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Sittaford

Stone Circle

News

Dartmoor stone circle undisturbed for hundreds of years being excavated


AN undisturbed stone circle which has been buried in the peat since its abandonment in prehistory has been lovingly excavated.

Sittaford Stone Circle, discovered in 2008 by Alan Endacott, a local amateur archaeologist, appeared to have remained undisturbed. It was revealed by the actions of peat cutters in more recent centuries and then a moorland fire in 2008 enabled Alan to spot some of the stones poking out of the surface.
A stone circle which has remained undisturbed is highly unusual. Many of Dartmoor’s stone circles have been subjected to various degrees of disturbance, ranging from ‘mining’ of the sites for stone, to investigation by antiquarians and early archaeologists.

Dartmoor National Park Authority archaeologist Lee Bray said: ‘This lack of disturbance is one of the facts that makes the site special. That this hasn’t happened at Sittaford — as far as we know — makes the site of national significance as it has the potential to shed light on stone circles which is unclouded by the activities of intervening periods.’
The monument itself is located about 300m south west of Sittaford Tor at over 520m elevation, on the summit of the ridge separating the catchments of the North Teign and East Dart. It consists of 30 stones, all of which are currently recumbent, arranged in a circle with a diameter of in excess of 30m.....


http://www.tavistock-today.co.uk/article.cfm?id=416866&headline=Dartmoor%20stone%20circle%20undisturbed%20for%20hundreds%20of%20years%20being%20excavated§ionIs=news&searchyear=2016
moss Posted by moss
7th November 2016ce

Comments (3)

But are they actually going to re-erect the stones? ironstone Posted by ironstone
7th November 2016ce
It is a big job to re-erect stones exactly, and there is a problem that in the trenches excavated there are no signs of sockets. Given the Cornwall excavations of fallen stones in stone circles on the moors, the need for permissions would also take time. moss Posted by moss
7th November 2016ce
Unless they want to deviate from the original builders' approach, it wouldn't be worth re-erecting stones as with minimal sockets/packing they'd fall over again pretty soon :) thesweetcheat Posted by thesweetcheat
7th November 2016ce
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