A new immersive digital art installation is now open at March Library.
Fen to Fire brings the Late Bronze Age Must Farm settlement to life using cutting-edge digital archaeology techniques, including 3D modelling, motion capture, and Artificial Intelligence (AI), created by digital artist Dr Guy Schofield, working with young people from Cromwell Community College in Chatteris.
Must Farm, near Whittlesey, is one of Britain’s most extraordinary archaeological discoveries, sometimes described as the “Pompeii of the Fens.”
Excavated by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU), the site revealed a cluster of perfectly preserved Bronze Age roundhouses built on stilts above a river. Destroyed by fire almost 3,000 years ago, the site had preserved an astonishing range of rare finds, including textiles, tools, weapons and even bowls of food, giving archaeologists incredible insight into everyday life.
Supported by Collusion’s SHAPE Hub programme with the University of Cambridge and funded by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU), the University of Cambridge’s Collections Connections Communities and the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, the project has seen Must Farm’s archaeologists working with Dr Schofield and young people, in workshops facilitated by independent producer Rosa Torr, to help them imagine what living in this vibrant community would have been like.
The installation invites visitors to experience the settlement’s entire lifespan, from its construction and daily rhythms to its dramatic destruction by fire. A multi-screen setup presents dynamic views of the settlement alongside close-up details and behind-the-scenes footage, immersing audiences in both the ancient world and the creative process that brought it back to life.
Visitors to March Library can experience the full installation, comprising the main digital artwork alongside interpretation and behind-the-scenes films offering a window into both the Bronze Age world and the creative process behind the work. Entry is free, and the installation is open during normal library opening hours.
Dr Guy Schofield, said: “Working with young people from Cromwell Community College has been really inspiring. The young people brought curiosity and great ideas to the project: it has been a genuine collaboration. Fen to Fire has been an amazing platform for combining cutting-edge technologies like AI-based motion capture with archaeology and storytelling.”
Collusion director Rachel Drury added: “Fen to Fire is an inspiring and innovative example of what happens when artists, archaeologists, universities and young people come together around a shared story. The Fens have extraordinary hidden histories, and this project gives communities the opportunity to connect with one of the most remarkable archaeological finds in Britain in a genuinely immersive and moving way.”
Fen to Fire producer and CAU engagement officer Dr Chris Wakefield said: “When we were excavating at Must Farm, the incredible preservation gave us glimpses into so many everyday moments of Bronze Age life. Fen to Fire has captured those moments and brought the site to life in a way that is both immediate and engaging.”
