The Post Track is an ancient
causeway
A causeway is a track, road or railway on the upper point of an embankment across "a low, or wet place, or piece of water". It can be constructed of earth, masonry, wood, or concrete. One of the earliest known wooden causeways is the Sweet T ...
in the valley of the
River Brue on the
Somerset Levels, England. It dates from around 3838 BCE, making it some 30 years older than the
Sweet Track in the same area.
Various sections have been
scheduled as
ancient monuments.
The
timber trackway was constructed of long
ash planks, with
lime and
hazel posts spaced along three-metre intervals. According to Coles, the heavy planks of the Post Track were rarely pegged. The track follows closely in line with the
Sweet Track and, before the planks were dated, it was posited that it served as a construction platform for the Sweet Track. It is speculated that it led to places of spiritual significance. It is likely that the route was intended to be a permanent fixture, with the track being updated, maintained, and eventually replaced as it succumbed to the elements. Some of the wood planks were also reused in the Sweet Track when it was built, making the specific dating more complex.
References
See also
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Ancient trackway
Historic roads (or historic trails in the US and Canada) are paths or routes that have historical importance due to their use over a period of time. Examples exist from prehistoric times until the early 20th century. They include ancient track ...
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Sweet track
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Historic roads and trails
Buildings and structures completed in the 4th millennium BC
Ancient trackways in England
Archaeological sites in Somerset
Causeways in Europe
Footpaths in Somerset
Stone Age sites in England
Prehistoric wooden trackways in Europe
{{Prehistoric technology, state=expanded