Butser Ancient Farm
The Butser Ancient Farm near Petersfield , Hampshire , United Kingdom is one of the most important centers for experimental archeology .
It was founded in 1972 by the experimental archaeologist Peter J. Reynolds (* November 6, 1939 - † September 26, 2001) on Butser Hill in Hampshire . In 1976, another facility was opened in Hillhampton Down just a few kilometers from the original farm . In 1989 the first facility on Butser Hill was closed. Eventually, in 1991, the project was relocated to Batscom Copse in Chalton , the current location about three miles from the first plant.
The facility includes replicas of Iron Age houses ( Pimperne , Glastonbury Lake Village , Little Woodbury ) and a Roman villa rustica that was built as part of a television series. In addition, there is an experimental earthwork ( octagon ) to investigate weathering processes. Extensive facilities of this type are located on Butser Hill and in Fishbourne . They are being examined by Martin Bell of Reading University .
The experiments that are carried out here on the yields of Iron Age fields and on Iron Age and British-Roman techniques in agriculture , livestock farming and handicrafts are particularly relevant for research . Archaeological theories developed for this purpose are checked for validity in field trials on the farm .
The period from 400 BC is researched. BC to AD 400. The facility is open to the public at certain times. There is also an extensive educational museum program for school children.
literature
- Reynolds, Peter J .: Iron-age farm: the Butser experiment. London: British Museum Publications 1979.
- Reynolds, Peter J .: Farming in the Iron Age. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press 1976.
- Peter J. Reynolds (Ed.), Butser Ancient Farm Research Project: Butser Ancient Farm year book. Petersfield: Butser Ancient Farm.
- P. Reynolds, Butser Ancient Farm, Hampshire, UK. In: PG Stone / PG Planel (ed.), The constructed Past. Experimental archeology, education and the public (London, Routledge 1999) 124-135.
Web links
Coordinates: 50 ° 56 ′ 35 " N , 0 ° 58 ′ 38" W.