Three rare bronze and iron age log boats, discovered in a Cambridgeshire quarry 13 years ago, have gone on public display for the first time. The boats were among nine found at Must Farm near Whittlesey, the largest group of prehistoric boats discovered at a single UK site. After lying preserved in mud for over 3,000 years, they offer fresh insights into prehistoric life, including carpentry, construction techniques, and transportation.
The boats, ranging from 2,500 to 3,500 years old, were excavated from the riverbed of an ancient, silted-up creek. Analysis has identified the tree species used, felling methods, and tools employed in their creation. The vessels include a 6.3-metre oak boat from the middle bronze age, a 2.2-metre fragment of another oak boat with an intricate repair, and a 0.8-metre fragment of an early bronze age boat made of field maple.
According to Iona Robinson Zeki of the Cambridge Archaeological Unit, the boats were used for navigating fenland rivers, laying fish traps, and transporting people, animals, and materials. Over time, the area became wetter, turning into swamp, making boats the primary means of transport. Some boats appeared stored in water to prevent cracking, while others had reached the end of their functional life.
The conservation project, funded by Forterra, Historic England, and Peterborough City Council, involved preserving the boats in climate-controlled conditions using a specialised wax and water solution. The three boats are now on permanent display at Flag Fen archaeology park in Peterborough, with others still undergoing conservation.
Jacqueline Mooney, general manager of Flag Fen, described the display as a powerful reconnection with the people who once lived and worked in the landscape. The exhibition, titled 'Bronze Age Boat Discoveries at Must Farm,' opens on Friday 14 November.
