MSO6736 - Prehistoric hut circle on Almsworthy Common (Monument)

One of the best preserved hut circles recorded on Exmoor to date lies beside the track on Almsworthy Common approximately 60 metres west of the enclosure at SS 8410 4180 (MMO183). The internal diameter is 10 metres, the external diameter is 14 metres and the site is levelled into the hill slope with the walls between 0.30 and 0.40 metres high. There is a well defined entrance on the south side. Several low, stone mounds are in the area. [1] A circular wall bank with a southerly gap situated on a slight spur has been classified as a large Bronze Age house, but its position is exposed and has visibility to the east and west. It may be a summer tribal gathering place, or a small henge. It may otherwise be related to droving as it is position by a green road from the Forest. [2] Centred at SS 8404 4177 is a prehistoric hut circle. It is 15.3 metres in overall diameter (11 metres bank centre to bank centre) and has been massively terraced, by 0.9 metres, into the hillslope on its upper (northeastern) side. It is defined by a bank 4.1 metres wide, within which the internal area forms a level platform 7 metres in diameter.The southwestern, lower, side of the hut circle has been destroyed by a well used vehicle track, and the entrance was presumably in this area of destruction. The hut circle is unusual on Exmoor, because of its size, massive construction, and unusually elevated position (442 metres above Ordnance Datum). Surveyed at 1:2500 scale. [3] The hut circle has been transcribed from aerial photographs as part of the Exmoor National Mapping Programme survey. The accurate rectification of the best available aerial photographs places the hut circle at circa SS 8395 4182, approximately 70 metres to the west of the enclosure (MSO6735). The south facing entrance to the hut circle is clearly visible on aerial photographs of the 1940s and is still apparent in 1952, despite the significant damage summarised above. It may be associated with two similarly sized hut circles interpreted as forming an unenclosed settlement associated with a field system on Wellshead Allotment, approximately 400 metres to the southwest. [4-6] This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [7]