Help build Iron Age house at museum England

Submitted by coldrum on Monday, 01 August 2005 Page Views: 3522

Country: England Free workshops to encourage young people to discover ancient crafts will be held in the grounds of Kirkleatham Museum, at Redcar. Museum worker Steve Thurston has organised demonstrations, including bronze axe casting, iron smelting, flint-knapping, coil pots and wood-turning.

The biggest challenge will be building an Iron Age roundhouse, 20ft in diameter and 15ft high, with a timber frame and water reed thatch roof.

Once complete, it is hoped the building will last at least ten years and be used to teach people about the Iron Age.

Mr Thurston said: "We are trying to make people in Redcar and Cleveland aware of their ancient heritage, increase their awareness and appreciation of the skills and enterprising nature of our ancestors.

"We are trying to target the 16 to 24-year-old age group. "They will get a terrific experience and be able to take home what they have made, which should make it an even more interesting exercise."

The programme of workshops, which are from 10am to 5pm, is:

* Axe casting -Wednesday and Thursday, August 3 and 4.
* Smelting -Tuesday, August 9 to Saturday, August 13.
* Flint knapping -Tuesday, August 16 to Friday, August 19.
* Coil pot making and wood turning -Tuesday, August 23 to Monday, August 29.
* Roundhouse -Tuesday, September 20 to Friday, September 23.

To take part, call the museum on (01642) 470500.

Source: This is the North East.

Contributor Bio for coldrum: Based in Milkyway, contributing since 2002. Favourite site: Avebury.

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