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Details:
Rowland's neolithic trackway. Discovered in October 1975 when a small exploratory excavation was undertaken which revealed a length of hurdle work Full excavation June-July 1976. The track extended for at least 75m, 25m of which was fully excavated. The trackway was built of woven panels laid in a single layer on the marsh surface, each panel placed longitudinally along the track with minimal overlap. The width varied from 4m to 1.5m. The panels were secured by pegs of birch and hazel. It had been much damaged by recent peat digging. Radio carbon date of c2260bc. The track was aligned slightly E of N and probably linked the Polden Hills and Meare Island. The environmental evidence suggests that it ran across a damp and soggy ground surface which was prone to pools and boggy areas, and thus probably represents the consolidation of a traditional route against worsening conditions. {1}
Further sightings of the trackway occurred in 1981 when a much damaged 2-3m stretch was exposed at ST44973892. Also stray timbers have been found, a peg bottom seen to the S of the 1975 exposure and a pole found lying horizontally at ST44953905. {6
References:
| 1 |
Excavation report - Somerset Levels Project. Coles, J.M and Orme, B.J 1977 "Rowland's Hurdle Trackway" vol. 3, 39-51 |
| 2 |
Detailed records - Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division 1978 ST43NW17 (SCC Planning Department) |
| 3 |
Description - Somerset Levels Project. Girling, M 19777 "Fossil Insect Assemblages..." vol. 3, 51-60 |
| 4 |
Description - Somerset Levels Project. Morgan, R 1977 "Tree-ring Studies..." vol. 3, 61-65 |
| 5 |
Description - Somerset Levels Project. Rackham, O 1977 "Neolithic Woodland Management..." vol. 3, 65-71 |
| 6 |
Detailed records - Somerset Levels Project finds sheet 75.46 |
| 7 |
Detailed records - Somerset Levels Project finds sheet 78.63 |
| 8 |
Detailed records - Somerset Levels Project finds sheet 81.15 |
| 9 |
Detailed records - Somerset Levels Project finds sheet 81.41 |
| 10 |
Finds stored - Somerset County Museum 130.1986.330, 353, 427, 445, 585-629, 802, 860 and 1497-1513 |
Data kindly supplied by the Somerset Historic Environment Record.
Record created in November 1982
© Copyright Somerset County Council 2007 |