H.E.R. record

.kmz file

Overview map

Public access:

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Details:

Timber trackway running from Westhay to Burtle. Original discrepancies over the line of the trackway with Dewar and Godwin suggesting different locations. {1}

Was accidentally discovered in 1835 and a section excavated by Dymond in 1873. It lay 7ft below the surface of the peat and 11-12ft above the base of the peat where it rested on the marine clays. {3}

In 1883 a further section was observed by Bulleid. {4}

In 1961 the trackway was rediscovered in peat cuttings and subjected to radio carbon dating. {5}

Dates reinterpreted as c2000BC. {7}

In 1964 excavations began in areas under threat and attempts were made to trace the roadway by limited excavation and multiple borings. Showed that the total original length was c2560m and to have connected the sand island of Burtle and the rock island of Westhay. The total surviving length in 1968 was 1100m. {8}

700m survived in 1976. Further excavations in 1974 at ST42074255 revealed 33m and provided the best data on the construction on the trackway. Radio carbon dating provided five dates centred on 2000BC and pollen analysis indicated that construction coincided with a phase of forest clearance. Tree-ring analysis suggests that the track may have been built in one year. The track used an estimated 32,000 birch and alder planks made from split logs and 15,000 pegs. Planks were laid in "corduroy" transversely across line with pegs and longitudinal stringers along sides in places. It crossed a spongy raised bog. {9}

In the summer 1979 a small length of the track was noted at ST4189426. It lay between previously excavated lengths. A small excavation was done with similar results to the 1974 excavations. {13}

A short section at ST42004255 has been preserved and was scheduled in 1984. {16}

Further sightings have occurred in a ditch at ST42454241 (1979), three exposures in a field centred on ST42024255 (1980-81) and pegs have been found at ST42114254. Stray track wood has also been noted at ST41854255. {21}

Scheduled area affirmed with new national number (was Somerset 511) on 19 April 1996 and a new area scheduled centred on ST41804278 (see PRN 23790). {29}

The scheduled area (SM 27990) is overgrown with birch and alder, some 5m high. Large shrinkage cracks are visible in the ground which is clearly very desiccated. {31}

See PRN 17480 for details of geohysical survey. {32}

HER 23789 - Photo by Somerset County Council

References: