Cosdon Stone Row is one of the most notable and evocative prehistoric features on Dartmoor, located in the central part of the moor in Devon, England. The stone row lies on the northern slopes of Cosdon Hill, a site rich in ancient history, and forms part of the wider network of prehistoric monuments scattered across Dartmoor. This stone row is believed to have been constructed during the Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age, around 3,500 to 4,000 years ago.
The row itself stretches for approximately 200 meters, consisting of a series of large, upright granite stones aligned in a straight line. These stones vary in size, with the largest being at the southern end and the smaller stones gradually tapering as the row extends to the north. The alignment is thought to have had a ritualistic or ceremonial purpose, though the exact function of the row remains uncertain. It may have been used as a marker for astronomical events, as some scholars believe stone rows were aligned with the movements of the sun or stars. However, other theories suggest it might have been a boundary marker, a path leading to a significant burial site, or part of a larger complex of prehistoric ritual structures.
At the southern end of the row, near Cosdon Hill, there are the remnants of a cairn, which is often interpreted as a burial or ceremonial mound. This further supports the idea that the row had funerary associations, as many stone rows across Dartmoor are found in close proximity to barrows or burial cairns. The row’s orientation and its setting in the landscape—overlooking the valleys and hills of Dartmoor—suggest that it was designed to interact with the natural environment in a symbolic way.
Cosdon Stone Row, like many such features on Dartmoor, is a remarkable testament to the prehistoric inhabitants of the area, who created these enduring monuments to mark the passage of time, engage with their surroundings, and connect with the spiritual or cosmological forces they believed shaped their world. Today, it remains a striking reminder of the ancient people who once walked Dartmoor’s windswept hills.