- Introducing Must Farm, a Bronze Age settlement at Peterborough Museum has been extended to 12 October
- The exhibition tells the extraordinary story of a Late Bronze Age site in the East Anglian Fens
- The Must Farm settlement produced the largest collection of everyday Bronze Age artefacts discovered in the UK
- More than 30,000 people have seen the free exhibition so far, the highest visitor numbers at the museum for more than eight years
The Introducing Must Farm, a Bronze Age settlement exhibition at Peterborough Museum, has been extended until 12 October, due to public interest.
Supported by Historic England, the exhibition tells the extraordinary story of the Must Farm settlement, a Late Bronze Age site in the East Anglian Fens, and gives a remarkable insight into the way people lived nearly 3,000 years ago.
The Must Farm settlement dates to the end of the Bronze Age (850 BC) and was only occupied for between nine months and a year before a catastrophic fire destroyed it. The fire spread quickly and as the buildings burned, their flexible floors collapsed, causing their contents to drop into the muddy river beneath, where they were remarkably preserved.
This is a rare opportunity to see some of the unique objects that were uncovered in the archaeological excavations and to discover the stories behind the objects. The exhibition includes Bronze Age tools, woodwork, jewellery, pottery, and textiles.
Although short-lived, the dwellings were beautifully crafted using specialist tools and expert techniques.
The Must Farm settlement had the largest and finest collection of Bronze Age textiles found in Britain, from fibre strips to balls of yarn and fine finished fabrics. Striking glass beads in vibrant blue, green and turquoise came from across the globe, showing the international trade that took place at the time.
Following the archaeological excavation, Bronze Age pottery fragments were painstakingly recreated to reveal cooking ware and fine cups and bowls. A pot that was left with a freshly cooked meal inside was perfectly preserved, thousands of years later.
Entry to Peterborough Museum is free. Alongside the exhibition, Peterborough Museum & Art Gallery is hosting online talks with experts involved in the excavations and post-excavation research - brought together for the first time in one series. For anyone who's missed the earlier dates, recording-only tickets can also be purchased for each talk.
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Tony Calladine, East Regional Director, Historic England said: “The Introducing Must Farm exhibition offers a tangible insight into life over 3,000 years ago. Seeing objects that were used for cooking and everyday home life so long ago stirs the imagination and brings communities from the past closer to us today. I’m delighted that we have been able to support an extended run of this free exhibition so that many more people will have the opportunity to discover the story of the Must Farm settlement.”
Sarah Wilson, Heritage Manager, Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery, said: “Presenting the Must Farm archive to the public is a huge privilege. Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery’s team is delighted that it has been well received by visitors, many of whom have travelled from across the UK to see it. The team is also pleased that with Historic England’s support, the exhibition’s run will be extended enabling countless more people to get up close with these remarkable objects.”