Exploring a replica village

[woodsorrel]

Hi Everyone!

Imagine going back in time 475 years.

The year is 1540. You are a Native Californian living along the coast of what is now called San Francisco Bay. What would your life be like?

I visited a replica village to learn about the Tuibun Ohlone of California, and how they lived long ago. I was eager to learn about the Tuibun because of where they lived. The village site sits within one of the vast freshwater marshes that surrounded San Francisco Bay. I wondered what it was like to live in a marsh environment, and how the people used the plants and animals around them.


You can see the jungle of dry tule that obscures the freshwater marsh.

Our group explored a tule house and learned about its construction.

Finally we visited the archaeological site of Tuibun village. The village is estimated to be more than 2,000 years old.

I omitted construction and ethnobotony details from this post. But I learned a tremendous amount!

We were able to handle replica tule saws made from deer scapula as well as rabbit blankets. I will post about the tools and the other structures we explored as soon as I get the chance.

Have you had the opportunity to visit replica villages or archaeological sites? Did you pick up any bushcraft tips from visiting them?

- Woodsorrel

 

[John Fenna]

Nice one!
Actually I was up at Castell Henllys today - an Iron Age Hill Fort...about 2000 years old... where the reconstructed huts stand on the actual post holes and "footprint" of the original huts.
I have learned a lot at this site over the past 30 odd years and now demonstrate Bushcraft techniques (firelighting by friction and/or flint and steel and cordage making) three or four times a year.
If we cannot learn from the past, what is our future?
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[Toddy]

The Scottish Crannog Centre on Loch Tay is a reconstructed roundhouse built on piles in the loch based on the evidence from the underwater excavations at Fearnan. Crannogs are a relatively common construction in Scotland, and eventually over time they evolve into man made islands. Some appear to be constructed on islets, but they're always on water, whether they are lacustrian, riverine or estuarine, they are right on the main highways, and always adjacent to good farmland.
No roads, everything moved by water.

The underwater archaeology was a first (also done on Loch Olibhat on Lewis) because we live in a temperate climate and we don't get preservation of organic material unless in anaerobic wet sites, or very occasionally in shell middens where the calcium rich background actually helps preserve bone and antler. Everything else rots away, but these excavations showed not only cut marked timbers, but food dishes (with residues ) cherry stones, the flooring rushes, the roofing materials, and even woolen cloth….dating back to the Scottish Bronze Age.

The modern Crannog centre is focused on the roundhouse, but onshore there's a whole range of hands on craft activities and a rolling programme of seasonal events.
http://www.crannog.co.uk

It's a fascinating place; the roundhouse isn't airtight but it creates a micro climate inside that is both warm and calm, and the hurdle walls baffle the winds and stop the rain. A central hearth gives both heat, light and a space for cooking as well as a locus for socialisation. The whole structure kind of breathes with the wind, so much so that even 3m high waves and howling gales didn't destroy it not long since.
http://www.crannog.co.uk/events/WinterStormsDec11Jan12.html

Having worked there on and off over the years, I really do appreciate just how very practical the structure is. Very comfortable, clean and free from insect pests. No midgies off shore and the smoke from the fire fills the cone of the roof and effectively fumigates the place
No mud underfoot either, that matters in the UK, it really does, and by being offshore it greatly limits the damage that constant foot traffic does to soil structure. The folks who lived in crannogs weren't surrounded by stinking middens either.

Could I live there ? yes

M

 

[tiger stacker]

The three different types of living are all fascinating thank you for posting.

 

[MT606]

ITV are making a viking village up about 5 miles from mine in an old quarry for an alleged 5 yr run of Beowulf, you can just see the long hall coming into being from the road, I'd love to look around that place when it's completed.....unless it's just facia type affairs ?

 

[woodsorrel]

Nice one!
Actually I was up at Castell Henllys today - an Iron Age Hill Fort...about 2000 years old... where the reconstructed huts stand on the actual post holes and "footprint" of the original huts.
I have learned a lot at this site over the past 30 odd years and now demonstrate Bushcraft techniques (firelighting by friction and/or flint and steel and cordage making) three or four times a year.
If we cannot learn from the past, what is our future?

John, the pictures are terrific!

I have more detailed pictures with notes about how tule house and sweathouse were constructed (construction notes). You might appreciate them.

I hope to post more pictures and information on BCUK about the pit house and tools we handled. But it may take me a week to marshal the information.

- Woodsorrel

 

[woodsorrel]

The Scottish Crannog Centre on Loch Tay is a reconstructed roundhouse built on piles in the loch based on the evidence from the underwater excavations at Fearnan. Crannogs are a relatively common construction in Scotland, and eventually over time they evolve into man made islands. Some appear to be constructed on islets, but they're always on water, whether they are lacustrian, riverine or estuarine, they are right on the main highways, and always adjacent to good farmland.
No roads, everything moved by water...

M

Toddy, this is very interesting! I never heard of a Crannog before. Being surrounded by water may have provided protection from predators as well.

- Woodsorrel

 

[sandbender]

"...The Scottish Crannog Centre on Loch Tay..."

Thats it on the left, it is fine site to paddle past early in the morning.

I'm told there is a sizeable boat from the same era buried under the mud nearby. Traders from Europe making their way across the North sea, up the river Tay and around the Loch to trade and barter.

 

[John Fenna]

John, the pictures are terrific!

I have more detailed pictures with notes about how tule house and sweathouse were constructed (construction notes). You might appreciate them.

I hope to post more pictures and information on BCUK about the pit house and tools we handled. But it may take me a week to marshal the information.

- Woodsorrel

The pictures are not new - the weather was not so kind yesterday - and some of the huts are showing signs of age now (the oldest is about 30 years old and needs a bit of re-thatching) and all have better fitted out interiors now - including bed chambers, fireplaces etc. The huts have no chimneys - like the tule hut - the smoke preserving the thatch of reeds as well as the smoke forming a "fire-proof" spark barrier (low oxygen) to stop the reed catching fire.
I recommend the site to anyone visiting West Wales
Your link was very interesting and it never ceases to amaze me how insensitive folk have been to the cultures of subjugated peoples - let us hope that this attitude has changed for ever!
Edit to include -
We also have a Crannog not too far away on Llangorse lake - but not much has been done to make a feature of it. I really want to visit the Scottish one some time!

 

[boatman]

Butser Iron Age Farm in Hampshire has been mentioned before and is well worth a visit, now has Roman Villa, Durrington Walls type Neolithic Houses as well as Roundhouses. I love visiting there, either sleeping out sroounded by the houses and the Downs and the stars or cosy in one of the roundhouses.

While we are at it there is Wychurst the Regia Anglorum Saxon site.http://www.wychurst.com/

Their prime mover Kim Siddorn has the bestand my favourite comment on why such buildings "​"There is a dream that all re-enactors have. That somewhere there is a special place for them: a place where they can get up in the morning and look out of the door of a real house at an undisturbed and idealised landscape.

There will be times when the axe handle is so cold with frost that it is difficult to chop the wood; times when the fire won't draw; times when the porridge sets; times when the children sniffle and miss the telly. But when the thunder crashes around the sky and the wolves howl at the lightning, it comes to you just why our ancestors were pagans. Then, as the sun westers, we can close the great gate that cuts us off from the modern world, throw another log on the fire and settle down amidst the gathering gloom in the great hall that we have built with our own hands and say to each other - "It must have been just like this."

 

[mrcharly]

I didn't know crannogs were built over water. Wonderful, ty. Would they always have been single buildings or would larger settlement have multiple crannogs on the water?

Near York we have the Farming museum at Murton - this has a recreation of a viking village. Link to lots of images:
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=m...niv&sa=X&ei=sNoGVZXLBpHaaPesgMAP&ved=0CD4QsAQ

A bit north of york there is the Rydale folk museum, which is mostly buildings from the last 200 years but also includes an iron age roundhouse.

 

[Toddy]

Occasionally there are double crannogs…like a granny house built on.
Really they're the home of extended families and though a lot of work to build, everything needed is local, everyone is able to do something to help build and maintain.

Murton was fun Wayland occasionally organises weekend meet ups there

M

 

[woodsorrel]

I have added "Crannogs" onto my things to see list if I am ever back in the UK.

- Woodsorrel

 

[Lacijag1]

Hi,

I just been to Butser Ancient Farm it is a great place. I made a small video about it if anybody wants to see it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfkcLwLGe_k&list=PLRMS9rkv8u3uBBPNSMVYarBxdmaCKojAc&index=5

Also worth mentioning it that about 1 mile from the farm there is the Queen Elizabeth Country Park and the Butser Hill.

 

[woodsorrel]

Hi,

I just been to Butser Ancient Farm it is a great place. I made a small video about it if anybody wants to see it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfkcLwLGe_k&list=PLRMS9rkv8u3uBBPNSMVYarBxdmaCKojAc&index=5

Also worth mentioning it that about 1 mile from the farm there is the Queen Elizabeth Country Park and the Butser Hill.

Interesting video. Thanks, Lacijag1!

- Woodsorrel