Looking east along the southern part of the Black Barrow, South stone row (Scale 1m).
A mutilated multiple stone row measuring 18.6m long, including at least 5 small and medium-sized stones situated in the bottom of a shallow valley. The row is orientated east to west and originally probably included 16 stones arranged in a grid. The row stands in the vicinity of a stone pair, stone row and cairn.
Location
| England | Somerset | Exmoor | SS 83114 43876 |
| Lat 51.1820755 Long -3.67375346 | |||
Map showing location of Black Barrow, South stone row
Plan of Black Barrow, South stone row (Source: Survey by Sandy Gerrard at 1:200).
The Black Barrow, South row probably originally looked more like this. Missing stones are shown red. This seems a more likely scenario than the suggestion that this represents the remains of a single row and associated standing stone because the surviving “in-situ” stones are aligned northward suggesting that they formed part of a multiple row than a single row. Single rows are not built with the stones set at right angles to the row alignment and this explanation makes sense of otherwise isolated stone 5.
Map showing the position of Black Barrow South, other stone rows and other sites (Source: Exmoor National Park HER).
Characteristics
| Type: Multiple | Length: 18.6m |
| No. of stones: 5 | Size of stones: Small and medium |
| Orientation: 101° | Altitude: 407m |
| Upper end: – | Lower end: – |
| Straight (Yes or No) : | Sea View: No |
| Context: Stone pair and row | |
| Notes: A sixth stone described as being in a stream is no longer extant. | |
Other Information
| Public Access: Yes |
| Land Status: National Park |
| Scheduled Ancient Monument: No |
Identification
Category: Plausible. The surviving evidence supports the identification of this site as a stone row. There is however an element of uncertainty regarding the precise original form of the feature. It is most likely that it is the much mutilated remains of a multiple row with the four remaining stones forming the southern side of a larger “grid” type row and stone 5 representing the sole survivor of the northern extent. The orientation of the individual stones is the strongest evidence that this is the much mutilated remains of a multiple row. It is also possible that the row was originally longer. This site therefore represents the site of a stone row but further work will be need to confirm its original character.
Typology
This stone row is of Type M1. Information on this form of stone row and other rows of this type is available here.
Individual Stones
Plan showing the position of the numbered stones.
Stone 1 is recumbent and measures 0.7m long by 0.37m wide whilst protruding 0.06m above the ground surface. The stone is orientated at 175°. On the left side of the photograph 0.65m north east of the stones is a close setting of edge set stones which probably represents its packing and indicates that the stone has been displaced south west from its original position. View from north (Scale 1m).
Stone 1 and its original packing. View from south east (Scale 1m).
Stone 2 measures 0.23m long by 0.06m wide stands up to 0.09m high and is orientated at 50°. View from north west (Scale 1m).
Stone 2. View from east with stones 3 and 4 beyond (Scale 1m).
Stone 3 measures 0.2m long by 0.12m wide stands up to 0.06m high and is orientated at 25°. View from east (Scale 1m).
Stone 4 measures 0.65m long by 0.26m wide stands up to 0.38m high and is orientated at 20°. View from west (Scale 1m).
Stone 4. View from north west (Scale 1m).
Stone 5 measures 0.71m long by 0.13m wide stands up to 0.46m high and is orientated at 175°. View from west (Scale 1m).
Stone 5 probably represents part of the northern row. View from north (Scale 1m).
Access Information
Limited car parking is available at SS 84543 44569. From here follow the track leading south west to SS 83567 43802. Then head west to the row. This route takes you past Coley Water, South and Porlock Allotment stone rows.
Online Resources
Megalithic Portal PastScape Historic Environment Record
Timeline
VISITED:- 10th April 2019
FIRST PUBLISHED:- 4th July 2019
LAST UPDATED:- 21st November 2020
The Stone Rows of Great Britain 