Projects for my Adventures in the Iron Age.

[Tengu]

Its the New Year, and in March I will be returning to The Scottish Iron Age and gainful employment.

(I used to be a Lady of Leisure but now I just have fun).

So, making out a list of things I will need to make, adapt or get to take with me.

Its two pages long! Ill start tomorrow.

 

[GNJC]

You'll need a load of sinew, some ironstone (of whatever variety), cordage of various sorts and sizes & as much leather / skins as you can get. Take a camera too, so we can follow...

 

[Pattree]

Its the New Year, and in March I will be returning to The Scottish Iron Age and gainful employment.

Que?

 

[Tengu]

I have a job!

(I know many of your are shocked; Im like that sometimes...)

 

[Pattree]

That’s great - what do you do in connection with the Iron Age? Intrigued.

 

[Tengu]

Im a MUSEUM INTERPRETER

Which means I demonstrate leatherwork, but I light the fires and muck around a lot.

 

[GNJC]

Im a MUSEUM INTERPRETER

Which means I demonstrate leatherwork, but I light the fires and muck around a lot.

It's a hard life...

 

[Pattree]

Im a MUSEUM INTERPRETER

Which means I demonstrate leatherwork, but I light the fires and muck around a lot.

You’re a STORY TELLER

 

[John Fenna]

Currently I do the same kind of thing at Castell Henllys Iron Age fort in West Wales - but I retire at the end of March... Basically I I dress in repro Iron Age kit and demo fire lighting and cordage making, talk about Iron Age society, architecture, warfare, culture and the history of our site - a real Iron Age fort with the round houses etc rebuilt on the footprint of the original roundhouses as found during the 27 year long archaeological dig. I the summer I also ran "Ancestral Skills" sessions - Flint and Steel fire lighting, nettle cordage making, stone tool/ornament making including drilling stone using Bow Drill techniques and a bit of foraging .... AKA "Bushcraft intro" sessions!
They call it work (and they do pay "The Living Wage") - but to me it is just great fun!
We also do a bit of Stone Age and Viking stuff for visiting school groups but I really stick with the Iron Age
I recently sold a large part of the "Stone Age" artifacts I have made to the Community Archaeologist for the Pembs Coast National Parc ... but kept back enough to run a pretty good session myself.
I have visited the Crannog Centre in the past and plan to visit again (once retired) and I may even pitch up in full Demetae costume...

 

[Tengu]

New site this year...Hence the spears and archery kit.

Im worried we might get invaded.

(seems I was right...)

 

[John Fenna]

Down our way there was not too much archery - slings were our go to distance weapon ... and they are easy to make

 

[Tengu]

<Sighs>

On my list...

 

[John Fenna]

It only took about 30mins....

 

[Tengu]

I need a tennis ball to make a cup sized to....

 

[Woody girl]

What else is on your list of projects ?
Birch tar glue?
Sinew?
Feathers?

 

[Chris]

Down our way there was not too much archery - slings were our go to distance weapon ... and they are easy to make View attachment 84470View attachment 84471

Dog’s in for a real shock if you accidentally mix up that ammo!

 

[Tengu]

The list is getting longer and longer...

Sinew might be a good idea. Use it for binding, as the artificial wont shrink.

 

[Pattree]

I doubt this is news but do you use raw hide - available in quantity from pet shops? Unrolling a little stick chew provides a thong that I can use to bind a split flute while wet and it shrinks tight as it dries

 

[Tengu]

Ill have a go; never had much luck with rawhide.

 

[forrestdweller]

Im a MUSEUM INTERPRETER

Which means I demonstrate leatherwork, but I light the fires and muck around a lot.

daft question: how did they light fires in the iron age -- friction, pyrite or was flint and steel already known at some point?