In July MAYA returned to the Avalon Archaeology Park which is always a fun and interesting place to visit.  We were met by Richard Brunning from the South West Heritage Trust who is the archaeologists for the Somerset Levels and Moors.  This time, instead of staying in the Archaeology Park, Richard took us on a walk around the nearby Shapwick Heath Nature Reserve to talk about how people in prehistory travelled across and lived in the water and reed beds.

We visited the site of the Sweet Track, a 6,000 year old wooden trackway.  Richard took us along a path which runs above where the track is actually located, and then took us to a replica of the track which we could try walking on – as long as you have good balance!

Richard guided us through this special landscape of reed beds, open water and wet woodland and talked about how people in the past have lived here.  He told us about the Glastonbury Lake Village that was constructed by Iron Age people on an artificial island and how artefacts which normally would rot away had been preserved in the oxygen-free environment.

After the walk we returned to the Archaeology Park to have lunch in the Saxon Long Hall.  Richard then showed us their almost completed Iron Age roundhouse and talked about how it was constructed.  Those who didn’t mind getting muddy could try their hand at mixing daub and pressing it into the wattle walls of a smaller version of the roundhouse… in the pouring rain!

We always enjoy visiting the Archaeology Park and this was no exception.  A big thank you to Richard for a really fascinating and fun day!