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Flag Fen Archaeology Park boss 'heartened' after roundhouse attack Flag Fen Archaeology Park boss 'heartened' after roundhouse attack
(1 day later)
Flag Fen Archaeology Park manager Jacqueline Mooney said the Iron Age roundhouse replica had been much lovedFlag Fen Archaeology Park manager Jacqueline Mooney said the Iron Age roundhouse replica had been much loved
The boss of an ancient site where a thatched roundhouse replica was razed to the ground by suspected arsonists said she had been "heartened" by the support of the community.The boss of an ancient site where a thatched roundhouse replica was razed to the ground by suspected arsonists said she had been "heartened" by the support of the community.
Fire crews were called to Peterborough's Flag Fen Archaeology Park, which dates back to the Bronze Age, on Sunday night after local people saw flames.Fire crews were called to Peterborough's Flag Fen Archaeology Park, which dates back to the Bronze Age, on Sunday night after local people saw flames.
In 2022, 30 volunteers had spent nine months building the Iron Age roundhouse and a fundraising appeal has now been launched to replace it.In 2022, 30 volunteers had spent nine months building the Iron Age roundhouse and a fundraising appeal has now been launched to replace it.
"We're all absolutely devastated at the loss of the roundhouse - so many of our team took part in building it and using it every single day - it was a much-loved thing," said site manager Jacqueline Mooney."We're all absolutely devastated at the loss of the roundhouse - so many of our team took part in building it and using it every single day - it was a much-loved thing," said site manager Jacqueline Mooney.
Arsonists are thought to have struck at the ancient Flag Fen Archaeology Park in PeterboroughArsonists are thought to have struck at the ancient Flag Fen Archaeology Park in Peterborough
'Bigger and better'
"However, we are very much seeing this as a 'phoenix from the ashes' situation," she said."However, we are very much seeing this as a 'phoenix from the ashes' situation," she said.
Ms Mooney told the BBC there had been "fantastic" offers of help and donations already from contractors and local people.Ms Mooney told the BBC there had been "fantastic" offers of help and donations already from contractors and local people.
"We've already got people on site helping us repair one of our old roundhouses so it can take the temporary place of our Iron Age one," she said."We've already got people on site helping us repair one of our old roundhouses so it can take the temporary place of our Iron Age one," she said.
"We are so heartened by the support we've felt from the people of Peterborough and surrounding areas, who are going to help us build a new roundhouse that will be bigger and better.""We are so heartened by the support we've felt from the people of Peterborough and surrounding areas, who are going to help us build a new roundhouse that will be bigger and better."
Cambridgeshire Fire Service has said the cause of the blaze was thought to be deliberate.Cambridgeshire Fire Service has said the cause of the blaze was thought to be deliberate.
The roundhouse at Flag Fen was constructed in 2022 by a team of volunteers
Flag Fen is an important historical landscape which dates back to the Bronze Age and is the site of many archaeological finds.Flag Fen is an important historical landscape which dates back to the Bronze Age and is the site of many archaeological finds.
The park had two replica roundhouses – one representing the Bronze Age (2,500 BC - 800 BC) and the other reflecting the Iron Age (800 BC - AD50).The park had two replica roundhouses – one representing the Bronze Age (2,500 BC - 800 BC) and the other reflecting the Iron Age (800 BC - AD50).
Flag Fen was also planning to construct a third.Flag Fen was also planning to construct a third.
The burnt out replica was based on an Iron Age roundhouse discovered at Cats Water, next to Flag Fen, and featured log seating and a fire pit to replicate how our ancestors lived.The burnt out replica was based on an Iron Age roundhouse discovered at Cats Water, next to Flag Fen, and featured log seating and a fire pit to replicate how our ancestors lived.
The roundhouse at Flag Fen was constructed in 2022 by a team of volunteers
Ms Mooney estimated the total rebuild cost would be about £50,000, with the last one also funded by charitable donations.Ms Mooney estimated the total rebuild cost would be about £50,000, with the last one also funded by charitable donations.
About 10,000 school children visit annually and she said she wanted them to be able to resume enjoying their "magical" trips to the site's Iron Age roundhouse as soon as possible.About 10,000 school children visit annually and she said she wanted them to be able to resume enjoying their "magical" trips to the site's Iron Age roundhouse as soon as possible.
The charred wattle walls are all that remains on the Iron Age roundhouse replicaThe charred wattle walls are all that remains on the Iron Age roundhouse replica
She said the staff had previously dealt with a similar situation when arsonists destroyed its education room in 2020.She said the staff had previously dealt with a similar situation when arsonists destroyed its education room in 2020.
Ms Mooney said while it had to go without the facility for two years, it was eventually rebuilt "bigger and better" and she hoped it would be the same case for the replacement roundhouse.Ms Mooney said while it had to go without the facility for two years, it was eventually rebuilt "bigger and better" and she hoped it would be the same case for the replacement roundhouse.
Donations were now being asked for and Flag Fen also needed to source water reed and other materials for the rebuilding project, but it also required people to volunteer their time and skills.Donations were now being asked for and Flag Fen also needed to source water reed and other materials for the rebuilding project, but it also required people to volunteer their time and skills.
"If people have ever wanted to build a roundhouse, now is the time to help," said Ms Mooney."If people have ever wanted to build a roundhouse, now is the time to help," said Ms Mooney.
Flag Fen provides an insight into life during the Bronze and Iron AgesFlag Fen provides an insight into life during the Bronze and Iron Ages
LISTEN: How do you build a roundhouse?
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