E J GODWIN



	THE ABBOT'S WAY AND MEARE

	Here are some photographs of archaeological excavations carried out by the Somerset Levels Project. The Abbot's Way is located by the Godwins factory. The first discovery was by a farmer in 1834 as he uncovered a line of alder plants. It was not until 1864 that the trackway was exposed and excavations took place. Another part was excavated in 1873. The trackway was called Abbot's Way by the peat cutters of the time.

		Here is a section of the brushwood trackway cut through by a drainage ditch to show how slight the timbers can appear. The track is dated to 2800 B.C.

		The Abbot's Way, excavated in 1974 behind the Godwins factory. The timber is mainly alder, with some hazel, ash and oak. The date of this track is 2000 B.C.

		Here is the complex of the trackway which is west of the factory. The heavy brushwood tack in the foreground dates to 2800 B.C. The slighter on in the background is dated to 2400 B.C .

		Excavation of the Abbot's Way in 1974. The diggers are required to work from boards to avoid damage to the wood or peat surfaces.

		Here is a close up of the faceted end of a peg of hazel from a prehistoric track, to show the excellent state of the preservation of the timber.

	After the discovery of the Abbot's Way, investigations by Dr Bulleid lead to the discovery of the Glastonbury lake Villages in 1893. The site was a crannog made up of felled wood and stone. This site dates from around 300 B.C. to A.D.100 and would have held up to 80 dwellings.
	Beyond Glastonbury lay Meare Pool and Meare Island situated on raised bog and woodland. Meare villages was discovered in 1895 but excavation did not start until 1908. The settlement was found to be in two separate groups. Here dwellings were not so evident and it is thought that the inhabitants lived in not so solid built structures. Pottery and containers made of wood were found. Basketry had been found for large containers. Weaving and crafts took place with jewellery made from metal, bone and glass. It is thought that occupation at Meare was seasonal for the craftsmen to work and sell their goods while livestock was feeding off the moors. In Autumn and Winter the inhabitants would move away. Towards the end of the bronze age from around 500 B.C. the trackways became flooded and abandoned and remained hidden for many years.
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