Following a hugely popular debut at Everyspace, March Library earlier this year, the immersive digital art installation Fen to Fire arrives at Flag Fen Archaeology Park in Peterborough this September. Created by digital artist Guy Schofield with young people from Cromwell Community College in Chatteris, the installation brings the Late Bronze Age Must Farm settlement to life using cutting-edge digital archaeology techniques, including 3D modelling, motion capture, and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Must Farm, near Whittlesey in Cambridgeshire, is one of Britain’s most extraordinary archaeological discoveries, sometimes described as the “Pompeii of the Fens.” Excavated by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU), the site revealed a cluster of perfectly preserved Bronze Age roundhouses built on stilts above a river. Destroyed by fire almost 3,000 years ago the site had preserved an astonishing range of rare finds including textiles, tools, weapons and even bowls of food, giving archaeologists incredible insight into everyday life. As one of the UK’s most significant Bronze Age landmarks, Flag Fen sits just miles from Must Farm, making it the ideal home for the next chapter of Fen to Fire. The installation’s focus on destruction and survival carries a poignant resonance, as Flag Fen completes the community-led rebuild of its own replica roundhouse, which was lost to an arson attack in 2025.
Supported by Collusion’s SHAPE Hub programme with the University of Cambridge and funded by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU), the University of Cambridge’s Collections Connections Communities and the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, the project has seen Must Farm’s archaeologists working with Guy Schofield and young people, in workshops facilitated by independent producer Rosa Torr, to help them imagine what living in this vibrant community would have been like.
The installation invites visitors to experience the settlement’s entire lifespan, from its construction and daily rhythms to its dramatic destruction by fire. A multi-screen setup presents dynamic views of the settlement alongside close-up details and behind-the-scenes footage, immersing audiences in both the ancient world and the creative process that brought it back to life.
Since its debut at Everyspace, March Library earlier this year, Fen to Fire made a strong impression - nearly half of visitors had never been to the library before, with many making a special journey to see the exhibition.
Visitors to Flag Fen can experience the full installation, comprising the main digital artwork alongside interpretation and behind-the-scenes films offering a window into both the Bronze Age world and the creative process behind the work. Fen to Fire is free to view in the Visitor Centre at Flag Fen Archaeology Park, Peterborough PE6 7QJ, from 23 September to 18 October 2026, open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am–4pm. Admission fees apply to explore the wider archaeology park, where visitors can also discover a recreated Bronze Age roundhouse.
“Fen to Fire is an inspiring and innovative example of what happens when artists, archaeologists, universities and young people come together around a shared story. The Fens have extraordinary hidden histories, and this project gives communities the opportunity to connect with one of the most remarkable archaeological finds in Britain in a genuinely immersive and moving way.”
— Rachel Drury, Director, Collusion
“When we were excavating at Must Farm the incredible preservation gave us glimpses into so many everyday moments of Bronze Age life. Fen to Fire has captured those moments and brought the site to life in a way that is both immediate and engaging.”
— Dr Chris Wakefield, Fen to Fire Producer and Engagement Officer at CAU
“The digital reconstruction was captivating! I oversee the Must Farm archive at Peterborough Museum, to see the settlement and elements from the archive in such an immersive medium has been inspirational.”
— Visitor, March Library