Prehistoric Roads and Tracks in Somerset, England: I. Neolithic

Abstract

The peat deposits in the Somerset Levels have yielded many finds of prehistoric and early historic age, ranging from flint and metal artefacts to roadways and other structures. These finds have been a source of interest to archaeologists for many years, and the work here described represents only one aspect of the early occupation of the region. The Levels themselves lie between the major uplands of the Quantock Hills and the Mendip Hills (fig. 1), but within the Levels are extensive ridges of limestone (including the Polden Hills and the Wedmore Ridge), smaller and lower areas of limestone (such as Westhay and Meare), and patches of sands (Burtle Beds) all of which provided dry ground for occupation or other activities. We are concerned in this paper with the earliest wooden roads and tracks of Neolithic age which were built to allow communication between the Westhay ridge and the largest Burtle Bed north of the Polden Hills (pl. XIV).