Shoveldown Central Settlement Reported Cist

Database entries

OS Map: SX 65764 85857
OS Source: Google
HER: MDV54531
PMD: Shovel Down W.
Alternate name: Shoveldown Central Settlement
Short Name: CT:Shoveldow7
Butler map: 36.4
Exist: Yes
Record: Unique
Record Source: Butler
Cist Class: Maybe
Cairn Class: Yes
Dimensions (m): 5.0 x 0.3 C?
Lidar: SX 65764 85857
Nearby sites: SX 65764 85857

Notes

Butler Shoveldown Central Settlement Cairn 36.4 (Vol 2)
Ths cairn is described by Butler on p. 176. "Forty metres outside th south-west cornera small solitary cairn (5.0 x 0.3m) has been dug into, the displaced stones subsequently returned to the central pit where they lie in a loose pile". The cairn is shown on Fig 36.4 on p.176. It can be seen to be a few metres south of the Central Settlement. It also appears towards the top left on Fig 36.7 on p. 179. Fig 36.4 is a segment of Fig 36.7. Butler lists this site as a cist at SX 6576 8585.

The NMR site 889100 is the only NMR site that matches. Located at SX 6575 8588 which is within 32 m. It is listed as 4.9 x 0.65 m. "A turf covered stoney cairn situated near the crest of the N facing flank of Shovel Down 20m S of a small settlement (SX 68 NE 41). It measures 4.9m in diameter and survives to a height of 0.65m. A stone filled hollow 1.9m in diameter and about 0.2m deep lies slightly E of centre. There are no traces of a cist or a retaining circle."

The HER has two entries. HER 54531 is clearly NMR record 889100, same size and location. It refers to Butler p.179;fig 36.7. The HER record 61777 gives Butler's size and location. It also includes a quote from Butler: "Dug into, the displaced stones subsequently returned to the central pit where they lie in a loose pile". Clearly these two records refer to the same site. What record 61777 adds is the fact that Butler claims it to be a possible cist.

UPDATE 31/12/2022. HER record MDV61777 has been deleted.

References

These are selected references with an emphasis on out of copyright sources linked as PDFs. For more detailed references try any linked HER or PMD record above.

• Butler, Jeremy, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, vol.2: The North, (1991)