AROUND 300 important artefacts on Dartmoor have been microchipped in a pioneering move to stop people stealing the historic items.

The scheme by Dartmoor National Park Authority began ten years ago when the organisation started microchipping the ancient granite crosses which have stood on Dartmoor for centuries.

The move started after an attempt had been made by thieves to take a cross called Spurrell's Cross on the south moor.

Jane Marchand, senior archaeologist for the DNPA, said: 'We were aware for a while that there were things disappearing, things like troughs, as they fetch a lot of money at recreation sales, and are mostly for people's gardens.

'But then there was an attempt to take Spurrell's Cross and we realised we had to do something more permanent.

'We spent a lot of time thinking of ways to mark them, as you want to mark them in ways that are permanent that also don't damage their historical integrity.'

After attempting with smart water — a type of invisible paint — the DNPA began microchipping — commonly used on animals.

Jane explained how it worked: 'The chips are like tiny bits of rice and are grey; we then mix them in with some epoxy resin and a little bit of dissolved granite and put them in the crevice.'

The microchips enable the DNPA to identify the artefacts if they turn up in sales or at auctions. Everyone involved in the project is happy knowing that if one was to show up then it would be easy to scan and find out from its original ID number what part of Dartmoor it originated from.

Jane added: 'We have been doing this for years. The microchip at Nun's Cross was put in place ten years ago because of people stealing artefacts. It's a continuing project and I think we have got a few things still to chip, but it has acted as a deterrent because people know they are there.

'It's been a really good project and we [DNPA] started it off so we are really proud of ourselves.'

Back in 2009, one important artefact went missing from the Tavistock to Ashburton road on Dartmoor. The granite milestone, set up sometime after 1772 by the Tavistock Turnpike Trust, was situated just east of Dunnabridge Pound. Inscribed on the stone was 'Ashburton 9 miles Tavistock 11'.

The DNPA believe the item was stolen, which under the Highways Act of 1980 is a criminal offence.

The milestone had been microchipped but has unfortunately not been found.

Jane advised at the time of the theft: 'Anyone looking to purchase granite artefacts for their garden should carefully check their provenance and certainly only buy from a reputable source.'

• If anyone sees anything suspicious on Dartmoor call the police on 101.