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Butser Ancient Farm

Agricultural museums in EnglandExperimental archaeologyFarm museums in EnglandIron Age BritainMuseums in Hampshire
Museums of ancient Rome in the United KingdomOpen-air museums in EnglandReplica buildingsTourist attractions in HampshireUse British English from February 2023
Sunset behind the Iron Age enclosure
Sunset behind the Iron Age enclosure

Butser Ancient Farm is an archaeological open-air museum and experimental archaeology site located near Petersfield in Hampshire, southern England. Butser features experimental reconstructions of prehistoric, Romano-British and Anglo-Saxon buildings. Examples of Neolithic dwellings, Iron Age roundhouses, a Romano-British villa and an early Saxon house are on display. The site is used as both a tourist attraction and a site for the undertaking of experimental archaeology. In this latter capacity, it was designed so that archaeologists could learn more about the agricultural and domestic economy in Britain during the millennium that lasted from circa 400 BCE to 400 CE, in what was the Late British Iron Age and Romano-British periods.Founded in 1970 by the Council for British Archaeology, in 1972 they recruited experimental archaeologist Peter J. Reynolds to run the site as project director. It was initially located on the site of a Bronze and Iron Age farmstead on Butser Hill, but in 1989 relocated to Hillscombe Down, and in 1991 to Bascombe Copse on the slopes of Windmill Hill. The farm is open to the public and runs various events throughout the year. Archaeologist Mick Aston commented that "Virtually all the reconstruction drawings of Iron Age settlements now to be seen in books are based" on the work at Butser Farm, and that it "revolutionised the way in which the pre-Roman Iron Age economy was perceived".

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Butser Ancient Farm (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors, Images).

Butser Ancient Farm
Chalton Lane, East Hampshire Clanfield

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N 50.943 ° E -0.977 °
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Butser Ancient Farm

Chalton Lane
PO8 0QD East Hampshire, Clanfield
England, United Kingdom
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butserancientfarm.co.uk

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Sunset behind the Iron Age enclosure
Sunset behind the Iron Age enclosure
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Queen Elizabeth Country Park
Queen Elizabeth Country Park

Queen Elizabeth Country Park is a large country park situated on the South Downs in southern England. It is located on the A3 road three miles south of Petersfield, Hampshire and lies within the South Downs National Park. The park contains 1,400 acres (6 km2) of open access woodland and downland within the East Hampshire Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, including Butser Hill (886 ft), the highest point on the South Downs, and War Down (801 ft). The woodland was mostly planted in the 1930s; it consists mainly of beech trees. Several Long-distance footpaths run through the park including Staunton Way, Hangers Way and the South Downs Way bridleway. On a clear day the Isle of Wight can be seen from the top of Butser Hill. The park also contains several waymarked and graded mountain biking trails. These are designed, built and maintained by volunteers. The Queen Elizabeth Country Park parkrun takes place within the park each Saturday. To the east of the forest, south of the village of Buriton lies the wooded hill of Head Down (205 m), which "is an area that caters for clubs that require land with privacy for outdoor recreational activities, such as archery or off-road vehicles."Every July the Queen Elizabeth Country Park is the start point for Oxfam's biggest annual fundraising event, Trailwalker UK.The Queen Elizabeth Country Park and the Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda are twinned in a project of "cultural exchange, mutual support and has its main emphasis on supporting Conservation through working closely with and empowering local communities".

Clanfield, Hampshire
Clanfield, Hampshire

Clanfield is a village and civil parish in the south-east of the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England. It is situated 2.4 miles (3.9 kilometres) north of Horndean, 12 mi (19 km) north of Portsmouth and 6 mi (10 km) south of Petersfield. It sits to the west of the main A3 road, just north of where the A3(M) (Motorway) ends.The surrounding villages are Horndean, Catherington, Hinton Daubney, Chalton, East Meon, and Hambledon It has a semi-rural character with 3 sides of the village being adjoined by fields including Queen Elizabeth Country Park. Clanfield is overlooked from the other side of the A3 road by Windmill Hill and Chalton Windmill which stands at 193 metres above sea level. Many references in Clanfield feature the windmill, such as Windmill Garage.The population of Clanfield is c. 4,854 (estimated 2011), however property development and new homes since the 2011 census means that this is expected to have increased and was estimated to be over 6000 in 2017 Clanfield is a popular area for walkers, with Queen Elizabeth Country Park being next to the village. The old village also has a restored pond, a thatched village well, the Clanfield memorial hall, and the church of St. James.Clanfield consists of two parts, "Old" Clanfield and "New" Clanfield. Old Clanfield has been around for roughly 250 years and New Clanfield about 60 years. There are two schools. Petersgate Infant in New Clanfield and Clanfield Junior School in Old Clanfield. Clanfield is twinned with Val d'Oison, France

Butser Hill
Butser Hill

Butser Hill is a hill and nature reserve in Hampshire, England. South-west of Petersfield, it is a 239.7-hectare (592-acre) biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest. It is a national nature reserve and a Special Area of Conservation. Part of it is a Geological Conservation Review site and an area of 84.8 hectares (210 acres) is Oxenbourne Down, which is designated a Local Nature Reserve. Part of it is a Scheduled Monument.It is a chalk hill and one of the highest points in Hampshire. It is also the highest point on the chalk ridge of the South Downs and the second highest point in the South Downs National Park after Blackdown in the Western Weald. Although only 271 metres (889 ft) high, it qualifies as one of England's Marilyns. It is located within the borders of the Queen Elizabeth Country Park. The name Butser comes from the Old English Bryttes Oran meaning Briht's slope. Oran or Ora is Old English for flat topped hill and/or steep slope.The flat summit is surrounded by a number of spurs. Iron Age ditches and banks divide the spurs from the summit although the purpose of these earthworks is unclear.There is evidence of lynchet farming on the southeast side of the hill. The age of the lynchets is unknown but Roman pottery has been brought to the surface by rabbit holes.There are aerial masts on the hill.The hill was purchased by Hampshire County Council in 1966. Prior to the purchase the summit was used for growing wheat but now the only farming activity is grazing. In December 2021 a £240,000 program was announced to restore grassland on the hill and improve trails.Butser Hill has a rich variety of flora and fauna located upon the hill. Butser Hill is in the top twenty Hampshire chalk grassland sites for its rich vascular flora, and is the richest chalk grassland site in Hampshire in terms of its bryophyte (125 species) and lichen (82 species) flora. As well as this, over 30 species of butterfly have been recorded, including populations of Duke of Burgundy and the Silver-spotted Skipper, making the area an important conservation area for many butterfly species. There is an annual Fell Run called the Butser Hill Challenge that involves running up and down the hill three times.