Bamburgh archaeological dig unearths stunning prehistoric site

Archaeologists have revealed how prehistoric people flocked to a site in Northumberland near Bamburgh

A prehistoric wetland site which was a hive of human activity for at least 2,000 years has been uncovered by archaeologists in Northumberland.

The Bradford Kaims site, near Bamburgh, was a series of shallow lakes connected by streams, which drained into Budle Bay.

Depending on the weather, the site is now wet pasture but the dry summer gave archaeologists from the Bamburgh Research Project a valuable opportunity to excavate part of the site.

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They uncovered a wooden paddle, sitting on a brushwood platform, which dates from around 6,500 years ago at the start of the Neolithic period - the time of the very first farmers. The paddle and platform were next to a burnt mound - piles of stones which had been heated by fire.

These heated stones could have been used for a number of activities, from cooking and brewing to tanning, metal extraction, canoe making or even sweat lodges - the forerunner of saunas. [...] thejournal.co.uk