Community Pages
Also in this section ::
In this section ::
: Home :: Blendworth Brass Band :: Butser Ancient Farm :: CAB :: Horndean Band :: Horndean Voluntary Care :: Horndean Library :: Lovedean Village Hall :: Merchistoun Hall :: Blood Donation :
Butser Ancient Farm
The Open Air Laboratory for Archaeology
Butser Ancient Farm is a most unusual place.
It is neither a museum...
... nor a theme park
It is a unique open air laboratory devoted to exploring, by direct experimentation, the problems and theories which emerge from archaeological excavations.
We have pioneered this approach to archaeology on a worldwide scale and many foreign organisations have based their work upon the methods and techniques developed here.
Just north of the village of Horndean and sign posted from the A3(M), Butser Ancient Farm is a fascinating place for people of all ages. We welcome the public to see for themselves how our research programmes are throwing new light on to life in Iron Age and Roman Britain.
Details of events and activites at Butser Ancient Farm can be found on their website: www.butserancientfarm.co.uk
![[image] Butser Ancient Farm Round House](../graphics/butserancientfarm/roundhouse.jpg)
![[image] A Shetland Ram, the oldest 'modern' sheep](../graphics/butserancientfarm/shetlandsheep.jpg)
Centerpiece to many of the activities on site and regularly featured in both film and TV productions is the spectacular Great Roundhouse (pictured left).
![[image] A field of einkorn competing with native weeds](../graphics/butserancientfarm/einkorn.jpg)
![[image] The Roman Villa at Butser Ancient Farm](../graphics/butserancientfarm/butserfarm_romanvilla.jpg)
You can see examples of ancient sheep breeds and view the type of fields and cereal crops grown throughout the Iron Age and beyond, a topic forming one cornerstone of the research at the Farm.
The talking point of the moment is the new Roman Villa, the first to be constructed in Britain for about 1500 years.
New lessons were learned almost daily about the toils and trials of building with lime mortar in our climate duringthe construction of the Roman Villa.
It is no wonder that work traditionally stopped as winter approached!
The farm runs Day Schools which allow more in-depth practice to be gained in a variety of skills. This year's specialist subjects include metal-working and crafts relating to herbs.
![[image] The 2002 Wicker Man](../graphics/butserancientfarm/beltain.jpg)
![[image] The 2002 Wicker Man](../graphics/butserancientfarm/beltain_burn.jpg)
The Farm runs occasional lectures by notable figures, such as Professor Mick Aston of Time Team and Julian Richards of Meet the Ancestors, along with other well-known archaeologists.
The Farm's
Website provides pictures from past events and one of the most popular and vivid evening events is the spring Festival of Beltain, with its incineration of a Wicker Man.
Butser Ancient Farm is an independent organisation with no external funding.
It is normally open to the public for Weekend Events
(May to September, 10am - 5pm), and for Workshops.
Guided tours and lectures can be arranged
To help you explore the past, we offer:
DEMONSTRATIONS ~ HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES ~ 'ACTION SHEETS' FOR CHILDREN
Admission Prices: Adults £6; Students & O.A.P's £5; Children (5-16years) £3;
Family Ticket (2 Adults plus 2 children) £15;
School Parties, Group Visits, Lecture Tours all year round by arrangement
To find out more about anything on this page, Visit the Butser Ancient Farm Web Site,
Email Roger Hedge, Chairman, Friends of BAF or Telephone the Farm on: 023-9259-8838 (ansaphone)