Post Track

Not to be confused with PostTrak.

The Post Track is an ancient causeway in the valley of the River Brue on the Somerset Levels, England. It dates from around 3838 BCE,[1] making it some 30 years older than the Sweet Track in the same area.[2] Various sections have been scheduled as ancient monuments.[3][4][5][6]

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 seldom pegged. [7][8] 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.[9][10] 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.[11] Some of the wood planks also were reused in the Sweet Track when it was built making the specific dating more complex.[12]

  1. ^ "Sweet Track". Severn Estuary Levels Research Committee. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  2. ^ Brunning, Richard (2006). "A window on the past – The prehistoric archaeology of the Somerset Moors". In Hill-Cottingham, Pat; Briggs, Derek; Brunning, Richard; King, Andy; Rix, Graham (eds.). The Somerset Wetlands: An ever changing environment. Wellington, Somerset: Somerset Books. pp. 40–41. ISBN 978-0-86183-432-7.
  3. ^ Historic England. "Sections of the Sweet Track, the Post Track and associated remains 500m north east of Moorgate Farm (1014438)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  4. ^ Historic England. "Sections of the Sweet Track and Post Track, 240m south west of Sunnyside Farm (1014440)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  5. ^ Historic England. "Sections of the Sweet Track and Post Track, 250m ESE of Station House (1014831)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  6. ^ Historic England. "Sections of the Sweet Track and Post Track, 650m east of Canada Farm (1014439)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  7. ^ Coles, Bryony and John (1986). Sweet Track to Glastonbury: The Somerset Levels in Prehistory. New York: Thames and Hudson. pp. 46–47. LCCN 85-51949.
  8. ^ Novel Guide – Trackways and Boats Archived 22 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ Brunning, Richard – Neolithic and bronze-age Somerset: a wetland perspective Archived 24 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ "10740: Post Track, Shapwick Heath". South West Heritage Trust. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  11. ^ A. W. R. Whittle Europe in the Neolithic: the creation of new worlds; pg. 236
  12. ^ Coles, J.M.; Coles, B.J. (1990). "Dendrochronology of the English Neolithic : Part 11: the Sweet Track date" (PDF). Antiquity. 64 (243): 216–.