Wansdyke (earthwork)
Dear young one,
Have you ever seen a big ditch or hill that people made a long time ago? That’s exactly what Wansdyke is!
Wansdyke is a very old earthwork, which means it’s a big ditch with a wall on top made of dirt and rocks. It was built by people a very, very long time ago (like, even before your great-great-great-grandparents were born!) in England, during the Iron Age, which is a time when people used iron to make things.
Wansdyke runs for a very long way, over 40 miles, from near Bristol to near Salisbury. It looks like a big, long line of dirt, kind of like a long wriggly worm. But it’s not just a random line – it was placed on top of hills and ridges, so it helps protect the land behind it.
People think that back then, Wansdyke was used as a boundary, like a big fence, to separate different tribes or groups of people. It was also helpful in defending against enemies or wild animals, like wolves. And sometimes, people probably used it to send messages from one end to another.
Nowadays, Wansdyke is an important landmark and a popular hiking spot. People can walk along it and enjoy the beautiful views of the countryside. But we must remember that it’s not just a big ditch with a wall – it’s also a testament to the ingenuity and hard work of our ancestors.
Have you ever seen a big ditch or hill that people made a long time ago? That’s exactly what Wansdyke is!
Wansdyke is a very old earthwork, which means it’s a big ditch with a wall on top made of dirt and rocks. It was built by people a very, very long time ago (like, even before your great-great-great-grandparents were born!) in England, during the Iron Age, which is a time when people used iron to make things.
Wansdyke runs for a very long way, over 40 miles, from near Bristol to near Salisbury. It looks like a big, long line of dirt, kind of like a long wriggly worm. But it’s not just a random line – it was placed on top of hills and ridges, so it helps protect the land behind it.
People think that back then, Wansdyke was used as a boundary, like a big fence, to separate different tribes or groups of people. It was also helpful in defending against enemies or wild animals, like wolves. And sometimes, people probably used it to send messages from one end to another.
Nowadays, Wansdyke is an important landmark and a popular hiking spot. People can walk along it and enjoy the beautiful views of the countryside. But we must remember that it’s not just a big ditch with a wall – it’s also a testament to the ingenuity and hard work of our ancestors.
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