S8 Ep10: A day in a roundhouse
From Career in Ruins by careerinruins
February 21, 2026 · 17 min · Episode 76
About this episode
Derek interviews Dr Hayden Scott-Pratt about the significance of Hengistbury Head and the experimental archaeology project there.
Join Derek as he takes Career in Ruins to Hengistbury Head, Dorset to meet curator and archaeologist Dr Hayden Scott-Pratt. In this on-location interview inside a reconstructed Iron Age roundhouse, Hayden shares his journey from undergraduate experiments in copper smelting to curating one of Britain’s most important archaeological sites. Discover why Hengistbury Head was once a major Iron Age international trading port, connecting Britain with continental Europe and the Mediterranean. Learn about imported amphorae, cross-Channel communities, ancient industries, and the evidence for large-scale trade in goods like pottery, iron, and livestock. Hayden also explains the creation of the site’s experimental archaeology village, where volunteers built a full-scale roundhouse using traditional tools and materials. The project brings ancient crafts, cooking, farming, and daily life to life for schools and visitors—right on top of a scheduled archaeological monument with 12,000 years of human history. If you’re interested in Iron Age Britain, experimental archaeology, museum careers, or the story of one of the UK’s most fascinating coastal heritage sites, this episode is for you. #IronAge…
People in this episode
Host: Derek
Guest: Dr Hayden Scott-Pratt
Topics covered
- Iron Age
- archaeology
- museum careers
- experimental archaeology
- coastal heritage
Keywords
- Iron Age
- Hengistbury Head
- experimental archaeology
- archaeology
- trading port
- copper smelting
- ancient trade
- museum careers
Mentioned in this episode
Places: Hengistbury Head, Dorset, Britain, Europe, Mediterranean, Iron Age, UK
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