Dartmoor’s landscape has been studied for ∼200 years but is still imperfectly understood. Here we explore Dartmoor as a geoscientific incubator, focusing on why such a small portion of the Earth’s surface has generated such a galaxy of diverse landscape evolution scenarios. A carousel of controversies over rock weathering, drainage evolution, the chronology and intensity of base-level changes and palaeoclimates is examined in detail. Their bearing on how we interpret the land surface are discussed, with suggestions for future investigation. By also analysing the ontological and epistemological underpinnings of the research, the review resonates with the wider history of geoscience.

达特穆尔（Dartmoor）的景观已被研究了约200年，但至今仍未完全理解。在这里，我们将探索达特穆尔（Dartmoor）作为地球科学的孵化器，重点研究为什么地球表面的如此小部分会产生如此多样的景观演化场景的银河系。详细讨论了岩石风化，排水系统演变，基层变化的时间顺序和强度以及古气候的争论。讨论了它们对我们如何解释地表的影响，并提出了进一步调查的建议。通过分析研究的本体论和认识论基础，该评论与更广泛的地球科学历史产生了共鸣。