Shoveldown 6

The Three Boys. Blocking stone and two smaller stones probably representing the remains of  a double row. 

© Copyright Guy Wareham and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

A much-mutilated double stone row measuring 170m long, now including only two small and two large-sized stones forming part of a cluster of six stone rows, a stone circle and three cairns. This row is situated on a south facing slope, is orientated north to south and stands close to a later prehistoric settlement and coaxial field system.

Location

England     Devon     Dartmoor     SX 66028 85678     Lat 50.655325   Long -3.8966268

Map showing the location of Shoveldown 6 stone row.

Simplified plan of the Shoveldown stone alignments (Source: Butler, J., 1992, 179).

Characteristics

Type: Double Length: 170m
No. of stones: 4 Size of stones: Small and large only
Orientation: 180° Altitude: 421m
Upper end: Pillar? Lower end: Blocking stone
Straight (Yes or No)  : ? Sea View: Yes
Context:  Stone alignments, stone circle, prehistoric settlements, field system and cairn.
Notes: Severely damaged. Probably originally included smaller stones as well.

Other Information

Public Access:  Yes
Land Status: National Park
Scheduled Ancient Monument: Yes

Identification

Category: Probable. This site has been severely damaged and therefore a definitive interpretation is not possible. Despite this it is likely that it represents the remains of a stone row.

Typology

This stone row is of Type D9. Information on this form of stone row and other rows of this type is available here.

Photographs

Blocking stone and two smaller stones that probably formed the southern end of the row. View from north east (Scale 1m).

Fallen blocking stone.  The small stone below the slab probably forms part of the row, although it may have been a trig stone for the now fallen blocking stone (Scale 1m).  

Access Information

Car parking is available at SX 66205 86548. From here head SSW across open moorland to the stone rows.

Nearest Neighbour

Shoveldown 5 (2m)

Nearby Rows

Shoveldown 1 (34m)

Shoveldown 2 (355m)

Shoveldown 3 (360m)

Shoveldown 4 (226m)

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., 1991, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities – Vol. 2 – The North, Devon Books Exeter, pgs.182-184.

Timeline

VISITED:- 5th July 2016

FIRST PUBLISHED:- 24th January 2016

LAST UPDATED:- 10th June 2020