M10. Long multiple rows composed of 10 or more small and/or medium sized stones

Lanacombe 1 on Exmoor

Distribution of long multiple rows composed of 10 or more small and/or medium sized stones

Stone rows of this type are found in three distinct clusters. The largest concentration is in Northern Scotland, but there are significant numbers on Exmoor and Dartmoor, but interestingly nothing in between. Why this very distinctive form of stone row has such clearly defined clusters is not known but it does imply some sort of direct link between these areas. This is particularly case with Battle Moss, Loch of Yarrows in Caithness and Corringdon Ball, South on Dartmoor. These sites are almost identical in size and appearance despite being over 900km apart. This is powerful evidence for cultural links extending over huge distances and of course means that it would be inappropriate to dismiss the possibility of rows of a particular type being found in only one region. At Bancbryn it was suggested by Cadw that the row could not be prehistoric because no others of its type had been found in the region. We should be grateful that the archaeologists working on Dartmoor were not so dismissive and embraced the idea that their region could be home to a variety of different types of stone row.