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| "Hatfield Moor" | Login/Create an Account | 7 comments | ||
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| One of Europe's Earliest Neolithic Log Trackways Discovered (Score: 1) by Andy B on Wednesday, 05 October 2005 (User Info | Send a Message) |
| Archaeologists funded by English Heritage have unearthed one of the earliest wooden trackways of its kind in Europe, which may have been built to stave off the effects of climate change 5,000 years ago. Over 50 metres of so-called "corduroy track", where logs are laid together to form a roadway, have been discovered on Hatfield Moors, near Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The structure dating to the later Neolithic period is the oldest found in the UK. Only two other locations in Europe are thought be earlier. At its widest, it is four metres across and is uniquely made of pine wood. Hatfield is one of the nation's most important raised mires, now undergoing restoration and re-wetting by English Nature, after years of peat extraction. Together with nearby Thorne Moor, it forms part of the Humberhead Peatlands National Nature Reserve. Experts believe only one small section of the trackway has so far been found. They have now embarked on a second dig, this time funded by English Nature, to reveal more of its secrets. Analysis of soil and pollen samples suggest the roadway was probably constructed because the ground was becoming increasingly waterlogged, the result of a change to warmer and wetter weather at the time. Until then the landscape had been characterised by woodland and heath, but rising water levels killed the trees and the mire began to form. The trackway preserved an important route for Neolithic people and temporarily kept their feet dry. However, soon it was enveloped by the bog and shows no evidence of repair or modifications, presumably because it was abandoned. Radio carbon dating suggests the trackway was built between 2900 and 2500 BC. Dr Henry Chapman, now of Birmingham University, has been part of the archaeological team investigating the site. He explained: "This is a remarkable find of international significance. We know little of the people who built the trackway, but they were organised enough to respond to weather conditions on a pretty impressive scale. Little did they know that the wet conditions were no short-term aberration, but part of a wider change that re-shaped their landscape. We are also very excited by the possibility that the terminus, or landfall, of the track may still be found. If so, that would make the find another first in British archaeology." Timbers from the trackway were discovered accidentally by conservationist Mick Oliver, from Wadworth, Doncaster. He was walking the moor to celebrate its opening to the public when he spotted what he described as an " unnatural straight line" in the peat. On closer inspection, he found some of the timbers and uncertain what to do, sat down for lunch before opting to report the find to the local museum. He explained: "I could see axe marks on the wood and evidence that they had been tapered. Given their position in the peat, I pretty soon concluded they were old, possibly even Bronze Age. But of course we now know they are even older. It really is the find of a lifetime." The trackway was probably built before Stonehenge. But to fully interpret its significance, archaeologists want to find out where the trackway leads. It's construction would not have been undertaken lightly, so it must have played a key role at a time when society was becoming less nomadic and more tribal. Ian Panter, English Heritage Scientific Advisor, said: "We had archaeologists working nearby at the time on a project to devise ways of predicting where ancient remains might be found in raised mires. That exercise quickly became the real thing and developed into a fully fledged dig when the timbers were spotted." The second phase of excavation to learn more about the structure will last five days, before the trackway is back-filled. This is the best way of preserving the timbers. Work can only take place during the driest months, hence the year-long ga Read the rest of this post... |
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| Re: Hatfield Moor (Score: 1) by Andy B on Wednesday, 05 October 2005 (User Info | Send a Message) |
| How do I know about this story? The press release went out with one of my photos to illustrate! (above). |
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| Re: Hatfield Moor (Score: 1) by Andy B on Wednesday, 05 October 2005 (User Info | Send a Message) |
| The trackway features in an upcoming conference in Sheffield: http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/in-your-area/planning-and-city-development/urban-design--conservation/archaeology/arch-day More about Hatfield Moor http://www.bbc.co.uk/england/sevenwonders/yorkshire/moors/ |
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| Walker Discovers 5000 year old log path on moor (Score: 1) by Andy B on Thursday, 06 October 2005 (User Info | Send a Message) |
| FOR 5,000 years one of the world's oldest ever footpaths has remained a hidden secret, locked deep beneath the earth in South Yorkshire. That was until walker Mick Oliver quite literally stumbled across it while one day traipsing across Hatfield Moor, near Doncaster, shortly after it was re-opened to walkers in October last year. "I looked down and I could see a straight line. I thought, that's unusual, maybe it's a bog oak – a fossilised tree – so I'll go and have a look," said the retired town and country planning officer. "But when I got there I could see seven parallel poles of pine lined up on the floor. This was most unusual. I knew what I was looking at was old. "I could see axe marks on the wood and evidence that they had been tapered. Given their position in the peat, I pretty soon concluded they were old, possibly even Bronze Age. "I looked to see how deep they were buried and worked out they may be some 2,500 years old. I never realised just how old they were until later." But still not convinced about what he was seeing, Mr Oliver, 65, of Wadworth, Doncaster, sat down beside the logs and began eating his packed lunch. He said: "I kept thinking, what if I am wrong? I am going to look very foolish here. "But after my sandwiches I thought, stuff it. This discovery is too important, so I went to Doncaster Museum to report my find." Without realising it, he had discovered one of the oldest tracks of its kind ever seen in the world. It dates back to the Neolithic period and only two other pathways on the continent are thought to date back earlier – one in Holland and the other in Germany. And now its very discovery could shed new light on the history of Neolithic man as the pathway yields more and more clues day by day to the dozens of archaeologists now poring over its every detail. More: http://www.yorkshiretoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=55&ArticleID=1212340 No sign of my photo though :-( |
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| Re: Walker Discovers 5000 year old log path on moor (Score: 1) by ryszard on Tuesday, 18 October 2005 (User Info | Send a Message) |
| Difficult to tell from photos how wide the track is but appears several feet wide. You do not need a wide track to walk on, unless you are going "in procession" three or four or more abreast, a narrow path is enough. If you are dragging a weight on "runners" +/- other rollers on top of the runners, you need width. Any signs of wear on the corduroy? Any stones, wood henges anywhere nearer than those listed in the site above? |
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