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Signs of a Dartmoor iceberg?

Details: Written by Doug Young

Archeologists from the DNPA gathered last week to excavate a newly discovered kistvaen on windswept Whitehorse Hill in the middle of Dartmoor. It is the first one experts have examined in sixty years. It is the first time ever that modern techniques have been used on a kistvaen.

Preparing to excavate: Not seen the light of day for thousands of years and yet still raining

They are searching for a treasure of pollen, insects, charcoal, pottery, beads, stone tools and cremated ashes to illuminate our past. How did our ancestors live? How did they love? What landscape did they gambol in? Who did they respect? What did they believe? Every speck matters and will be analysed over the next few months.

Measuring and examining: The tiniest clue illuminates ancient Dartmoor

Kistvaens - or cists - are boxes of stone usually set into the ground; the name itself means ‘chest of stone’. A stone slab makes up each side, a capstone or two covers the top and there is usually a base stone. There are nearly 200 on Dartmoor but the vast majority have been dug into long ago. As far back as 1324 Edward II gave permission for digging into Devon tumuli.

This kistvaen is uniquely isolated and untouched. It emerged from the peat 10 years ago on one of the most isolated areas of the moor - a good 2 hour walk from the nearest track. It was in peril of destruction as the surrounding moor slowly eroded and earlier this year the DNPA decided excavation was the best way to preserve it. The excavation took a week and ended on Friday, August 12.

Buried for millennia: Who was the last to touch this stone? Did they grieve or worship?

Is the Whitehorse kistvaen just the tip of a new archeological iceberg? Experts speculate just how rich ancient Dartmoor was in megalithic cultures. Is there a prehistoric stone landscape waiting to surface from under the high moors?

The internationally significant Cut Hill stone row only materialised from the peat in 2004. It is just a brief hike from Whitehorse Hill; it dates back to at least 3500 BC - the only stone row in the world ever reliably dated - and it was buried by 2500 BC. Nearby Kestor Rock, Scorhill and Fernworthy are littered with stone monuments and dwellings. Dartmoor has over 1200 known ancient monuments. How much more is waiting to transform our view of prehistory?

The DPA donated to the funding of this excavation. Millennia of human culture and husbandry is displayed for all to see on Dartmoor.