Stone settings are a type of monument found in Exmoor, an area of heathland in south-western

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

. They consist of upright stones that are assembled together either in geometric patterns or seemingly random configurations. Stone settings are the most common stone monuments to be found on Exmoor. As of 2001, there were 57 that had been conclusively identified. It is likely that the original number had been much higher, with many stones having been removed for use in walling, drainage, and gate posts or to allow a field to be used more easily for cultivation. Some of the solitary standing stones found on Exmoor may once have been part of these stone settings. The archaeologist

Aubrey Burl Harry Aubrey Woodruff Burl HonFSA Scot (24 September 1926 – 8 April 2020) was a British archaeologist best known for his studies into megalithic monuments and the nature of prehistoric rituals associated with them. Before retirement he was Pr ...

noted that they were "almost without parallel in Britain and Ireland". Ten of the known stone settings are rectangular in shape. Four are quincunxes, containing five stones each. The majority of the stone settings are not of a recognisable shape, either because they were originally designed in this manner or because they have been altered over time through the removal of different stones.

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* * * * {{Refend Archaeological sites in Devon Archaeological sites in Somerset Buildings and structures in Devon Buildings and structures in Somerset Scheduled monuments in Devon Scheduled monuments in Somerset History of Devon History of Somerset Megalithic monuments in England