The ruins of a Bronze Age settlement in the east of England have been "extraordinarily" preserved, after being destroyed by fire 3,000 years ago.
The site's exceptional state of preservation has led some archaeologists to compare it to Pompeii.
A study recently published by the University of Cambridge has revealed some secrets of the British Bronze Age.
As New Scientist reports, archaeologists first "stumbled" upon ancient wooden posts in the Must Farm quarry, near the small town of Whittlesey (England), in 1999.
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In 2015, large-scale excavations began, and the remains of large circular houses dating from between 3000 and 2800 years ago were discovered.
Analysis of tree rings in the wood of the structures suggests that the settlement was destroyed a year after it was built, due to a fire.
However, the fire itself, combined with the protective properties of water, preserved the archaeological site. In addition, the carbonization of the objects also provided a protective layer against environmental degradation.
"Practically everything that was inside these people's houses when the fire occurred has been preserved," Chris Wakefield, from the University of York in the UK, told New Scientist.
Analysis of the kitchenware - which included pots, bowls and jugs - led to the conclusion that the diet of prehistoric Britons consisted of porridge, cereals, honey and stews made with various meats and fish.
The tools found at the site - which, as well as crockery, included axes, sickles and knives - reflect the technological advances of the time: "One of the most beautiful objects that one of my colleagues found was an axe with a two-part handle.
What was so incredible about this particular design was that the head of the axe was inserted into an extra piece of wood that could be interchanged," Wakefield revealed.
The outfit, meanwhile, was described as "luxurious", made with the finest textiles produced in Europe at the time.
"This is the best evidence we have for understanding prehistoric practices. It's the closest we'll ever get to walking through the door of a circular house 3,000 years ago and seeing what life was like inside," researcher Rachel Pope, from the University of Liverpool, told New Scientist.
"Archaeologists talk about a Pompeii-style discovery - a moment frozen in time - and this is one of those cases, a burnt-out settlement that offers an intimate glimpse into people's lives just before the fire and in the months leading up to it," said Michael Parker Pearson of University College London, quoted by the same magazine.
