AN INTERESTING CROSS-SECTION DISPLAYS THE HISTORY OF AN ENGLISH HIGHWAY FOR OVER 4,000 YEARS
A stratified cross-section of a UK highway depicting millennia of material from a Bronze Age trackway to modern asphalt has been making the headlines online for a number of years. What's even more intriguing is that the road depicted is the A303, which passes through the Stonehenge World Heritage Site.
The cross-section gradually accumulates from a chalk basis to produce a graphic depiction of England's past. The Romans, who ruled over all of England after the Bronze Age, are symbolised by a distinctive stone-paved road. As we move from the medieval age to the present, we come across several additional strata of rocky materials.
Examining these materials is also intriguing from an engineering standpoint. With the advancement of technology and transportation, the roads used for moving people and goods have also changed. The cross-section serves as a reminder that history isn't erased; it's frequently just buried, and we tread on a palimpsest eager to be revealed.
Although the specific segment of the A303 represented by this cross-section is uncertain, and whether it's an authentic sample or a replica remains unclear, it's known that the road has been utilised for millennia. A section of the road actually traced the Harrow Way, a historic pathway regarded as one of the oldest roads in the UK, believed to have been in use since 3,000 BCE. Another region aligns with the Fosse Way, a Roman road from 49 CE.
Real or representative, this fascinating display of history is an invitation to dig a bit deeper and think about the world right beneath our feet (or wheels).
