inspired by my holiday on Orkney

[John Fenna]

I just got back from 2 weeks on Orkney ... and if ever there is a place to inspire anyone with an interest in prehistory Orkney is it!
Since getting home I have been having a crack at bits inspired by items I saw in museums there - and this is the result so far
bone headed javelin/spear

barbed spear and fishing spear

detachable head on fishing spear

fishing spear close up

limpet spoon, limpet and bone pin cloak pin, shell knife, bone skinning knife/scraper

view of the 2 spears

All natural materials were used in their construction though the bone and rawhide were sourced at a pet-food shop ... the resin glue was melted in a metal pot on a gas cooker and I did use some metal tools and modern abrasives.....
I have yet to make the Atlatl for the barbed spear/javelin but I have a bit of Holly in mind for it - now made and tried out

 

[Wayland]

Nice work John

 

[Dreadhead]

thats some cracking work John really like the cloak pin

 

[Dannytsg]

Nice work there John.

 

[Chiseller]

FIERCE love the limpet spoon. Were considering going there for our Hand Fasting.
cheers

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 4 Beta

 

[Dean]

Nice work there John, that bone headed spear looks like it could hurt.

 

[sandbender]

Lovely work as always.

 

[Fatbob]

Nice work there John, I may be a bit simple but what did you use the raw hide for?

 

[Dogoak]

Nice to see John.

 

[John Fenna]

Nice work there John, I may be a bit simple but what did you use the raw hide for?

The rawhide was cut into thongs for whipping the bone spear head and knife blades in place. the spear head lashing was then coated in resin glue but the knife was not.
Willow bark cordage was used on the fish spear as rawhide stretches if it gets too wet ...

 

[Mesquite]

Nice work John

 

[JohnC]

Really like the limpet and bone cloak pin...

 

[Fatbob]

Thanks John, you learn something new every day as they say.

 

[Elen Sentier]

Great looking kit John. Orkney is a wonderful place, very inspiring.

 

[kiltedpict]

Fantastic stuff John. We're off to Orkney early August to stay with family near Stenness. I've not been for a few years but I was there on placement twice in my student days and have some brilliant memories. The history is just amazing.

 

[John Fenna]

Fantastic stuff John. We're off to Orkney early August to stay with family near Stenness. I've not been for a few years but I was there on placement twice in my student days and have some brilliant memories. The history is just amazing.

This year Stromness Museum has an exhibition on Dr John Rae (the man who mapped Canada) and it is well worth a visit ... but the Museum in Kirkwall is closed for electrical work ... just one more reason for me to go back as if I need a reason!
I took over 500 photos over our 2 week stay and if it did not have such bad winters and did have a few more trees then I would emigrate there!

 

[kiltedpict]

I will definitely pop in past Stromness Museum!

Cheers John

 

[Niels]

Nice stuff you made John

 

[John Fenna]

I will definitely pop in past Stromness Museum!

Cheers John

Are you on the dig there at Stenness?

 

[rik_uk3]

Great stuff John, well done mate.