ESKERS and MANESKERS and MAN

Building materialsBuilding materials

• Sand and gravelSand and gravel• Gravel = mostly flintGravel = mostly flint• Five major disused pits at Five major disused pits at

Blakeney EskerBlakeney Esker• WWII to early 1990sWWII to early 1990s• Used in local buildingsUsed in local buildings

© NERC 2006, P Witney© NERC 2006, P Witney

SettlementsSettlements

• Provided protection and shelterProvided protection and shelter• Romans used higher ground for Romans used higher ground for

good vantage pointsgood vantage points• Vegetation provided good hunting Vegetation provided good hunting

ground for early manground for early man

© NERC 2006, P Witney© NERC 2006, P Witney

RoadwaysRoadways

• Elevation above boggy ground Elevation above boggy ground allows safe passage for man and allows safe passage for man and animalsanimals

• Sand and gravel mean it is well Sand and gravel mean it is well draineddrained

• Some present-day roads still follow Some present-day roads still follow esker pathsesker paths

AgricultureAgriculture

• Soil not suitable for cropsSoil not suitable for crops– too much drainagetoo much drainage– can’t maintain water or nutrientscan’t maintain water or nutrients– ploughs used by farmers would not be ploughs used by farmers would not be

suitable on the steeply sloping eskersuitable on the steeply sloping esker

• So used for animal grazing insteadSo used for animal grazing instead– e.g. sheep grazinge.g. sheep grazing

Norfolk County CouncilNorfolk County Council

GraveyardsGraveyards

• On Blakeney Esker, near Morston On Blakeney Esker, near Morston village – Bronze Age burial groundvillage – Bronze Age burial ground

• Sandy soils = easy to digSandy soils = easy to dig• Elevated ground is closer to the Elevated ground is closer to the

heavensheavens

© NERC 2006, P Witney© NERC 2006, P Witney

Geological researchGeological research

• Geologists have learnt a lot from the Geologists have learnt a lot from the esker’s location and the quarrying, esker’s location and the quarrying, helping them to piece together helping them to piece together Norfolk’s geological history. Norfolk’s geological history. – extent of glacierextent of glacier– origin of the ridgeorigin of the ridge– combined with other glacial features it combined with other glacial features it

provides picture of past climate change provides picture of past climate change in Norfolkin Norfolk