Living on water in the world of Stonehenge

In this discussion, our panel will explore the concept of 'living on water' throughout the period covered by The world of Stonehenge exhibition.

Highlighting recent excavations and research from across this sweep of time at a number of key water's edge sites, including the internationally famous settlements at Star Carr and Must Farm, our panel will consider what made these locations attractive to people and what benefits they brought. Watery places had great economic benefits but also huge ritual significance. They also bring about special kinds of archaeological preservation, enabling organic objects and architecture to survive. How did all of these different qualities relate and in which ways are watery attributes reflected in the archaeological record of the times?

This event is part of the public programme accompanying The world of Stonehenge at the British Museum (17 February – 17 July).

Photo credit: Must Farm Pile-dwelling settlements (Late Bronze Age, 1000–800 BC), Cambridgeshire, © Cambridge Archaeological Unit.

[maggiewolf]

Fascinating and informative presentations by all, thanks so much.

[harryaarrestad]

Thank you so much for the fascinating presentations .

[paul]

I grew up in rural Ontario in an area called Frontenac Park and the swampier areas around there remind me of your reconstructed scene. There was an old mining trail with a wooden bridge that had collapsed into the water and was barely visible rotting underneath the waters of the shallow bog.

[martinaaron]

Fantastic - had to wait a whole 11.40 before the ubiquitious "ritual" - (i.e. "we don't know what this is").

[HighWealder]

A great series of presentations. Must Farm an amazing time capsule.
Do we know where the overburden/spoil from the missing part of the quarry site was dumped?

[garygalt]

You need Time Team production. We need the youth to have their imagination captured. Unfortunately scientists come across very drab.
Tony’s enthusiasm as he learned from the experts captured my sons attention just as my old man captured mine, while dragging me across
Fields to see a burial site or some small remains of a castle. He would then paint a picture of the people who lived their.

[briancrowley]

Is the large stone in the center worked, and if so does it have a significant alignment?

[erichbrewer]

The activity of these people probably focused on the shore. They went back and forth from the water to dry land. The muck and marshy areas were probably easy to get stuck in. The sticks were probably laid to help them navigate from boats to the shore or the shore to water where they could swim. The sticks don't appear to have an organized alignment. They may have accumulated over a period of time.

[ledacedar]

Pretty sure that Time Team with Phil Harding showed how they'd cut and split trees using stones & stone axes; and they built likely models of their housing.

[christopherellis]

08:12 abri du sorcier, near abri Cromagnon France 24
" ritual practices " your guess is as good as mine. Carnivores

[lawneymalbrough]

"It's hard to do now." What does she mean by that? Does she think it was easy back then? Ancient people's were accustomed to doing difficult things. They could not afford to be lazy.

[denisegault]

Really enjoyed these talks. Dreadful zoom imaging....

[chassmith]

perhaps there was no water at all back then an it was a knoll of significance.