are visible in the background. The stones at the northern end of the row have been incorporated into a later cairn. This indicates that the row was earlier than the cairn.
View from the south showing the cairn and Row 3.
View from the south west (Scale 1m).
Looking across the row towards Row 2 in the background. View from south east (Scale 1m).
Individual Stones
Plan showing the position of the numbered stones at Merrivale 3 stone row.
Stone 1 measures 0.36m long, 0.18m wide, stands up to 0.36m high and is orientated at 112°. The stone is set at right angles to the orientation of the row and is incorporated into the presumably later cairn. The stone stands to the right of the ranging rod and stone 2 is in the foreground. View from the south (Scale 1m).
Stone 2 measures 0.53m long, 0.10m wide, stands up to 0.36m high and is orientated at 23°. This stone is to the right of the ranging rod and stone 1 is to the left. Other stones form part of the terminal cairn. View from west (Scale 1m).
Stone 3 measures 0.30m long, 0.17m wide, stands up to 0.20m high and is orientated at 23°. This stone is to the right of the ranging rod with stones 1 and 2 to the left. Other stones form part of the terminal cairn and Merrivale Row 2 is visible in the background. View from west (Scale 1m).
Stone 4 is not visible and its size could not be determined.
Stone 5 measures 0.12m long, 0.07m wide, stands up to 0.06m high and is orientated at 22°. Merrivale Row 2 is visible in the background. View from south east (Scale 1m).
Stones 6 and 7 are not visible and their size could not be determined.
Stone 8 measures 0.08m long, 0.08m wide and stands up to 0.03m high. Merrivale Row 2 is visible in the background. View from south west (Scale 1m).
Stone 9 is not visible and its size could not be determined.
Stone 10 measures 0.08m long, 0.08m wide and stands up to 0.03m high. Merrivale Row 2 is visible in the background. View from south west (Scale 1m).
Stone 11 beside the ranging rod measures 0.07m long, 0.03m wide, stands up to 0.02m high and is orientated at 165°. Stone 12 in the foreground measures 0.16m long, 0.07m wide, stands up to 0.04m high and is orientated at 150°. Merrivale Row 2 is visible in the background. View from south (Scale 1m).
Stone 13 measures 0.08m long, 0.06m wide, stands up to 0.01m high and is orientated at 180°. This stone is next to the ranging rod with stone 14 in the foreground. View from south (Scale 1m).
Stone 14 measures 0.10m long, 0.10m wide and stands up to 0.06m. This stone is next to the ranging rod. The camera tripod is standing at the northern end of the row. View from south (Scale 1m).
Stones 15 and 16 are not visible and their size could not be determined.
Stone 17 is set at right angles to the orientation of the row, measures 0.51m long, 0.27m wide, stands up to 0.42m high and is orientated at 77°. The northern end of the row is denoted by the distant tripod. View from south (Scale 1m).
Other Information
| Public Access: Yes |
| Land Status: National Park |
| Scheduled Ancient Monument: Yes |
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. 23-29.
Timeline
VISITED:- 24th March 2013, 20th October 2014, 6th July 2016 and 5th July 2018
FIRST PUBLISHED:- 24th January 2016
LAST UPDATED:- 17th August 2020
The Stone Rows of Great Britain 