April 14, 2024
By Seungwoo Song
Historically, architects mainly found clues about life during Britain's Bronze Age in fortified and sacred places, often perched on high, dry land. Among these sites, now treated like crime scenes, lies a puzzling settlement filled with bones, flint tools, and pottery shards, all carefully preserved.
About three millennia ago, a farming community thrived, living close to the River Nene in the marshlands of eastern England. Their dwellings were situated atop wooden stilts above the river. The initial environment accommodated occupants dressed in exquisitely woven flax linen, engaging in commerce for unique items such as amber beads and glass. Their tables were laden with delicacies of deer and boar, while their devoted dogs nibbled on leftovers. But within a year of the settlement's founding, a devastating fire destroyed it, signifying the imminence of catastrophe.
The inhabitants abandoned their belongings as they fled for safety, and they sank into the marshy depths, where they were preserved for millennia beneath layers of silt and peat. Today, the Must Farm Quarry stands as a living tribute to this ancient settlement. Archaeologists have discovered a plethora of artifacts, offering a magnifying glass into the daily routines of the Bronze Age inhabitants. These findings are documented in two monographs from Cambridge University, revealing the truth of a forgotten era.
Mark Knight, who is leading the project, sees the excavation process as a remarkable journey into the past, revealing the lives of people who lived over two millennia ago. Yet, convincing others that these areas were once vibrant communities requires a touch of imagination, given that some details are obscured by their rough appearance.
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