Discover

About Flag Fen

Flag Fen Archaeology Park sits in the midst of a unique Bronze Age landscape that has revealed a mysterious timber causeway and platform made by people 3,500 years ago. At the heart of the Flag Fen basin and steeped in pre-history, the park is also a place for nature to survive and thrive.

Flag Fen Archaeology Park is a fascinating place where visitors can see remains of the well-preserved mysterious causeway and explore the prehistoric site packed full of amazing stories. Visit the museum to see one of the earliest wheels discovered in Britain, experience what life was like in a Bronze Age round house and children can have a go at archaeology in ‘The big dig’ – a mock-up of an archaeological dig.

Flag Fen through time

The story of Flag Fen began in 1971 when excavations ahead of the construction of Peterborough New Town revealed an almost intact Bronze Age landscape, which ran along the edge of the drained fen. It was in 1982 when archaeologists surveying the depths of the Flag Fen Basin came across timbers of what was to prove an internationally important site. Excavations in the basin continue to find prehistoric settlements, farms, barrows, cemeteries and religious sites along with managed river causeways across the developing fen marsh.

Every year we discover something new about the lives of our prehistoric ancestors around the Flag Fen basin- which is now recognised as one of the most important archaeological sites in Europe.

Things to see & do

Causeway remains

Still buried beneath our feet, the Bronze Age causeway still makes its way through Flag Fen. A section of the excavated causeway remains has been left on open display, where they are kept wet using a spray system. They can be found in the preservation hall.

Museum

The museum floats above a man-made Mere on the west edge of the park. One of the most significant exhibits in the museum is one of the earliest known wooden wheels in England. Other parts of the collection, such as a makeup grinder and beautifully crafted shears, reveal what life would have been like in the Bronze Age at Flag Fen.

Bronze Age Roundhouse

The roundhouse is based on the layout of one excavated at Fen gate. It features an internal ring of roof support posts that support a heavy turf roof and walls of wattle and daub. You are invited to go inside the round house and experience what home would have felt like for our ancestors.

The Big Dig

An opportunity for children to feel what it’s like to dig through time from the Roman villa down to the earlier Bronze Age roundhouse. Please check before your visit for opening times.

Hudson Barn - Must Farm discoveries

Flag Fen occupies part of the Flag Fen Basin. The world-famous Must Farm discoveries were made less than one kilometre away.

Bronze Age boats, that were found in the early stage of excavations, are currently kept here on display and are undergoing expert conservation. Flag Fen is one of the only conservation centres in England that have facilities and technical skills to ensure these boats are preserved for future generations.

Soay Sheep

Flag Fen has its very own flock of Soay sheep, a breed of sheep that would have been familiar to our ancestors in the Bronze Age. Soay sheep have remained untouched by remaining isolated on remote islands- the Flag Fen flock came from St Kilda.

The Mere

The large mere is a shallow artificial lake that was created in order to maintain the waterlogged conditions across part of the wooden platform and causeway. The mere provides an important habitat for many species of flora and fauna here, including red- listed species such as the Water Vole and Grass Snake.

Photography Club

If you are interested in photography then, Flag Fen's Photography Club is perfect for a complete beginner, a keen improver or an experienced enthusiast.

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On the Wildside

Flag Fen is home to an array of bird life, with Cuckoo, Reed and Sedge warbler song turning into the backdrop for your Spring visit, particularly around the Mere, where nesting Moorhens and Coots also raise their chicks. In Autumn, when our breeding birds return, we welcome our over-wintering flocks of Fieldfare, Siskin and Brambling, as well as gazing upon overhead Whooper Swans as they return to roost in the nearby fields.

Uncommon visitors which have been spotted on site include Lesser spotted woodpeckers, Grey herons, Grass snakes, Common toads, Stoats, and Water voles!

Water vole signs are often spotted across site (piles of vegetation chewed at a 45-degree angle) but if you are lucky, you may spot them swimming in the drainage ditch, or at least hear their 'plop' as they enter the water!

We are lucky to also have an array of butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies which grace our site, with some uncommon visitors including Brown argus, Four-spotted chaser and Variable damselfly.