H.E.R. record

.kmz file

Overview map

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Details:

The Sweet track, between the Shapwick Burtle and Westhay "island" was discovered in 1970 by Mr R Sweet, and was excavated in four stretches, section B (Burtle), section F (Factory), section R (Railway) and section D (Drove) between 1970 and 1977. Closely associated with it was the Post track (see PRN 10740). The construction of the Sweet Track was relatively refined and consisted in stretches F and R of pegged plank catwalk laid over peat packing round a continuous rail of cross pegged stems. In stretch B, as drier land was approached, the track was cruder, with various improvisations - timber matting, clay surfacing etc. Radio- carbon dates and pollen analysis give a date of c3200bc, making it the earliest known trackway in Britain. {1}

The line of the Sweet Track extends from ST42184020 to ST42904178 and includes several scheduled areas, some with separate PRNs.

SM 27978: The southern end (PRN 12512).

SM 27979: (PRN 12513).

SM 27980:

SM 27981: The northern end. {2}

The excavated sections are: Section R: ST42554105-ST42504090. Length of 131.5m excavated 1972-5. Section F: ST42254035. At least 56m excavated 1970-77. {3}

Section B: ST42174017. 12m excavated 1971-2. {4}

Section D: ST42204030-ST42224035. Length of 50m excavated in 1977. {6}

There were further excavations in 1979-85. {7}

The preservation of the monument is giving cause for concern as water table in the peat is lowering and desiccation is occurring. A programme of evaluation and attempts at maintaining water levels in the Shapwick Heath Nature Reserve involves Nature Conservancy Council, Department of the Environment, and the Somerset Levels Project. {8}

Section Gb: cST42254040. Excavated in 1981.

Section Gz: cST42294049. Excavated in 1981.

Section Kd: cST42344056. Excavated in 1981.

Section Qd: cST42454082. Excavated in 1981.

Section Qv: cST42504088. Excavated in 1981.

Section Qz: cST42514090. 10m excavated in 1982.

Section C: cST42204025. 20m excavated in 1982.

Section Sa: ST42554105, excavated in 1979.

Section Tg: ST42654122-ST42674130, 60m excavated in 1981.

Section Wa: ST42794150, 10m excavated in 1982.

There have also been investigations at ST42604110, ST42614115, ST42634119, ST42704132, ST42714135, ST42744140, ST42804153, ST42824158, ST42854164, ST42874165, ST42884170, ST42904177 and timbers have been noted in a ditch at ST42924180. {9}

Section F: reinvestigated in 1985. {10}

Sites have also been investigated at cST42304051, ST42334055, cST42344059, cST42354060, cST42364064, cST42374065, cST42384069, cST42414074 and cST42484085, and numerous finds of track timbers have been made during tracing operations and routine fieldwork by the Somerset Levels Project. {15}

The trackway has been dated to 3807/6 BC by dendrochronology. {31}

Possible terminus of the track excavated at ST42053990 in November 1993. {32}

The trackway consisted of long poles or rails placed on the marsh surface, with pairs or groups of oblique pegs driven in either side of the rail so that they crossed over it creating a "V" formation which supported a plank catwalk. This created a raised path across the wet reed swamp, and has been traced for c1800m. {33}

Both scheduled areas are in good condition under permanent wet pasture. {34}

An exposure of the track was recorded in1989. {35}

HER 10739 - Photo by Somerset County Council (15 September 1981)

References: