Archaeologists from the University of Cambridge’s Archaeological Unit (CAU) have unveiled the incredible results of the excavation in progress at the Must Farm brick quarry in Whittlesey near Peterborough.
The veritable treasure trove dates back 3,000 years to the Bronze Age and provides a detailed view of life in the area in that time. The hundreds of items recovered from the site include six wooden log boats, the longest being over 8 metres, numerous weapons, traps and items of clothing. The discovery is thought to be one of the most significant Bronze Age finds ever unearthed in the UK.
The boats, which are covered in extensive decorative carving, are in exceptional condition having been perfectly preserved in the mix of peat and silt lying below the surface of the quarry, which runs along the former course of the River Nene. It is thought that they would have been used by people from this ancient civilisation to fish and travel between Whittlesey, Stanground and Fengate, which at the time were all islands.
Described by David Gibson, the senior archaeological manager at CAU, as extremely rare and the pinnacle of what has ever been found, it is hoped that some of the historic findings will be displayed at Peterborough Museum or at Flag Fen, an existing Bronze Age landmark in Cambridgeshire.
Excavators have been working at the site since August 2011 and planned to continue digging until February 2012, although the significance of the site means it is likely that exploration will continue for years to come.