Just to update, listened to episode one last night and it's excellent too. This is not just about the Fens, the Fens have just preserved it, but early society, cultural beliefs the role of nature and trees and water in a bronzeish ironish age, when the roots of agriculture where just being sown. A few ancient primordial oaks still remained. Pruning trees by pollarding and coppice was used as an early system of farming timber.
We all have our preconceptions of 'primative' but more and more evidence is pointing to the fact that these societies , long having left hunter gathering behind, were moving on at this period to not just keeping stock but planting crops and arable farming. We constantly seem to underestimate those who came before us but actually, these people were the same as us, they spent their nights looking at the stars. It shouldn't really be that surprising that great leaps were made over countless generations.
What blew my mind was that it's now reckoned they had enough savvy to predict lunar eclipses. Seeing patterns is one thing. Predicting patterns is another step up. You have to wonder what level of intellect did these people attain? Fascinating stuff.
How do we (let's be honest, how do
they know this) From the wood they planted as stakes and when. At least in part.
It's masterful.
If you want to know more you'll have to listen to it yourself.
