Reave
Encyclopedia
A reave is a long and generally straight boundary wall made of stone that was built during the Bronze Age
. Reaves were identified as prehistoric features on Dartmoor
in Devon
, England in 1972, and although they had been described by antiquarian
s in the 1820s, the knowledge of their origins had been lost, ignored and misrepresented for around 150 years.
There are three main classes of reaves: parallel reaves divided land to create rectilinear fields which were sometimes subdivided by cross reaves. Terminal reaves tend to run for great distances along contours or watersheds and served to divide the enclosed areas from the higher open moor. In total, the reaves on Dartmoor cover an area of over 10000 hectare.
There are over 20 major field systems delineated by reaves on Dartmoor. The largest is around Rippon Tor, which covers over 2000 hectare. Other large systems are North Dart (over 1400 hectare), South Dart (550 hectare) and Easdon Down (380 hectare).
The longest reave identified on Dartmoor is known as the Great Western Reave, which, although incomplete, stretches over 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from beyond White Tor in the north, over Roos Tor, through the Merrivale archaeological landscape
and Foggintor granite quarries to its southern end, east of Sharpitor, by the side of the B3212 road.
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
. Reaves were identified as prehistoric features on Dartmoor
Dartmoor
Dartmoor is an area of moorland in south Devon, England. Protected by National Park status, it covers .The granite upland 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...
in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, England in 1972, and although they had been described by antiquarian
Antiquarian
An antiquarian or antiquary is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient objects of art or science, archaeological and historic sites, or historic archives and manuscripts...
s in the 1820s, the knowledge of their origins had been lost, ignored and misrepresented for around 150 years.
There are three main classes of reaves: parallel reaves divided land to create rectilinear fields which were sometimes subdivided by cross reaves. Terminal reaves tend to run for great distances along contours or watersheds and served to divide the enclosed areas from the higher open moor. In total, the reaves on Dartmoor cover an area of over 10000 hectare.
There are over 20 major field systems delineated by reaves on Dartmoor. The largest is around Rippon Tor, which covers over 2000 hectare. Other large systems are North Dart (over 1400 hectare), South Dart (550 hectare) and Easdon Down (380 hectare).
The longest reave identified on Dartmoor is known as the Great Western Reave, which, although incomplete, stretches over 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from beyond White Tor in the north, over Roos Tor, through the Merrivale archaeological landscape
Merrivale, Devon
Merrivale is a locality in western Dartmoor, in the West Devon district of Devon, England. It is best known for the nearby series of Bronze Age megalithic monuments to the south and a former granite quarry.-Merrivale hamlet:...
and Foggintor granite quarries to its southern end, east of Sharpitor, by the side of the B3212 road.