[WED]roads/tracks

[Mary Jackes]

>The Bronze Age trackways across the moor used fairly substantial timber and
>not brushwood.  

from Stanley Castle

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I was just able quickly to check out the 7 volumes in the Somerset Levels
archaeology series - generally dealing with the area just south of Meare.
Yes, some trackways did have timbers. 

for pictures of reconstructions, see e.g.

http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~aburnham/eng/sweethi.htm

However, many were made up of series of "hurdles".  These were carefully
woven panels.

http://www.archaeology.co.uk/issues/ca172/ca172.htm

mentions that the substantial timber pathways are the older ones, but then
the hurdles took over as the trackway of choice. 

(Lots of hazel, versus the beech and maple of the older forms, I think.)

A picture of another type of reconstruction is at

http://www.somerset.gov.uk/levels/pmvc.htm

So, I see three or four types of trackways reconstructed, and obviously a
long and complicated history of the paths over the wetlands.  What I don't
see is any discussion on the techniques of the 18th century: just emphasis
on the elaboration of woven withies and "hurdles".  There's some discussion
on the marginally higher "islands" that kept some areas above the
floods/wetlands (e.g. the "isle of Wedmore"), and the changes that began in
the 18th century as drainage patterns were altered.  It's not just the
enclosures that changed the pattern of roads, it seems. 

What a fascinating area this is for history and genealogy!! 
Mary Jackes
Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 0N8, Canada.