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Details:
A Bronze Age trackway has been found in the field known as "East Moors". In May 1979 a patch of brushwood was noted in this field, also known to contain the Meare Heath Track (PRN 10738). {1}

Subsequent investigation prior to peat cutting showed this to be separate trackway, and an excavation was carried out. Ten separate patches were excavated, representing a stretch of trackway over 70m long, running N to S between cST43893945 and ST43873939 (NGRs reconstructed from SLPRO publication). {2}

The trackway beyond this stretch, both N and S had been destroyed by earlier peat cutting and what survived was badly damaged. The trackway seemed to consist of a walkway 0.6m-1.0m wide, formed of stems of coppiced hazel wood 10mm-25mm in diameter and about 1m long, though one was 2m long. These were placed longitudinally, with transverses at 0.4m-0.5m intervals. One excavated area suggested a hurdle construction with individual roughly woven panels c2m long and 0.6-1m wide. Some possible pegs were identified but there was no evidence of regular pinning. There was also some evidence of damage in antiquity groups of short broken stems below intact trackway, indicating where previous panels had been damaged, probably by feet falling through them, and so were removed and new panels put in. Two radio-carbon dates from the trackway have been obtained. 1820 +-80bc and 1800 +-80bc, making it the earliest evidence for activity in the Meare Heath area. {3}

A flint flake of late neolithic early BA date has also been found hear the trackway. This was a grey flint with a striking platform and bulb of percussion. {4}

References:

Data kindly supplied by the Somerset Historic Environment Record.
Record created in March 1988
© Copyright Somerset County Council 2007