Sweet Track
Post Track · Somerset Levels Trackway
Early Neolithic (~3807 BCE)·British Early Neolithic·🇬🇧 Somerset, England, United Kingdom
About
About Sweet Track
The oldest engineered timber trackway in northern Europe, a 1.8-km raised walkway of oak planks pegged to transverse ash rails, dendro-dated to construction in the winter–spring of 3807 BCE. It traversed the inundated Somerset Levels between the limestone Polden ridge and the Westhay island, with votive jade axes and polished bowls deposited alongside. Waterlogged peats preserved its carpentry joints including mortise pegs.
Why it mattersThe oldest engineered timber trackway in northern Europe, a 1.8-km raised walkway of oak planks pegged to transverse ash rails, dendro-dated to construction in the winter–spring of 3807 BCE. It traver
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 0110-day construction by organized labour – seasonal or crisis-driven?
- 02Jade axe deposition – foundation offering or lost trade good
Theories
- 01Neolithic colonization causeway enabling winter access to island grazing and flint
- 02Processional avenue preceding Glastonbury's later sacred isle concept
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.3807–3806 BCE (dendrochronology精确 to spring 3807)
- Period
- Early Neolithic (~3807 BCE)
- Culture
- British Early Neolithic
- Purpose
- Timber causeway across reed swamp linking Polden Hills to Westhay island
- Excavation
- Excavated
c.3807–3806 BCE (dendrochronology精确 to spring 3807)
Initial construction
c. 1438 CE
Abandonment
On the ground
Structures & features
51.1644° N · 2.8261° W · 5 m · 2 mapped features
Sweet Track Southern Terminus (Shapwick Heath)
trackway terminalPolden Hills head with oak plank terminus and jade axe deposit
51.1644° N · 2.8261° WPost Track Junction (Westhay)
trackway junctionOlder 3838 BCE Post Track branching to adjacent island
51.1480° N · 2.8150° W
Gallery