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Factfile: Flag Fen Archaeology Park
The hugely significant archaeological finds at Flag Fen were actually uncovered by accident.
The hugely significant archaeological finds at Flag Fen were actually uncovered by accident.In 1982, Professor Francis Pryor was carrying out a dyke survey for English Heritage. This involved examining the sides of dykes which had been cleaned, a way of quickly surveying the area.
One day he saw one that was not on his schedule but had been cleaned.
As he walked along, he tripped on a piece of wood sticking out of the ground. The wood was not a native type to the area and it had axe marks where it had been worked by humans.
What has been found there is a Bronze Age ceremonial platform the size of Wembley stadium, and a ritual causeway leading from Northey Road to the power station.
Initially, the causeway at least may have come about as a way of getting across wet or boggy ground. But the form it has been found in, along with the artefacts left deliberately there, rather than dropped or buried to hide them from Vikings, indicates it was something more spiritual.
Altogether , the team estimates the site consists of 60,000 upright timbers and 250,000 horizontal planks.
There are also countless fascinating metal artefacts.
The name Flag Fen comes from the beautiful yellow flag irises which grow in the area.
Information:
Flag Fen Archaeology Park, The Droveway, Northey Road, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, PE6 7QJ.
Flag Fen is open from February to November, Tuesdays to Sundays and bank holiday Mondays, from 10am to 5pm (last admission 4pm).
For more information, call 01733 313414, or visit www.flagfen.org.
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