3,000 Year Old Bronze Age Wheel Found in UK's 'Pompeii'

By Ana Verayo, | February 20, 2016

Oldest, most complete wheel from Bronze Age found in Peterborough, England.

Oldest, most complete wheel from Bronze Age found in Peterborough, England.

Archaeologists recently discovered a three foot wheel from the Bronze Age which is considered to be the oldest, most intact wheel to be ever uncovered in the United Kingdom during this period.

The site where the wheel was excavated is known as "Britain's Pompeii" that is located near Must Farm in Peterborough in eastern England. Researchers from the University of Cambridge believe that this crucial discovery can provide pivotal clues about Late Bronze daily life, where the site also revealed large wooden houses that are distinctly round.

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These prehistoric houses were also built on stilts that later collapsed into a river after a major fire some 3,000 years ago. According to archaeological manager, David Gibson from the Cambridge Archaeology Unit, this new wheel discovery revealed how the inhabitants of this water filled landscape apparently had links to dry land beyond the river. 

This large wheel was uncovered from layers of dirt and soil that is just located near to the largest round house in the site. Artifacts from the home also include a wooden platter, extremely rare small jars where food remnants are still found inside and a small wooden box including textiles. The round houses fell apart during a catastrophic fire spreading throughout the community, as the homes became buried into the silt filled river, preserving these artifacts in pristine conditions.

According to senior archaeologist, Kasia Gdaniec from the Cambridgeshire County Council's Historic Environment Team, this wealth of other amazing artifacts from these newly found structural remains from the round houses that were built over this river channel, continues to enlighten us with new insight about prehistoric life in Britain, including this wooden wheel. 

Gdaniec adds how this wheel is also the oldest one and most intact found from the Bronze Age that also challenges current knowledge about the technological skills of prehistoric inhabitants during that time, including the eight, prehistoric boats that were uncovered from the same river back in 2011.

After completing excavation work from the site, the team will move on to further analyses of these artifacts to conserve them. The items will be exhibited at the Peterborough Museum after this four year project.

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