Flag Fen
Only very recently revealed in the late 20th century, Flag Fen is now internationally recognised as one of the most important Bronze Age sites throughout the whole of Europe. Known as the Flag Fen Bronze Age Centre it is located some 3 miles east of the cathedral city of Peterborough.
In 1982, mechanical diggers engaged on one of the Fen drainage ditches, dislodged an unusually shaped chunk of timber, which drew the attention of archaeologists. Radiocarbon dating places the timber at over 3000 years old, it was a young sapling back in 1000BC
Excavation at Flag Fen has provided a remarkable insight into the type of woodworking technology persisting 3000 years ago, enabling a better understanding of the lives and capabilities of our distant ancestors. The specially built Preservation Hall permits visitors to view 3000 year old Bronze Age timbers in situ, preserved over the centuries in the peaty mud.
In about 1000BC our Bronze Age forefathers constructed an absolutely enormous timber platform, larger than Wembley Stadium, accompanied by an extensive timber alignment stretching across 1 kilometre of watery fen. The entire width of this post alignment, arranged in five rows, has been revealed through careful excavation. However, the 10 metre long stretch that has been excavated only amounts to 1% of the whole structure. Most of the timber employed in this massive construction, some 60000 posts in total, date from 1350-950BC. It is generally considered that this timber complex was employed as a religious site for more than 480 years.
The Preservation Hall also offers a 60 metre wall painting depicting life in Bronze Age Fenland. During the summer months ongoing archaeology can be witnessed from the viewing platform, uncovering Britain's prehistory. Nearby is the Museum of the Bronze Age displaying artefacts found on the site during 20 years of excavation.
The Bronze Age Centre is entered through uniquely reconstructed Iron Age and Bronze Age roundhouses, permitting visitors to take a step back into the distant past and experience something of how our ancestors lived in an appropriate setting.