Dear Bernard & Roger,
 
Although I will freely admit that there is plenty of evidence nationally for routeways of various dates, some of which may well have been used for transporting minerals, the majority of these will have formed part of a general purpose transport system, which included the need to move other goods, necessary for daily life.

 

As far as Dartmoor in the prehistoric periods is concerned, the point, as was made by Phil Newman in the previous discussions on this subject, is that the field system banks known as 'reaves' have been studied in detail over several decades, principally by Andrew Fleming and John Collis, both of whom have carried out detailed fieldwork on them and in the case of the former, did his PhD on the subject.  Fleming carried out several archaeological excavations in the course of his research, the results of which were published in book form (Fleming, A. 1988: 'The Dartmoor Reaves: Investigating Prehistoric Land Divisions, BT Batsford).  Radiocarbon dating of his results showed consistent evidence for construction of these large-scale land divisions and smaller-scale field systems associated with them, between about 1800 and 1200 BC, in the Middle Bronze Age.  This took place at a time when the climate was rather better than at present, and the peat deposits had not developed yet.  Peat was therefore not an impediment to travel!
 
Fleming found that there had indeed been antiquarian ideas in the Victorian period about these reaves being tracks, as when ruinous, they sometimes look like the core of a cambered roadway.  Unfortunately, these were not supported by hard evidence, and Fleming was able to debunk this theory when in archaeological excavation, they proved to be well-constructed low walls, forming the bases of earthen hedgebanks, whose upper works had eroded away.  In several cases, fences and houses were associated with them, forming small parts of larger scattered settlement.  In some, there were indeed service tracks within the field systems, but these were enclosed by the banks, and certainly did not run on the banks themselves.
 
You certainly need to read the above book, and also that by Sandy Gerrard (English Heritage Book of Dartmoor, published by BT Batsford), in order to review this and other research on the reaves.  In addition, the Shovel Down Project has been going on over the last few years, funded by the University of Bradford Archaeology Dept.  Check this out on the internet for interim reports, etc.  Both the above books are out of print, but you should be able to find them second-hand on abebooks.
 
In summary, there are many things which we don't know about Dartmoor, but we do know what reaves are for, and they are certainly not trackways!
 
As far as actual 'ways' are concerned, there is a great deal of evidence, particularly from the medieval and later periods.  Phil Newman and others' survey work on tin extraction sites, which include the openworks you mention on the Two Bridges road, show that trackways often follow the edges of such workings, both on the open moor, and in enclosed settlements (eg: Hooper's Lane & Chapel Street, Gunnislake).  These seem to have formed service lanes for easy access to the openworks, while lanes leading away from them were presumably used to carry the ore to processing locations.

As far as carrying ore or processed ingots further afield is concerned, Devon & Cornwall's rural road system is largely of medieval origin, with some prehistoric ridgeways.  These would have been used extensively for transport, so it is not so much a case of 'where were the roads?', as 'which roads were used?'.
 
My own archaeological research into transhumance routes between Dartmoor and the coast suggests that before the development of Stannary Towns in the C12-C13, and potentially as far back as the Middle Bronze Age, tin was probably carried down these ridge roads, of which South Devon has a wide network, to the sea.  The discovery of two ancient (one Bronze Age) shipwreck sites on the South Devon coast, both with tin ingots on board, both of which are close to the termini of two of these ridgeways, provides strong supportive evidence for this ancient trade.
 
The fact that the seaward ends of several of these routes have field systems of identical form to the Bronze Age ones on Dartmoor is probably one of the more important pieces of evidence, especially as these are still in use as field systems today!  If you wish to check my arguments on the latter subject, I suggest you get a copy of the Blackawton & Strete Parish Heritage Appraisal, published by the AONB Unit at South Hams District Council, tel: 01803 861234.
 
Theorising is ok, but please don't ignore previous researchers' often very extensive work.
 
Robert Waterhouse

 
> Date: Fri, 12 Feb 2010 07:43:44 -0500
> From: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Causeways And Access To Minerals By Pack Animals
> To: [log in to unmask]
> 
> Dear Robert,
> 
> This subject is an interesting one. I have read little about the above on 
> Dartmoor, and I have not physically seen one of these 'ways' on Dartmoor - 
> whether to walk it or analyse it (though I have spent a bit of time looking 
> at them via satellite imagery). Yes, I have driven the Two Bridges road a 
> few times, and stopped for a walk to look briefly at a mine and it's strike 
> works on the opposite side of the valley (when heading East - have always 
> intended find out the name of this!), but that's as far as my Dartmoor 
> visiting experience goes! So, I speak with little direct knowledge on the above 
> as a specific, however I am a little familiar with 'ways' in different 
> parts of GB - Alston Moor, Lake District, Yorks.. Some are substantial 
> constructions and quite early. 
> 
> It is a shame to dismiss new thinking and ideas too quickly. Granted there 
> have been numerous tech. papers and vols. written on the subject, but this 
> doesn't mean their interpretation is guaranteed to be 100% definitive. It 
> would help considerably of course if there were old Mss. &/or Docs. 
> referring to the purpose of the construction of these things or indeed mention over 
> the years for their upkeep and repair as a specific entity - whether for 
> County or Parish boundaries or otherwise. One would have thought that if 
> they were distinctly Boundaries, there would be clear mention of them in all 
> sorts of records over the years? - mind you, the same can be said if they 
> are 'pack ways'! All depends on who built these things... and if they might 
> conveniently/subsequently have been used or re-used for 'other purposes'? - 
> the latter is where this subject can get 'grey'!
> 
> Until such time as clear and precise mention of purpose is gleaned from old 
> documents, an absolute definitive answer is very difficult to reach. Mind 
> you, again, change of purpose/use over the centuries must also be 
> considered obviously... after all, if someone is walking through rough boggy 
> moorland, are they going to continue on that wet boggy route or favour a raised 
> dry bank?! - even if that dry route is greater in distance.
> 
> Just my thoughts that's all.
> 
> Regards, Bernard

 		 	   		  
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