Hatfield neolithic trackway facts for kids

The Hatfield Neolithic Trackway is a very old wooden path found in England. It's also called the Lindholme Trackway. It was discovered in 2004 and is one of the oldest wooden paths ever found in the country. This amazing trackway was built a long, long time ago, between 2900 and 2500 BC. It is the second ancient structure found in the Hatfield and Thorne Moors area.

What is the Hatfield Trackway?

The Hatfield Trackway is located in an area called the Humberhead Levels. This area includes Hatfield Moor and Thorne Moor, which are large peat bogs. For hundreds of years, people have drained these bogs to use the land for farming or to dig up peat for fuel. Today, the moors are being restored and protected.

How was the Trackway Found?

In October 2004, a local man named Mick Oliver was walking across the moor. He found some pieces of wood that looked like they had been shaped by people. This discovery led to the trackway being found. Sometimes, people call it the Oliver Track, named after Mick Oliver.

Scientists and archaeologists then studied the site. They dug up parts of it and looked at the ancient environment. They found that it was a wooden path from the late Stone Age, about 45 meters long. It stretched from dry land across a shallow pool to a wooden platform.

Life in the Neolithic Period

The Hatfield Trackway was built during a time when the local environment was changing a lot. Around 3000 BC, the peat bogs started to grow. This meant the area was becoming wetter and more acidic.

Scientists studied ancient insects and plants to learn about the environment. They found that the trackway was built when the land was getting very wet. It seems the path was built across a pool of water. This pool was one of the first places where the wetland started to form. Also, pine forests in the area were starting to die off.

Why was the Trackway Built?

Understanding the environment helps us guess why the trackway was built. It was made from wood found nearby. People might have chosen certain types of wood, like Birch bark, because of its bright white color. This color would have stood out against the dark mud of the pool.

The design of the trackway is also interesting. It narrows as it gets closer to the platform. This might have been done on purpose to make it look longer than it was. It also meant that many people could gather on the wide part of the platform near the land, but only one person could walk along the narrow path to the end.

The trackway was built parallel to a dry ridge. This means people on the dry land could easily watch what was happening on the wooden structure. Some experts think the trackway and platform might have been used for performances, entertainment, or special ceremonies. Even though we don't have other similar trackways to compare it to, some modern traditions involve ceremonies on platforms surrounded by water.

The Trackway's Condition and Future

When the trackway was first studied, its wood was in a state of moderate decay. The inner parts were still preserved, but the outer layers were soft. The wood had lost its stretchiness, and it was hard to tell what kind of trees some of the wood came from. This showed that the wood had decayed a lot.

To keep the trackway safe, experts suggested leaving it where it was, buried in the ground. This works best if the water levels stay high enough to cover the wood and keep the peat wet. Keeping the water levels stable is a challenge, but new ways of protecting the site are being developed.

In 2017, the Hatfield Trackway was officially named a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic England. This means it is a very important historical site and is protected by law. In 2018, it was suggested that the trackway be added to the "heritage at risk" list. This list helps make sure important sites get the care they need.

The Humberhead Peatlands are now a key area for protecting both peat bogs and the ancient treasures hidden within them, like the Hatfield Trackway.