Cambridgeshire Unveils Ancient Log Boats, Reveal Secrets of Prehistoric Life
A remarkable discovery has shed new light on the lives of our ancestors in Cambridgeshire. Three rare bronze and iron age log boats have finally emerged from their 3,000-year slumber, offering a glimpse into prehistoric life in the region. The boats, which date back to 2,500-3,500 years ago, are the largest group of prehistoric boats found at the same UK site.
The log boats were discovered in a Cambridgeshire quarry 13 years ago and were part of a larger collection of nine ancient vessels. Most of the boats were well-preserved, with one still able to float despite its long immersion in mud. After conservation, three of the boats will go on display for the first time at Flag Fen archaeology park.
The boats, crafted from different tree species, reveal insights into prehistoric carpentry and construction techniques as well as transportation methods. Analysis has identified specific tree species used, felling methods employed, and tools used in their creation.
One of the boats, a 6.3-metre oak vessel from the middle-bronze age, features areas of charring inside, suggesting it had been stored in water to prevent cracking or warping. Another boat, made of field maple and dating back to the early bronze age, is just 0.8 metres long.
The discovery has provided valuable information about prehistoric life in Cambridgeshire, with log boats used for both fishing and transportation purposes. They were also used to lay fish traps and transport people alongside animals and materials.
According to Iona Robinson Zeki, a researcher at Cambridge Archaeological Unit, the log boats "represent an amazing discovery" that showcases the ingenuity of our ancestors in creating simple yet effective vessels. The boats' varied construction highlights the use of different tree species and sizes to create canoes and punt-like vessels.
The preservation project was funded by Forterra, Historic England, and Peterborough city council, with work carried out by York Archaeological Trust. The three boats on display are expected to provide a powerful reconnection with the people who once lived, worked, and journeyed through this landscape.
As part of the exhibition, visitors will be able to see these ancient log boats up close, providing an opportunity to delve into prehistoric life in Cambridgeshire and gain insights into the techniques and methods used by our ancestors.
A remarkable discovery has shed new light on the lives of our ancestors in Cambridgeshire. Three rare bronze and iron age log boats have finally emerged from their 3,000-year slumber, offering a glimpse into prehistoric life in the region. The boats, which date back to 2,500-3,500 years ago, are the largest group of prehistoric boats found at the same UK site.
The log boats were discovered in a Cambridgeshire quarry 13 years ago and were part of a larger collection of nine ancient vessels. Most of the boats were well-preserved, with one still able to float despite its long immersion in mud. After conservation, three of the boats will go on display for the first time at Flag Fen archaeology park.
The boats, crafted from different tree species, reveal insights into prehistoric carpentry and construction techniques as well as transportation methods. Analysis has identified specific tree species used, felling methods employed, and tools used in their creation.
One of the boats, a 6.3-metre oak vessel from the middle-bronze age, features areas of charring inside, suggesting it had been stored in water to prevent cracking or warping. Another boat, made of field maple and dating back to the early bronze age, is just 0.8 metres long.
The discovery has provided valuable information about prehistoric life in Cambridgeshire, with log boats used for both fishing and transportation purposes. They were also used to lay fish traps and transport people alongside animals and materials.
According to Iona Robinson Zeki, a researcher at Cambridge Archaeological Unit, the log boats "represent an amazing discovery" that showcases the ingenuity of our ancestors in creating simple yet effective vessels. The boats' varied construction highlights the use of different tree species and sizes to create canoes and punt-like vessels.
The preservation project was funded by Forterra, Historic England, and Peterborough city council, with work carried out by York Archaeological Trust. The three boats on display are expected to provide a powerful reconnection with the people who once lived, worked, and journeyed through this landscape.
As part of the exhibition, visitors will be able to see these ancient log boats up close, providing an opportunity to delve into prehistoric life in Cambridgeshire and gain insights into the techniques and methods used by our ancestors.
I'm literally blown away by this discovery! 3,000-year-old log boats? That's crazy talk! 
I mean, can you imagine being a prehistoric person and having to craft these things from wood? It's like they were pioneers of boat-building or something 
. The fact that some of them are still floatable is just mind-blowing 
. Who knew that log boats could be so interesting? 
But seriously, it's amazing how much we can learn from these ancient relics 
. Can't wait to see the exhibition and get a closer look at these incredible vessels! 
I'm impressed by how well-preserved those log boats are considering they've been underwater for 3k yrs 
it's crazy to think about people creating these vessels using tree species & tools from that era 
I'm not sure how old 13 years is, but discovering three ancient log boats after that long is still pretty cool! 
It's amazing how much we can learn from these ancient crafts. I'm definitely going to check out this exhibition at Flag Fen archaeology park... who knows what else secrets they'll reveal? 
like what's the big deal? its just some old logs right? but i guess its nice that people are interested now the discovery is pretty cool tho, 3000 year old boats is a huge find! I wonder how many of these log boats were used for fishing vs transporting goods or people, probably a mix of both 
idk how they made them so precise with tree species and all but i mean its like, ancient people were pretty smart right? maybe too smart for their own good tho 
just saw that those ancient log boats from cambridgeshire are finally out of their mud 
did you know they were used for fishing & transportation purposes? 
and what's with all the different tree species used? is that really some sort of ancient carpentry lesson or just a bunch of logs glued together haphazardly? 
. Like, who hasn't been there before, right? And 3,000 years is nothing 
. I mean, humans have been around for way longer than that and we're still kicking 
. These log boats are just like something you'd find in a school history book 
. Nothing special about them at all 
.
. What kinda conservation magic did they use to make it last that long? And what about the other 6 boats? Why are we only gettin' to see these 3? Shouldn't the whole collection be on display? 
OMG you won't believe what's just been found in Cambridgeshire!!! They've uncovered 3 super old log boats that are over 3,000 years old 
! It's like we're getting a glimpse of our ancient ancestors' lives, and it's totally mind-blowing. The fact that they used different tree species and techniques to build these vessels is just amazing 
. I love how the researchers are trying to piece together their daily lives, like what kind of fishing trips they took or how they transported people and goods around. It's fascinating stuff! 
... it's a must-visit for history buffs and anyone curious about our prehistoric past 
! And can you imagine what it would've been like to sail on one of these ancient vessels? 
. I remember watching this documentary in school and now we're actually seeing these things up close? It's wild!