A Walk Around...the Merrivale Bronze Age Antiquities, Dartmoor National Park
The great Bronze Age ceremonial centre at Merrivale on the Dartmoor National Park. An ancient monument of national importance, it consists of numerous cairns, stone rows, cists, menhirs, stone circles and the remains of prehistoric houses.
It was probably constructed over a lengthy period of time between the end of the Neolithic c.2000BC and the late Bronze Age c.750BC. It was a necropolis but the exact purpose of the standing stones, circles and double stone rows remains an enigma.
The site lies close to the main road across the moor between Exeter and Tavistock and its survival is nothing short of miraculous as everywhere is evidence of 19th century stone-cutting.
Other prehistoric sites on Dartmoor perhaps make a greater impact but the Merrivale antiquities are well-worth visiting.
Fernworthy, Scorhill and Buttern Hill Stone Circles
Three stone circles on Dartmoor that are relatively close together, plus a number of sites of interest in their vicinity such as the Shuggledown group of stone rows and the prehistoric settlement of Round Pound. Also several other natural landmarks such as the Tolmen Stone and various sights and sounds of Dartmoor. Hope you enjoy.
Prehistoric Dwelling and Enclosure on Dartmoor
Dartmoor is an area of moorland in south Devon, England. It boasts an estimated 5,000 hut circles still surviving, despite the fact that many have been raided over the centuries by the builders of the traditional dry stone walls. These are the remnants of Bronze Age houses. The smallest are around 1.8 m (6 ft) in diameter, and the largest may be up to five times this size.
Some have L-shaped porches to protect against wind and rain; some particularly good examples are to be found at Grimspound. It is believed that they would have had a conical roof, supported by timbers and covered in turf or thatch.
There are also numerous kistvaens, Neolithic stone box-like tombs.
The majority of the prehistoric remains on Dartmoor date back to the late Neolithic and early Bronze Age. Indeed, Dartmoor contains the largest concentration of Bronze Age remains in the United Kingdom, which suggests that this was when a larger population moved onto the hills of Dartmoor. The large systems of Bronze Age fields, divided by reaves, cover an area of over 10,000 hectares (39 sq mi) of the lower moors.
The climate at the time was warmer than today, and much of today's moorland was covered with trees. The prehistoric settlers began clearing the forest, and established the first farming communities. Fire was the main method of clearing land, creating pasture and swidden types of fire-fallow farmland. Areas less suited for farming tended to be burned for livestock grazing. Over the centuries these Neolithic practices greatly expanded the upland moors, and contributed to the acidification of the soil and the accumulation of peat and bogs.
After a few thousand years the mild climate deteriorated leaving these areas uninhabited and consequently relatively undisturbed to the present day. The highly acidic soil has ensured that no organic remains have survived, but the durability of the granite has meant that the remains of buildings, enclosures and monuments have survived well, as have flint tools. It should be noted that a number of remains were restored by enthusiastic Victorians and that, in some cases, they have placed their own interpretation on how an area may have looked.
Protected by National Park status, Dartmoor National Park covers 954 square kilometres (368 sq mi).
The granite which forms the uplands dates from the Carboniferous Period of geological history. The moorland is capped with many exposed granite hilltops known as tors, providing habitats for Dartmoor wildlife. The highest point is High Willhays, 621 m (2,037 ft) above sea level. The entire area is rich in antiquities and archaeology.
Dartmoor is managed by the Dartmoor National Park Authority, whose 22 members are drawn from Devon County Council, local district councils and Government.
The Devonian is a geologic period and system of the Paleozoic Era spanning from the end of the Silurian Period, about 419.2 ± 3.2 Mya (million years ago), to the beginning of the Carboniferous Period, about 358.9 ± 0.4. It is named after Devon, England, where rocks from this period were first studied. The Devonian period experienced the first significantadaptive radiation of terrestrial life. Free-sporing vascular plants began to spread across dry land, forming extensive forests which covered the continents. By the middle of the Devonian, several groups of plants had evolved leaves and true roots, and by the end of the period the first seed-bearing plants appeared. Various terrestrial arthropods also became well-established. Fish reached substantial diversity during this time, leading the Devonian to often be dubbed the Age of Fish. The first ray-finned and lobe-finned bony fish appeared, while the placoderms began dominating almost every known aquatic environment.
The paleogeography was dominated by the supercontinent of Gondwana to the south, the continent of Siberia to the north, and the early formation of the small continent of Euramerica in between.
Market Days In Devon, 1950s - Film 96565
Market towns. Great Torrington people stand outside the gates to the Pannier Market, memorial monument in the background. Pedestrians. Livestock market with farmers watching as sheep and cattle are being auctioned. Good footage of farming faces.
FPV Quadcopter RAF Davidstow Airfield, Cornwall UK
Location:
RAF Davidstow Airfield, Cornwall UK
Conditions:
Light wind and beautiful sky
This place is massive, the runways are in a terrible state with potholes.
The building at 1:10 used to be the control tower