Balt Moor Wall facts for kids
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The Balt Moor Wall is an amazing old structure made of earth, found in Lyng, England. It's located on the Somerset Levels, which is a flat, low-lying area near the River Tone. This wall is so important that it's protected as a scheduled ancient monument, meaning it's a special historical site.
The wall is actually what's left of a medieval causeway. A causeway is like a raised road or path built across wet or low ground. This one is between 6 and 10 meters wide and can be up to 2 meters high. Experts from English Heritage call it a "rare example of medieval engineering" because it's a fantastic example of how people built things a long time ago. It seems the wall was built to protect the nearby Salt Moor from floods caused by the River Tone.
The Story of Balt Moor Wall
The Balt Moor Wall has a long history! It was first mentioned in an old official document, called a charter, signed by King Stephen sometime between 1135 and 1154. At that time, monks from Athelney Abbey were working to reclaim land in the area.
Building the Wall
The wall might have been built even earlier, possibly in the 800s. It's not completely clear if its first job was to control the path of the River Tone or if it was a raised path connecting the important places at Lyng and the Isle of Athelney.
Later Discoveries
Much later, in 1880, the Somerset Drainage Commission ordered the causeway to be covered in stone. This helped to make it stronger. In 1996, the wall was checked for how stable it was. During this work, archaeologists found pieces of medieval pottery, which are like clues from the past! Scientists also used special equipment to survey the ground in 1987 and 1993. They even dug small test trenches in 1996 to learn more about this incredible historical wall.
