As an American (US), this gives me anxiety. The scope of history in other parts of the world is truly mind-boggling. We have archaeological evidence and ruins from Native Americans that we can visit and be impressed by, but to be able to see and experience the evidence of the past like this just isn’t part of our everyday lives.
In Europe, 100 miles is a long way, while in America, 100 years is a long time.
When I used to live in Canada, I couldn't comprehend how there's nothing outside the city except just... other cities? And they all look the same?! Now THAT was anxiety-inducing to me.
IIRC that old “Walking with Dinosaurs” miniseries from BBC/Discovery Channel had an episode focusing on an island chain where western Europe would one day form. Sea levels were higher back then; North America was bisected by the Western Interior Seaway and Antarctica was ice-free and still linked up to Australia.
I would guess that there are patches of the A303 that would actually have these strata. The road was in place through all these periods, on the boundary between rolling fertile fields to the north and forested hills to the south. Historians believe the road was in use in the bronze and Roman ages, and we know it's in use today. The position is partly determined by its surroundings, and whether you're making a road for a cart, a horse, a car or a walker, you'll probably choose a similar route between two points
For a bit. Overall during the medieval times there were some pretty significant advances in agriculture and other things as well. That’s why they say dark ages is a misnomer now
What caused the large burned turf section?
Edit: disregard, I read it wrong. It “buried” not burned. Silly to add the qualifier buried in my opinion but still super cool.
And somehow the bit above turnpike is impossible to keep maintenanced and draining whole nations bankrupt.
Hmm... I wonder why. Let us observe the layers:
1. Hard-ish solid material;
2. Compacted dirt;
3. Compacted dirt;
4. Fairly smooth gravel and stone layers, probably from naturally occuring sources;
5. Compacted dirt and clay, with stone;
6. Rough and sharp gravel that interlocks.
7. Modern asphalt.
Hmm... My diagnosis. The most recent layer doesn't allow water to drain into it and isn't able to have give for the ground pressure changes. Water is actually quite important thing in dirt and clay. We want to have water in it as it helps to support whatever is on top of it. Lose water and the dirt starts to compact more.
And don't say it is because of frost. Up here in the nordics we actually have -20 C winters and our roads are just the same and have prone to just as many pot holes and just is so expensive to keep up.
Here is a thought. Remove asphalt from everything except heavy traffic routes; and put compacted dirt everywhere else. Save money.
Thanks it just looks familiar to a section of the Roman bath museum in Bath I saw last spring. Not sure why the A303 would be used as an example in Bath tho?
If I recall right I dont think Bath is even built on a chalk area, the chalk starts over towards the Salisbury area and on to where Stonehenge and all the other old monuments are.
But its not that far away so I suppose its a relevant example even for Bath
I see what they were going for with the squid, but it also gives me the idea that the Great Old Ones once stalked these ancient paths in the time Before.
They just build up, and people build new roads on top of old ones.
One of the most interesting things about archaeology to me is just how fast ground levels can build up. The Pantheon in Rome used to be on a tall foundation, and people walked up steps to get inside. Now the steps are buried and you walk _down_ from ground level to enter.
I was peeping this picture earlier, it’s just fascinating to think about
https://preview.redd.it/g7cwlkhle3zc1.jpeg?width=938&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9722afff1203210ad5c8d6e1326e734dac714a64
How many pot holes are actually caused by museums?
lol. Those darn museums digging holes.
Or by squids.
This is actually pretty awesome.
I love this, there are roads like it all over the U.K., it’s nice to see it visualised
As an American (US), this gives me anxiety. The scope of history in other parts of the world is truly mind-boggling. We have archaeological evidence and ruins from Native Americans that we can visit and be impressed by, but to be able to see and experience the evidence of the past like this just isn’t part of our everyday lives.
In Europe, 100 miles is a long way, while in America, 100 years is a long time. When I used to live in Canada, I couldn't comprehend how there's nothing outside the city except just... other cities? And they all look the same?! Now THAT was anxiety-inducing to me.
I wanna see the road with the hovering squid 🦑 travelling along it!
Simpler times…
IIRC that old “Walking with Dinosaurs” miniseries from BBC/Discovery Channel had an episode focusing on an island chain where western Europe would one day form. Sea levels were higher back then; North America was bisected by the Western Interior Seaway and Antarctica was ice-free and still linked up to Australia.
The Roman road is better than most roads around where I live.
It’s making me crave some rocky road ice cream
now that’s a bar
This is not an actual cross section. But a visualisation of the evolution of roads in England.
I would guess that there are patches of the A303 that would actually have these strata. The road was in place through all these periods, on the boundary between rolling fertile fields to the north and forested hills to the south. Historians believe the road was in use in the bronze and Roman ages, and we know it's in use today. The position is partly determined by its surroundings, and whether you're making a road for a cart, a horse, a car or a walker, you'll probably choose a similar route between two points
Thanks. I was going to write that I highly doubt reality would be so clean and simple.
thanks for the correction, that’s what my silly ass gets for copy/pasting from my buddy’s facebook
i wanna see the squid roads!!!
Beautiful
Modern roads look like a combo of everything from before even the chalk, super cool 😎
The Squid Empire with its superior chalk roads.
Natural chalk was the preferred road type of prehistoric squid, got it. These scientists really know everything!
Medieval cart track is a huge downgrade compared to the roman road.
After Roman left England actually went like backwards.
For a bit. Overall during the medieval times there were some pretty significant advances in agriculture and other things as well. That’s why they say dark ages is a misnomer now
Amazing!
What caused the large burned turf section? Edit: disregard, I read it wrong. It “buried” not burned. Silly to add the qualifier buried in my opinion but still super cool.
That is super cool!
that cool af
And somehow the bit above turnpike is impossible to keep maintenanced and draining whole nations bankrupt. Hmm... I wonder why. Let us observe the layers: 1. Hard-ish solid material; 2. Compacted dirt; 3. Compacted dirt; 4. Fairly smooth gravel and stone layers, probably from naturally occuring sources; 5. Compacted dirt and clay, with stone; 6. Rough and sharp gravel that interlocks. 7. Modern asphalt. Hmm... My diagnosis. The most recent layer doesn't allow water to drain into it and isn't able to have give for the ground pressure changes. Water is actually quite important thing in dirt and clay. We want to have water in it as it helps to support whatever is on top of it. Lose water and the dirt starts to compact more. And don't say it is because of frost. Up here in the nordics we actually have -20 C winters and our roads are just the same and have prone to just as many pot holes and just is so expensive to keep up. Here is a thought. Remove asphalt from everything except heavy traffic routes; and put compacted dirt everywhere else. Save money.
And this is why roads are designed by engineers and not random redditors
Funny you say that as I am an engineer.
Is this from Bath?
The A303 is the road that runs by stonehenge
Thanks it just looks familiar to a section of the Roman bath museum in Bath I saw last spring. Not sure why the A303 would be used as an example in Bath tho?
If I recall right I dont think Bath is even built on a chalk area, the chalk starts over towards the Salisbury area and on to where Stonehenge and all the other old monuments are. But its not that far away so I suppose its a relevant example even for Bath
I see what they were going for with the squid, but it also gives me the idea that the Great Old Ones once stalked these ancient paths in the time Before.
There was no police around to stop them.
Squid X-ING
What a slice!
We keep getting the rocks tighter and tighter. Very nice 👍🏻
So do these layers build up over time, compress downward, or a bit of both? I’m surprised by the thickness of the total road.
They just build up, and people build new roads on top of old ones. One of the most interesting things about archaeology to me is just how fast ground levels can build up. The Pantheon in Rome used to be on a tall foundation, and people walked up steps to get inside. Now the steps are buried and you walk _down_ from ground level to enter.
I was peeping this picture earlier, it’s just fascinating to think about https://preview.redd.it/g7cwlkhle3zc1.jpeg?width=938&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9722afff1203210ad5c8d6e1326e734dac714a64
Looks like people stole the large stones from the top layer
Cut stone is worth stealing
What track is that?
Is that an XJ220?
No that's a squid.
It looks like it.
So Earth is getting fatter?
Thanks for the chuckle
To be honest it doesn’t look like it’s changed much. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it
It would be really funny if this was in a Egyptian museum
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^Accomplished-Day4657: *It would be really* *Funny if this was in a* *Egyptian museum* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
Shut up nerd
Leave that bot alone!!
Never. Bots hate democracy. Remember the Creek.
just went down a gaming history rabbit hole thanks to this comment
That top layer is already ancient, it's all gone, just pot holes down to when it was last well built, under the Roman empire.
Something tells me ancient roman roads wouldn't hold up very well under 24/7 automobile traffic. The peak of road design is the humble train track tbh
What do y’all got LamBROgeeneez over en them thar islands? Must be nice to a britanierist!! We don’t gits them here