Archaeologists Reveal Ancient, Single-Log Boats Used to Navigate Prehistoric England
Rare prehistoric vessels go on display in England following a thirteen-year conservation battle.
by Mihai Andrei November 28, 2025
Edited and reviewed by Tibi Puiu
Image credits: Historic England Archive.
Flag Fen Archaeology Park sits in the midst of a unique Bronze Age landscape east of Peterborough, in England. Some 3,500 years ago, people navigated this mysterious world using a timber causeway and clever boats carved from single logs. But for reasons we still don’t fully understand, they eventually dumped these vessels into a creek.
Back in 2011, archaeologists from Cambridge, England, discovered nine such boats on the riverbed. Three rare log boats, dating back to the Bronze and Iron Ages, were remarkably well preserved and have now gone on public display for the first time. They tell a remarkable story about the precision and ability of our ancestors, but also leave behind a few mysteries.
Mysteries of the Marsh
To the modern eye, a hollowed-out log might seem primitive. However, these were not crude rafts; they were the pickup trucks and sedans of the Bronze Age, essential for navigating a swamp environment.
The largest of the newly displayed collection is a 6.3-meter (20-foot) vessel from the Middle Bronze Age, carved from a single oak trunk. Its interior bears the scars of charring, likely a technique used to help hollow out the tough heartwood or to seal the timber.
More:
https://www.zmescience.com/science/archaeology/bronze-age-boats-flag-fen/
= new reply since forum marked as read
by Grace Woolmer-White and David Strachan
The Carpow logboat following its excavation and recovery in 2006 © Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust
In 2001, a remarkable discovery was made on mudflats near Abernethy, on the Tay Estuary: a prehistoric logboat, dating to around 1000 BC, the second oldest known from Scotland, and one of the best preserved in Britain (MPK12214). Eroding from Carpow bank, it was at risk of further erosion, and eventual loss, and the decision was made to remove it. Excavation and recovery of the logboat proved extremely challenging, as located within the inter-tidal zone of the estuary, it was only accessible for only a few hours over 4-5 days during spring tides between June and August. Once successfully moved to the National Museums of Scotland, it underwent detailed study, revealing fixtures and fittings, damage, wear, and tool-marks. Conservation has ensured that it will be remain preserved for generations to come.
Timeline
The story of the logboat’s discovery, excavation, recovery, and conservation extended over a ten-year period:
August 2001- A partially exposed timber on Carpow bank was recognised as a logboat by metal detectorist Scott McGuckin and reported. A team from Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust, Historic Scotland, National Museums Scotland and Perth Museum and Art Gallery confirmed this and planned further evaluation.
The Carpow logboat when it was discovered in 2001 © Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust
November 2001- A radiocarbon date of 1260-910 BC, confirmed a Late Bronze Age date, making it one of the earliest boats discovered in Scotland.
More:
https://scarf.scot/regional/pkarf/perth-and-kinross-archaeological-research-framework-case-studies/the-carpow-log-boat/