I found a strange row in fernworthy many years ago.
I'm sure the woods are covering up much more.
Go back in January/February for the best time to search.

We sometimes seem to divide earthworks and stone structures into two groups - ancient and modern. That is where we stumble because we ignore the fact that earthworks and stoneworks continued to be made right through the Roman occupation, the so called Dark Ages, medieval, industrial and modern ages. A "stone row" and a "round barrow" could be medieval or the remains of miners sheds and spoil tip. Dating anything older than a century or so by looking at weathering and soil deposits requires expert knowledge.

The first thing to ask yourself when discovering an unknown ancient site is simply "Why is it unknown?" Why has nobody recorded it as an ancient site already? Is it really so obscure and so remote that it has remained undiscovered? Check out the local history and see what was going on at that spot in historical times. What does the local arhaeological/historical society have to say about it? By eliminating other known later structures, you may then be able to approach the local archaeology unit with more confidence.

Ey up Tuesday!

< we 'found' some interesting little potential sites in the woods near fernworthy - hut circles, a possible stone row and a possible monolith - none listed here as far as i am aware. but then we're not experts and bearing in mind the brouhaha over David's Cairns, it would seem premature to post them. >

I like the sound of your potential finds. But on the whole I can only echo what PeterH said on the matter. But just because it aint listed, doesn't necessarily mean it's not the real thing either. Get the old maps out, go to the library, check with the local archaeology units. If nowt comes back from any of these, you might be onto something. There's plenty of old carvings, cairns and monoliths I've come across down the years which weren't in the archaeological records. And keep in mind, that the greater majority of archaeological finds (certainly from my experience in Yorkshire anyway) are made by enthusiastic amateurs.

As for StoneLifter's words:

< Take a decent compass and write down approximate headings, see if there's anything special on the horizon. Visit and revisit before drawing conclusions. Talk to the birds! >

I go along with his sentiments - but there's much much more than just doing that. And if he reckons his findings are worth his salt, he should know that himself already. Alignments are no way of ascertaining the veracity of alleged archaeological sites (if that were the case we'd be sure that the White Horse of Kilburn in N.Yorks was etched 4000 years ago, cos it coincidentally aligns with a stone circle). One word of advice though: if you're gonna talk to archaeologists about your findings, record what you've found first. They're notorious for nicking other people's finds and claiming them for themselves!

< perhaps there could be a 'pending further investigation' group? >

I think that's a damn good idea. Especially in the light of those blatantly screwy old cairns which you referred to earlier, which no-one but Mr ShirtLifter thinks is real.

<we found some interesting little potential sites in woods near Fernworthy>

You say in woods near Fernworthy, do you mean in the Fernworthy forest? If so there are a number of round houses dotted around in the forest most plotted out in Jeremy Butler's excellent series of books "Dartmoor Atlas Of Antiquities" volume two covering the north moor. If you know what part of the forest you were in ,and could get hold of a copy, you could check it out. I do not know of any rows or standing stones in the area, other than the ones posted here, but things are still being found. Most of that area was checked by the late Victorian antiquarians long before the forest was planted, but you may have been lucky.

Peace Lubin.

I read today in Jeremy Butlers book [volume 5] that it was thought that another row existed near the Fernworthy Circle. It was 111metres south of the circle and aligned to the south Teign. Were you near here as it would now be amongst the trees?

Peace Lubin.