Dartmoor National Park Authority

Rippon Tor Reave System

This PAL contains the SE part of the largest prehistoric field system surviving on Dartmoor, some 4,500 hectares (about 11,000 acres) in total.  Long straight parallel field boundaries (reaves) cross the landscape in a NW/SE direction.  These appear on the ground as low stony, vegetation-covered banks.

The field system is about three and a half thousand years old and contains the remains of stone built round houses (hut circles) and associated enclosures; included amongst these are several extremely well preserved settlements (and some of the best examples on Dartmoor), on Horridge Common ,Buckland Common, Halsanger Common and Foale’s Arrishes, below Pil Tor.  There is evidence that this latter site was (rarely for Dartmoor) occupied in the Iron Age (c. 2,500 years ago).

Scattered around the field systems are0 prehistoric cairns (burial or stone clearance mounds), of similar or slightly earlier date.

Overlying and partly reusing the prehistoric field system in places are later, medieval, fields, defined by low stony banks and ditches.  Within these medieval fields are slight traces of cultivation in the form of ridge and furrow.  The remains of two or three medieval longhouses survive.

There are also areas of industrial activity - extraction of tin ore – in the form of streaming in the valley bottoms, pits and gullies (openworks) on the higher ground.

The ‘busiest’ areas of the prehistoric field system and settlement sites have been designated as Scheduled Ancient Monuments (SAMs).

This area includes the Blackslade Mire SSSI and an assemblage of other moorland habitats. Several UK BAP species are associated with the valley mires and bracken that occur on the moorland fringes.

Those found within the PAL are listed together with those found on adjacent land in brackets. Insects - Bog Hoverfly, (Pearl-bordered Fritillary, High Brown Fritillary, Marsh Fritillary). Birds - Reed Bunting, Curlew, Snipe, Lapwing.

What it should look like: The preferred vegetation on this site would be a broad scale mosaic with short acid grassland (5 to 15 cm) and Western Heath. The Western Heath, on the drier ground, should be managed on a short rotation on and close to archaeological interests to achieve an acid grassland sward.  Away from archaeological interest heathland should be managed on an appropriate rotation for the habitat. There should be a presumption against any more trees. The mires are very important and require sufficient grazing and vegetation management to keep them open. Some Bracken control is needed especially on the western edge of the PAL.

Interactive Mapping (GIS) System

The link below provides access to an interactive map which shows the PAL at Rippon Tor Reave System.  You can zoom in further on a specific area of interest using the tools provided.  (For additional help using the system please refer to our GIS help page.)

Page updated 16 September 2009