I’ve travelled the world to see historical sites, but have driven past this sign every morning on my way to work for the last five years and have never taken time to find out what is on my doorstep.
Well today was the day!
Situated just south of Peterborough Flag Fen gives you an opportunity to explore what life was like 3,000 years ago in Britain. During the 1960s and early 1970s evidence of Bronze Age farming was discovered on the site. But is was not until a chilly day in November 1982 that archeologist France Pryor noticed an oak post in the mud in the dyke near Fengate. The post had been worked with a small axe. Further exploration found this to be part of a timber platform the size of Wembley stadium, dating back to 1350 BC.
This causeway was made up of over 60,000 timbers and stretched for a kilometre from Whittlesey Island to Fengate (part of what is now the city of Peterborough) across the wet fenland. It is presumed that the small island part way across was where religious rituals were performed. Flag Fen houses a small museum of artifacts and is trying to preserve some of these ancient timbers….
You can also see examples of two round houses, giving a flavour of what life was like in the Bronze and Iron Age.
This is the one depicting a house of the Bronze Age, with the meadow on the roof 😉
And the other is depicting an Iron Age roundhouse…. just like being back in rural Africa…
Then there were their boats made from hollowed logs…
This is a replica, but original Must Farm Boats were discovered at nearby Must Farm and are in the process of being restored on the site.
Then as well as seeing an exposed section of the Roman road known as the Fen Causeway, you can walk along a reconstruction of a prehistoric droveway. This is a great place for nature spotting.
Look at the 7-spoted ladybird…
Comma….
Meadow Brown…
A small tortoiseshell caterpillar…
And lots of his friends…
Then along the dyke were plenty of birds singing in the reeds…. although it was difficult to spot them…
..including juvenile Goldfinches…
As well as Mute swans….
There is a lakeside walk where I heard lots of action but is was hard to see the birds through the reeds. I did spot lots of Harlequin ladybirds though; a very interesting find and more will follow in my next blog. Here is just one as a taster…
Back near the visitor’s centre were the Soay Sheep…
…..beautiful waterlilies…
and some very friendly swallows…
….. then you can sit on the cafe veranda and admire the view.
All in all, an interesting few hours exploring a site of historical and natural interest, just 8 miles from my door. I wonder what else I am missing?
Click here for more information on Flag Fen and for a location Map
Sian's Adventures 