The Fenland region with its wetland environment has preserved some of the most spectacular prehistoric archaeology in the
world – Flag Fen and Must Farm provide striking glimpses into domestic life and the prehistoric landscape thousands of years ago.
Dwelling, destruction, and preservation
Flag Fen and Must Farm: snapshots of Bronze Age life
Flag Fen and Must Farm: key features
- Spectacular archaeological preservation of burnt and waterlogged remains
- Prehistoric houses so well-preserved even bowls with meals still inside are found
- Rare evidence of a wide range of organic artefacts of village life, including fish traps and wooden walkways
- Complete prehistoric boats
- The oldest wheel in Britain
Must Farm settlement reconstruction - Credit: Cambridge Archaeological Unit
Excavation of roundhouse - Must Farm - Credit: Cambridge Archaeological Unit
Excavated shears preserved in wooden box - Credit: Vivacity
Excavation of waterlogged wooden walkway - Credit: Francis Pryor
Preserved wooden boat - Must Farm - Credit: Cambridge Archaeological Unit
Send a Postcard
Excavation of Bronze Age roundhouse at Must Farm (© Cambridge Archaeological Unit), and Manga style cartoon of Must Farm excavations (Hugo Yoshikawa)
CONTACTS
Principal Investigator: Dr Simon Kaner,
Sainsbury Institute, University of East Anglia
Co-Investigator: Dr Sam Nixon
Sainsbury Institute, University of East Anglia
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Prehistoric village life worldwide
Jomon prehistoric village site
Aota: Japan
Well-preserved evidence of prehistoric village life is seen worldwide, with some of the oldest evidence coming from Japan where complete villages dating back around 10,000 years have been excavated
Prehistoric village, Aota, Japan - Credit: Niigata Prefecture Board of educationLake Villages of the European Alps
Lake Chalain: France
In the Lake Villages of the European Alps we see evidence almost directly comparable to that from Must Farm and Flag Fen, with evidence including stumps of ancient wooden buildings visible at the edges of modern lakes
Prehistoric wooden pillars at Lake Chalain, France - Credit: Centre de Recherche Archéologique de la Valleé de l‘Ain
