Archaeological excavation reveals paved surface at Dartmoor stone row

During a week-long excavation conducted at Piles Hill, a remarkable discovery has come to light – a quartz surface, potentially intentionally laid to enhance the setting of a double stone row.

This unexpected find was unearthed through the collaborative efforts of Dartmoor National Park Archaeologists, Isca Archaeology, and a dedicated team of volunteers. The excavation aimed to address some of the mysteries surrounding this enigmatic monument.

This excavation was carried out as part of the "Our Upland Commons" initiative, generously funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic England, and the Dartmoor Preservation Association. Its primary objective is to deepen our understanding of upland commons across Dartmoor and similar regions.

The double stone row at Piles Hill stretches an impressive 850 meters across Ugborough and Harford Moors, aligning itself east-west, with a slight, almost smiling curvature. It is believed to date back to the Neolithic/Early Bronze Age period.

Monuments of this kind are believed to have held significant ritual importance for the ancient people who designed and utilised them thousands of years ago. This stone row consists of around 40 visible stones, with some standing upright and others lying flat on the ground, concealed by vegetation.

The fact that these stones lie recumbent has long raised intriguing questions about whether they were intentionally placed in this position, had fallen over, or if the monument had once been oriented differently. The excavation aimed to shed light on some of these mysteries, yet, as is often the case on Dartmoor, it unveiled yet another hidden facet of the moorland's rich history.

National Park Archaeologist and Excavation Director Andy Crabb said: “As we’d hoped, excavations uncovered large socket holes underneath the ends of the fallen stones demonstrating that stones once stood upright. This confirmed findings from a geophysical survey last year. 

“But we also made a new discovery. In our last trench we uncovered a paved cobble-like surface made of angular rocks consisting predominantly of white quartz. At first, we thought it was the natural geology but further investigations showed otherwise. We think the rocks were brought to the site and laid there deliberately, possibly to enhance the setting of the stone row.

“We met our objectives of increasing our understanding of stone rows on Dartmoor with the bonus of finding something new. It was great working with Isca Archaeology, volunteers, landowners and local commoners on this important project.”

Tamsin Thomas, Our Upland Commons Project Officer for Dartmoor, said: “Everyone is excited by the findings. If successful, we will upright key stones to draw everyone’s attention to this important scheduled monument so they can be seen as people enjoy these wonderful places.” 

Commons like Ugborough and Harford form the heartland of Dartmoor and are one of the reasons for its designation as a National Park in 1951. As well as being landscapes noted for their historic monuments, they support a variety of flora and fauna and are grazed by hardy hill cattle, sheep, and ponies. 

Ugborough Moor landowner Dr Leonard Hurrell said: “We look forward to hearing about any discoveries which came about as a result of this work; we have always been intrigued as to the significance of such a sizeable construction, which must have been a very prominent feature in the ancient landscape.”

Harford Moor landowner John Howell said: “The archaeological work has confirmed our impression that this was once an outstanding feature, with the double line of large stones prominent over the top of the hill. I am delighted that we have learnt more about this important monument.”

Although the excavation itself wrapped up earlier this month, ongoing post-excavation activities are in progress. The team is optimistic that they will uncover precise, datable evidence and valuable environmental information from the samples collected at the site. Additionally, efforts to secure funding for the restoration of the stones to their original upright positions are underway.

This discovery of a surface of this kind is not unprecedented in the realm of Dartmoor archaeology, or in broader contexts. In fact, a paved causeway was previously unearthed during a 1930s excavation at The Hurlers, a prehistoric complex located on the granite uplands of Bodmin Moor.