Back in 2011, nine log boats were discovered by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit in an ancient riverbed at Must Farm near Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire.
The remarkable collection of Bronze and Iron Age vessels, which took two years to excavate, range in age from almost 2,500 to 3,500 years old and offer a rare glimpse into how our ancestors travelled and traded across this landscape.
They reveal clues about prehistoric carpentry and construction techniques, including the tree species and tools used for building.
Now, after more than a decade of conservation work, three of the boats are being unveiled to the public for the first time at Flag Fen Archaeology Park near Peterborough.
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“The Must Farm log boats are an amazing discovery,” says Iona Robinson Zeki, an archaeological researcher at the Cambridge Archaeological Unit. “They reveal that these simple, yet supremely effective boats were used to navigate a fenland river for almost a millennium.
“We can see, in their varied construction, how the qualities of different types and sizes of trees were used to make boats ranging from small, manoeuvrable canoes to long, stable punt-like vessels.
“These vessels were used to lay fish traps but also to transport people, potentially alongside animals and materials.”
Since their discovery, the boats have been preserved using a specialist wax and water solution in climate-controlled conditions.
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Three of the log boats – including a 6.3-metre oak vessel (that’s almost as long as a school bus, or a minke whale) – are now on permanent display at Flag Fen Archaeology Park.
Visitors can also explore interactive exhibits and demonstrations of ancient crafting techniques.
“The Must Farm boats have lain undisturbed for over 3,000 years, preserved in the peaty silence of time,” says Jacqueline Mooney, general manager at Flag Fen Archaeology Park. “Now, through our new exhibition, they emerge to tell their story. This is more than an archaeological display – it’s a powerful reconnection with the people who once lived, worked and journeyed through this landscape."
Claudia Kenyatta CBE and Emma Squire CBE, co-CEOs of Historic England, who supported the conservation work, add: "These rare log boats represent an extraordinary window into our prehistoric past. By investing in their conservation, we've ensured that future generations can appreciate these remarkable examples of prehistoric craftsmanship.”
Top image: Must Farm log boat. Credit: Cambridge Archaeology Unit
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