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The Quest for the Shaman: Shape-shifters, Sorcerers and Spirit-healers of Ancient Europe

The Quest for the Shaman: Shape-shifters, Sorcerers and Spirit-healers of Ancient Europe

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<< Our Photo Pages >> Merrivale - Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue in England in Devon

Submitted by TheCaptain on Friday, 29 October 2004  Page Views: 17224

Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: Merrivale
Country: England County: Devon Type: Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue
Nearest Town: Tavistock  Nearest Village: Princetown
Map Ref: SX55487477  Landranger Map Number: 191
Latitude: 50.554774N  Longitude: 4.041501W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
4 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
3 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
4 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
5

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lucasn visited on 27th Jun 2019 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 4 Access: 4

Richard13 visited on 1st Jul 2018 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 4 Access: 4

jeffrep visited on 19th May 2011 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 4 Access: 4

cazzyjane visited - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 3

stonedat50 TimPrevett AngieLake hamish TheCaptain Bolstered ArchAstro mdensham have visited here

Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Condition: 4 Ambience: 4.25 Access: 3.75

Merrivale
Merrivale submitted by thecaptain : Merrivale site overview. This is the view looking west overlooking the Merrivale site. I have tried to mark out where the various features are. The stones in the foreground are remains of bronze age reaves and ancient settlement huts and field walls. (Vote or comment on this photo)
Ceremonial Complex including two Multiple Stone Rows or Avenues, two more (at least) single stone rows, a stone circle, a large menhir (plus probably one more fallen), many burial cairns and cists, and an ancient settlement, on the western slopes of Dartmoor in Devon

Update November 2019: This complex is featured on the Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks (PDW) website - see their entries for the Merrivale Ceremonial Complex and the Merrivale Ceremonial Complex [Photo Set 2].

The site is also recorded as Pastscape Monument No. 440056 and cheduled as Historic England List Entry No. 1013429 (Three stone alignments, ten cairns, three stone hut circles and a length of the Great Western Reave on Longash Common).

Also see the Legendary Dartmoor website's entry for the Merrivale Complex.
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Merrivale Centre Row
Merrivale Centre Row submitted by graemefield : Merrivale stone row enshrouded in mist, May 1992. (2 comments - Vote or comment on this photo)

merrivale centre row
merrivale centre row submitted by utherwilson : This is a photo of the east end of the centre row, taken at about 4pm looking down the row. (1 comment - Vote or comment on this photo)

Merrivale Centre Row
Merrivale Centre Row submitted by Bladup : Merrivale Centre Row. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Merrivale Centre Row
Merrivale Centre Row submitted by jeffrep : Merrivale Center Stone Row -- a Double Stone Row -- in Dartmoor National Park, Devon, England. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Merrivale Centre N
Merrivale Centre N submitted by h_fenton : Merrivale, cairn circle and cist in the middle of the southern (central) stone row. Kite Aerial Photograph 7 April 2010 (Vote or comment on this photo)

Merrivale Centre Row
Merrivale Centre Row submitted by cazzyjane : Oil on canvas from my earlier photo.

Merrivale Centre Row.
Merrivale Centre Row. submitted by Bladup : Merrivale. This Original Artwork in a glass frame has now sold. A limited (to a 100) print in a 8" x 10" glass frame would be £19.99 +£2.90 postage, E-mail me at paul.blades@rocketmail.com if interested. (3 comments)

Merrivale Centre Row
Merrivale Centre Row submitted by Bladup : Merrivale Centre Row.

Merrivale circle
Merrivale circle submitted by h_fenton : Merrivale Circle, A Kite Aerial Photograph. 7 April 2010

Merrivale Menhir
Merrivale Menhir submitted by cazzyjane : Merrivale Menhir.

Merrivale North Row
Merrivale North Row submitted by cazzyjane : The Blocking stone of the North Row.

Merrivale Centre Row
Merrivale Centre Row submitted by rldixon : centre ro taken in infra red may 2008

merrivale menhir
merrivale menhir submitted by utherwilson : The big one! Menhir that is at Merrivale

Merrivale Menhir
Merrivale Menhir submitted by AngieLake : Merrivale on the day before the official autumnal equinox last month. This is the tall standing stone that stands near the circle in the SW of the Merrivale complex. The sun had just set, I would say this was approximately 7.30pm. (3 comments)

Merrivale row 4
Merrivale row 4 submitted by Brian Byng : Row 4 azimuth 6 length 7m GR 5535 7458 Burl calls this E A short row of 4 small stones next to the single standing stone. It shows up rather well in this winter photo taken a few days ago.

Merrivale Centre Row
Merrivale Centre Row submitted by Bladup : Merrivale Centre Row

Merrivale Menhir
Merrivale Menhir submitted by AngieLake : This shot shows the "smaller pillar" that Butler describes, in relation to the menhir and the cairn 6 pit. He says: "The menhir, 3.1 m high, still stands in its original position, 42 m almost due south from the centre of the stone circle. There is no evidence that the smaller pillar, 2 m long, lying a few meters away ever stood upright, but it was erected in 1895 in the pit alongside, toppling ag... (2 comments)

Merrivale Centre Row
Merrivale Centre Row submitted by SandyG : Eastern end of row. View from west. The sinuous character of the row is clearly discernable. (19th October 2014).

Merrivale Centre Row
Merrivale Centre Row submitted by SandyG : The eastern end of the central row in the foreground with the northern row in the background (19th October 2014).

Merrivale Centre Row
Merrivale Centre Row submitted by SandyG : Looking westward along the row. The northern row is visible behind the figure on the right. (19th October 2014). (3 comments)

Merrivale North Row
Merrivale North Row submitted by Bladup : Merrivale North Row.

Merrivale Menhir
Merrivale Menhir submitted by davidmorgan : The Merrivale Menhir with the Merrivale Circle in the background where the cow is.

Merrivale Centre N
Merrivale Centre N submitted by rldixon : Taken summer 2008, taken me a while to get round to it ;-)

Merrivale settlement
Merrivale settlement submitted by h_fenton : Some of the roundhouses in Merrivale settlement. Kite Aerial Photograph 7 April 2010

Merrivale Centre Row
Merrivale Centre Row submitted by rldixon : taken 2008

These are just the first 25 photos of Merrivale. If you log in with a free user account you will be able to see our entire collection.

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Richard's Ancient Sites and Curiosity Pages by Richard Pederick
Prehistoric Circles and Rows by Ian Honeywood
STILE by Clive Ruggles


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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 13m SE 127° Merrivale Cists* Burial Chamber or Dolmen (SX5549074762)
 36m WNW 302° Merrivale North Row* Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue (SX55457479)
 50m W 268° Merrivale Centre N* Cairn (SX55437477)
 72m NE 55° Merrivale NE circle* Stone Circle (SX55547481)
 76m SSW 202° Merrivale Stone Slabs 1 and 2* Stone Row / Alignment (SX55457470)
 80m W 268° Merrivale Centre S* Cairn (SX55407477)
 80m E 81° Merrivale Centre Row* Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue (SX55567478)
 86m W 262° Merrivale SW row 3* Stone Row / Alignment (SX5539474761)
 169m WNW 293° Merrivale N circle* Stone Circle (SX5532674841)
 181m W 262° Merrivale NW* Stone Circle (SX55307475)
 191m SW 221° Merrivale circle* Stone Circle (SX55357463)
 193m WSW 247° Cairn south of Stone Row B (Merrivale)* Cairn (SX553747)
 211m SSW 210° Merrivale Second Menhir and Cairn* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SX55377459)
 216m SSW 212° Merrivale Menhir* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SX55367459)
 221m NNE 17° Merrivale settlement* Ancient Village or Settlement (SX5555174979)
 221m SW 215° Merrivale 5* Stone Row / Alignment (SX5534974592)
 222m SSW 212° Merrivale row 4* Stone Row / Alignment (SX5535674586)
 225m SW 215° Merrivale 6* Stone Row / Alignment (SX5534474590)
 921m ESE 108° Yellowmeade Farm* Cairn (SX56357446)
 994m SSE 166° King's Tor* Rock Outcrop (SX557738)
 1.3km WSW 251° Vixen Tor* Cist (SX5424074392)
 1.9km NE 49° Mis Tor Farm Cairn (SX56927594)
 2.1km WSW 255° Windy Post Cross* Ancient Cross (SX53437428)
 2.2km W 263° Barn Hill Cairn (SX53337458)
 2.2km NW 326° Roos Tor Rocks* Rock Outcrop (SX543766)
View more nearby sites and additional images

<< Merrivale North Row

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Prehistoric Settlements

Prehistoric Settlements

Archived Web links for Merrivale

Richard's Ancient Sites and Curiosity Pages by Richard Pederick
Prehistoric Circles and Rows by Ian Honeywood
STILE by Clive Ruggles

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"Merrivale" | Login/Create an Account | 5 News and Comments
  
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A Megalithic observatory on Dartmoor, J E Wood & A Penny, 1975 by Andy B on Tuesday, 13 March 2018
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A Megalithic observatory on Dartmoor, J. E. WOOD & A. PENNY
Nature volume 257, pages 205–207 (18 September 1975)
doi:10.1038/257205a0

ASTRONOMICALLY aligned standing stones have been shown to occur at many sites dating from the late Neolithic and early Bronze Ages in North-west Europe. We have examined the stone rows at Merrivale on Dartmoor (SX553746) and conclude that they, together with associated stone rings and menhirs, form a solar and lunar observatory. An interesting feature of this site is that it apparently includes a calculating device for facilitating the prediction of lunar eclipses.

Thom has suggested that certain stone settings which are themselves not astronomical alignments, notably four fan-shaped arrangements of stones in Caithness (Mid Clyth, Dirlot, Loch of Yarrows and Camster) and the well known groups at Carnac and Kermario, are in fact for this purpose. The Carnac alignments are complicated and difficult to interpret completely, the Caithness settings have been disturbed and many stones are missing; at Merrivale the stone rows have not been greatly damaged and the simple method of their use, though not identical to that proposed by Thom, lends support to his basic contention that techniques for lunar eclipse prediction were developed at that period.

https://www.nature.com/articles/257205a0
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Mystery And Prehistory, Tue 27 July by Andy B on Saturday, 10 July 2010
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Mystery And Prehistory

Tue 27 July 10.45-12.45

With nearly parallel double stone rows, stone circles, kistvaens and menhirs there are many fascinating features to be found in this area but what could it all mean. Find out more on this walk. …

With nearly parallel double stone rows, stone circles, kistvaens and menhirs there are many fascinating features to be found in this area but what could it all mean. Find out more on this walk. Adults £3.00. Children 14 and Under free. Sorry no dogs.

Location: Meet at Merrivale, Four Winds car park. Large walled car park in trees on south side of B3357 Two Bridges – Tavistock road. SX 5606 7489

O: Dartmoor National Park Authority
N: High Moorland Visitor Centre
T: 01822 890414
E: hmvc@dartmoor-npa.gov.uk
W: http://www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk

Festival of British Archaeology 2010
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Megaliths by Moonlight, Sun 25 July by Andy B on Saturday, 10 July 2010
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Megaliths by Moonlight

Sun 25 July 21.00-22.30

Wonder at the myths and mysteries behind these ancient monuments. Please bring a torch. …

Wonder at the myths and mysteries behind these ancient monuments. Please bring a torch. Adults £3.00, Children 14 and Under free. Sorry no dogs. Free for YAC members.

Location: Meet at Merrivale, Four Winds car park. Large walled car park in trees on south side of B3357 Two Bridges – Tavistock road

O: Dartmoor National Park Authority
N: High Moorland Visitor Centre
T: 01822 890414
E: hmvc@dartmoor-npa.gov.uk
W: http://www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk

Festival of British Archaeology 2010
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Vixen Tor - Future Access at a Whopping Price! by AngieLake on Thursday, 09 March 2006
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As this was already old news sent in over a week ago, I tried last night to update it with the latest news of a planning meeting report on the Western Morning News website, dated 4th March. For some reason the post wouldn't go through, (there weren't any abusive words in the text!) but I managed to 'copy' it into an email to AndyB. Hope you got it Andy?
Basically, the Dept of the Environment representative was appalled at the landowner's application for payment from DNPA for public access. They are going to go through legal channels now to demand public access to Vixen Tor.
[ Reply to This ]

Vixen Tor - Future Access at a Whopping Price! by Anonymous on Wednesday, 08 March 2006
AngieLake quotes from the Western Morning News website:

"Dartmoor Landmark"

The owner of a Dartmoor landmark once popular with rock climbers is demanding more than £400,000 over the next 10 years to restore public access.

Vixen Tor, near Merrivale, was closed to the public by owner Mary Alford in 2003 as she feared she may be liable for any accidents on it.
There had been public access for 30 years under the previous owner, but following a public enquiry a planning inspector ruled in Ms Alford's favour that the tor should not be open.

A report to be discussed by the Dartmoor National Park Authority on Friday reveals Ms Alford is asking for a one off payment of £30,000 and then an annual sum of £35,000 together with insurance and legal costs.
DNPA has offered £1,500 per year and the authority will decide on Friday whether to end talks or to make a higher offer to Ms Alford.
A spokesman for DNPA said it could not comment until a decision had been made."
(end of quote).

This site lies west of Merrivale ceremonial centre, and is one of the lowest tors (in relation to the nearby cross-moor road) and easily accessible (normally).
It may even have been a focus for some of the ceremonies at Merrivale???

The dispute about access has been going on for ages, and there have been several demonstrations by angry moor-lovers, walkers and climbers.
If I remember correctly, the lady went to court last summer where she was fined for trying to alter the nature of the vegetation around the tor, by cultivation.
I made an earlier comment about this site's accessibility on the Yellowmead site page. (A reply to comments about Sheepstor land being sold).
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