MSO6886 - Possible prehistoric stone setting southwest of Black Barrow (Monument)

Summary

Two upright stone slabs and an earthen mound on a southwest facing slope west of Black Barrow, possibly the remains of a stone setting.

Please read the Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record .

Type and Period (2)

Protected Status

Full Description

SS 8301 4417 Stones. Two small upright earthfast sandstone slabs situated at about 405 metres above sea level on a gentle southwest facing slope some 200 metres due west of Black Barrow (MSO7900). The site under heather cover has clear views over the Hoscombe valley to the southwest and is within sight of stone settings MSO7903, MSO6881, MSO6882. Though no evidence of other stones or hollows was evident this could well be the remnant of a stone setting as the two slabs are typical of those found in many settings. A table with further information on the stones is held in the archive. [1,2] Two upright slabs 4 metres apart found in 1989. They are 0.1 metres high and 0.25 metres high, with a northeast to southwest alignment. May be prehistoric. Situated 35 metres south of a field bank. [3] A stub of nil height 49 paces to the southwest of the alignment. [4] Scheduled on 27 March 1996. [5] Field visit in January 2005 confirmed the location of the two stones and also revealed a subcircular earthen mound 8 metres to north-north-east of the stones. The mound is 5.5 metres in diameter and 0.3 metres high, and may be associated with the stones. In addition a number of hollows in the area would seem to represent small ordnance craters resulting from WWII activity in the area. [6] The Scheduled Monument Condition Assessment of 2009 gave the stones a survival score of 0. The mound was not considered. [7] The stones were surveyed in April 2015 as part of the 2015 Exmoor Scheduled Monument Condition Assessment and were given a survival score of 0. The mound was not considered. [8] Two stones and a nearby mound, orientated roughly northeast to southwest, close the field boundary and Black Barrow on the northwest side of Porlock Allotment. Both stones are very low square slabs which can easily be hidden amongst the dense vegetation. Recent swaling has improved the visibility of the stones and kept the bracken down compared with the last survey. Both stones remain stable, but could be considered to be at future risk from off-road vehicles. The presence of which is suggested by an east-west vehicle track 6m to the north. [9-10] This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [11]

Sources/Archives (11)

  • <1> Technical drawing: Sainsbury, I.. 1989. Hoscombe/ink survey . 1:1000 + 1:2500. Permatrace. Pen and Ink.
  • <2> Unpublished document: Sainsbury, I.S.S. Field Investigators Comments. RCHME Field Investigation, 6 January 1989.
  • <3> Report: Quinnell, N.V. and Dunn, C.J.. 1992. Lithic monuments within the Exmoor National Park: A new survey for management purposes by the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England.. Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England. SS84SW127.
  • <4> Unpublished document: Somerset County Council. Various. Somerset HER parish files - Exmoor records. PRN 33038, M Walker, 1993.
  • <5> Unpublished document: English Heritage. 26.4.1996. English Heritage to Somerset County Council.
  • <6> Verbal communication: Various. Various. ENPA archaeologist field visit.
  • <7> Report: Bray, L.S.. 2010. Scheduled Monument Condition Assessment 2009, Exmoor National Park.
  • <8> Report: Gent, T. and Manning, P.. 2015. Exmoor National Park Scheduled Monument Condition Survey 2015. Archaedia.
  • <9>XY Report: Fuller, J.. 2018. Exmoor Prehistoric Standing Stone Condition Survey: 2017-2018. MSO6886. [Mapped features: #45784 Stone A., MSO6886; #45785 Stone B., MSO6886]
  • <10> Report: Fuller, J.. 2018. Exmoor Prehistoric Standing Stone Condition Survey: 2017-2018 - Scheduled Standing Stones. MSO6886.
  • <11> Digital archive: Historic England. Various. National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE) entry. 859394, Extant 10 July 2021.

External Links (1)

Other Statuses/References

  • Exmoor National Park HER Number (now deleted): MSO12228
  • Local List Status (No)
  • National Monuments Record reference: SS 84 SW127
  • National Park: Exmoor National Park
  • NRHE HOB UID (Pastscape): 859394
  • Somerset SMR PRN: 35293

Map

Location

Grid reference Centred SS 8302 4417 (20m by 22m) (2 map features)
Map sheet SS84SW
Civil Parish EXMOOR, WEST SOMERSET, SOMERSET

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (2)

Record last edited

Jul 10 2021 10:13PM

Feedback?

Your feedback is welcome. If you can provide any new information about this record, please contact us.