The Dartmoor project was one of the first large areas surveyed using aerial photographs. This work was undertaken as a result of a number of other archaeological projects carried out on Dartmoor. The aerial survey covered the Dartmoor National Park and an area of south-west Dartmoor not included in the park. The results informed the scheduling of monuments within the project area as well as updating the Devon SMR.
Dartmoor Reaves
One of the principle aims of this project was to map the extensive Bronze Age field systems known as reaves. Each field was defined by low banks of rubble that may have originally had hedges along the top. The reaves are very regular in plan and extend for many kilometres across Dartmoor.
Industrial Sites
One of the most important results of this project was the extensive mapping of industrial sites and monuments on Dartmoor. There is a long history of tin mining on Dartmoor and evidence of both mineral extraction and processing was identified. These sites include tin streamworks, openworks and their associated leats, one of which is about 11km long. Shafts, trail pits, tin mills and blowing houses were also recorded.
One of the rights of Dartmoor commoners was to cut peat and there is widespread evidence of peat cutting on Dartmoor visible on aerial photographs. Rows of peat-ties or ‘turf-tyes’ can be seen, often fanning-out from summit points.
The images used on this page are copyright English Heritage unless specified otherwise. For further details of any photographs or other images and for copies of these, or the plans and reports related to the project please contact the English Heritage Archive.
For further information on a project or any other aspect of the work of the Aerial Survey team please contact us via email using the link above.
