Unveiling Britain's Ancient Time Capsule: A Glimpse into Life 2,850 Years Ago

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Imagine this - it's late summer 2,850 years ago. A fire breaks out in a stilt village located above a boggy, slow-moving river in eastern England. The roundhouses, constructed from wood, straw, turf, and clay just nine months prior, are quickly engulfed in flames.

The inhabitants of Must Farm fled, leaving behind their belongings, even a wooden spoon in a bowl of unfinished porridge. Sadly, they couldn't save the lambs, which were trapped and burned alive.

This heartbreaking scene was uncovered by archaeologists studying the late Bronze Age community in Britain. The site, located near Peterborough, known as Must Farm, offers a glimpse into the past. A research team recently published a detailed report on their $1.4 million excavation in Cambridgeshire.

Described as an “archaeological nirvana” by experts, the site in Britain is considered unique for living up to the “Pompeii premise.” This premise refers to the city frozen in time by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, which has provided invaluable insights into ancient Rome.

Chris Wakefield, an archaeologist with the Cambridge Archaeological Unit at the University of Cambridge, was part of the 55-person team that excavated the site in 2016. He described the site as a stark contrast to typical Bronze Age sites, where only remnants like post holes, pottery shards, and animal bones are found. The site they excavated was truly exceptional, offering a wealth of discoveries.

Wakefield noted that all the axe marks on the wood appeared fresh, as if they had been made just last week.

The excellent preservation of the site and its artifacts allowed the archaeological team to gain valuable new insights into Bronze Age society. These findings have the potential to challenge the current understanding of daily life in Britain during the ninth century BC.

Shown here is an artist's illustration of what the inside of the roundhouses may have looked like.

Shown here is an artist's illustration of what the inside of the roundhouses may have looked like.

Judith Dobie

Must Farm domesticity — and a mystery

The site, dating back eight centuries before the Romans came to Britain, uncovered four roundhouses and a square entranceway structure. These structures were about 6.5 feet (2 meters) tall above the riverbed and were enclosed by a fence made of sharpened posts also standing at 6.5 feet (2 meters).

Archaeologists think the settlement may have been twice as large but unfortunately, any other remains were destroyed by quarrying in the 20th century.

Though damaged by the fire, the buildings and their contents were remarkably well-preserved in the oxygen-starved fens, or wetlands. This included various wooden and textile items that are not often found in archaeological records. Overall, the remnants of the settlement give us a glimpse into a life of comfort and abundance.

The excavation of the site in 2016 involved 55 people.

The excavation of the site in 2016 involved 55 people.

Cambridge Archaeological Unit

The researchers discovered 128 ceramic artifacts at the site. These included jars, bowls, cups, and cookware. They were able to determine that 64 pots were actively being used at the time of the fire. Some of the pots were found neatly nested, indicating careful storage.

Among the findings were textiles made from flax linen. These textiles had a soft, velvety feel and featured neat seams and hems. However, it was not possible to identify specific pieces of clothing from the textiles.

The wooden artifacts uncovered by the team included boxes and bowls crafted from willow, alder, and maple. Additionally, they found 40 bobbins, many of which still had threads attached. Various tools and 15 wooden buckets were also part of the wooden artifacts discovered at the site.

One of those buckets had loads of cut marks on the bottom, indicating that people in the Bronze Age kitchen used it as a chopping surface when needed. According to Wakefield, they would simply flip the bucket upside down for a makeshift chopping board.

These small details come together to paint a more complete picture of what life was like during that time.

Textiles, made from flax linen, were among the rare finds.

Textiles, made from flax linen, were among the rare finds.

Cambridge Archaeological Unit

The exact cause of the event that stopped everything is still unclear. Researchers think the fire happened in late summer or early autumn because the skeletons of the lambs from one household were three to six months old, indicating they were born in the spring.

The exact cause of the devastating fire at the archaeological site remains a mystery. It could have been accidental or intentionally set. The researchers found a collection of spears with long shafts, indicating that warfare may have been common during that time period. Despite working with a forensic fire investigator, the team could not pinpoint a specific clue that revealed the cause of the fire.

According to Wakefield, an archaeological site is like a jigsaw puzzle. Typically, only a few pieces are available out of many. In this case, there were hundreds of pieces, but the team still couldn't piece together the complete picture of how the fire started.

Rethinking Bronze Age society

The contents found in the four well-preserved houses were surprisingly similar. Each house contained tools such as sickles, axes, gouges, and handheld razors for cutting hair or cloth. The largest house had about 538 square feet (50 square meters) of floor space, and each dwelling seemed to have different areas designated for specific activities, much like rooms in a modern home.

Not all the items found were practical, like 49 glass beads and amber ones. Among the discoveries was a woman's skull, possibly a treasured memento. These artifacts will be showcased in an exhibition called "Introducing Must Farm, a Bronze Age Settlement" at the Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery starting April 27.

The village was only occupied for a short time, but its inhabitants owned and used many rich and varied objects.

The village was only occupied for a short time, but its inhabitants owned and used many rich and varied objects.

Cambridge Archaeological Unit

Analysis of biological remains in the lab provided insights into the diet of the community. An imprint of finger marks on a pottery bowl indicated the consumption of wheat grain porridge mixed with animal fat as a final meal. Chemical tests on bowls and jars revealed traces of honey and deer, suggesting a possible enjoyment of honey-glazed venison by the people who used these vessels.

Excavation of ancient waste piles below the houses uncovered evidence of dogs kept by the community, feeding on scraps from their owners' meals. Additionally, the discovery of human coprolites indicated that some residents suffered from intestinal worms.

The waste piles, also known as middens, provided valuable insight into the duration of the site's occupation. A thin layer of refuse indicated that the settlement was established approximately nine months to a year prior to being destroyed by fire. This evidence was further supported by two additional factors, as highlighted by Wakefield.

Analyses of Bronze Age dishes found at the site, such as the bowl and spoon pictured here, have helped reveal what Must Farm inhabitants ate.

Analyses of Bronze Age dishes found at the site, such as the bowl and spoon pictured here, have helped reveal what Must Farm inhabitants ate.

Cambridge Archaeological Unit

He mentioned that a significant issue was the use of unseasoned wood in the construction, which was still green and had not been in place for long.

Another concern highlighted was the absence of insects and animals typically found in human dwellings. Despite the potential for beetles to infest the wood, there was no evidence of any such activity in the 18,000 plus timbers.

The 1,608-page report revealed that the site, despite its rich and varied contents, was only in use for a year. This discovery challenged the team's preconceived ideas about everyday life in the ninth century BC and raised questions about the hierarchical nature of Bronze Age societies.

In the report, the authors pointed out that the artifacts found at the site represented just a year's worth of materials, rather than a lifetime's accumulation. This finding suggests that items such as bronze tools and glass beads were more common than previously thought, indicating that their availability may not have been as limited as believed.

Editor's P/S:

The discovery of the Bronze Age settlement at Must Farm is a remarkable archaeological find that offers invaluable insights into life in Britain during the ninth century BC. The site's exceptional preservation has allowed researchers to gain a glimpse into the daily lives of the inhabitants, their material culture, and their social organization. The findings challenge previous assumptions about the scarcity of certain artifacts and the nature of Bronze Age society.

The site's rich assemblage of artifacts, including ceramic vessels, textiles, wooden tools, and jewelry, provides a detailed picture of the material culture of the time. The presence of glass beads and amber ornaments suggests that these items were more common than previously thought, indicating a higher level of wealth and access to luxury goods. The discovery of a woman's skull as a treasured memento highlights the emotional and sentimental connections of the community. The analysis of biological remains provides further insights into their diet and health, revealing the consumption of wheat grain porridge, honey-glazed venison, and the presence of intestinal worms.