Advertisement
Join Castle Hill Heritage Skills CIC at the Ancient Technology Centre, Cranborne, Dorset BH21 5RP for a whole weekend of Prehistoric Skills.Our experts are:
• Sarah Day: Memma the Cave Woman and Prehistoric Experiences Stone Age school visits.
• Caroline Nicolay: Pario Gallico Living History and Experimental Archaeology.
• Emma Harrison: – Bog Born experimental archaeology in ceramics & crafts.
• Fergus Milton: Experimental archaeologist specialising in smelting ores and bronze casting.
This Prehistoric Skills Weekend runs on 10th-11th May 2025. Each day is divided in 4 skills sessions (2 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon) lasting about 2.5 hours each.
These "Prehistoric skills" are all taught by specialists in their crafts and based on archaeological finds and research:
• Arrowhead flint knapping. Learn how to use hand held tools to work a piece of flint into an iconic Stone Age arrowhead shape. (with Sarah Day)
• Paints and pigments. Explore ancient techniques to extract earth pigments and make prehistoric paints. (with Caroline Nicolay)
• Ceramic pinch pots, beads and cordage. Mix clay to make small pinch pots and fire them on site. Create your own beads and some natural cordage to string them into a necklace. (with Emma Harrison)
• Copper smelting experience. Learn the alchemy of turning beautiful malachite rock into copper metal. (with Fergus Milton)
Prices
Tickets are £215.00 for the weekend tutoring and evening talk. You will have around 2 and a half hours with each skill and tutor to learn the history and have a go yourself. On the Saturday evening we will gather for a communal meal (additional fee TBC) and an evening talk led by our expert tutors.
Tutors will also have items for sale on Saturday evening.
Please bring your own lunch for both Saturday and Sunday.
You must wear closed shoes and sturdy footwear for this workshop as some elements involve flints and hot metals.
Optional Extras
There is limited accommodation on site. There are 14 places available for guests to sleep in the communal Viking Longhall. All bedding plus mattress must be brought with you if you select this option. This is for an additional £25 fee and can be selected when you purchase your main weekend ticket. There is also space for 5 campervans which can be selected when you purchase your main weekend ticket at a fee of £20 per campervan.
Saturday dinner:
We are working on providing an evening meal on Saturday for a small extra fee to extend your day and get a chance to gather as a group around the fire, reinforcing the community feeling We hope to create. We are still in negotiation with caterers so will email out a link to the meal at a later date. All dietary requirements will be catered for.
To purchase a "Stay the night in the Viking Longhall" or "Campervan" ticket click onto the "FULL WEEKEND PAYMENT" ticket and select what you require.
Once the options for staying in the Viking Longhall or having a campervan have run out at the ticket sales page there are no additional spaces.
There are options through this ticket selling platform to pay in instalments and we hope that makes the courses accessible to all.
Transport
You will have to arrange your own transport to and from the venue including overnight accommodation if necessary. Salisbury is the closest train station. There are no public transport to Cranborne, though taxis from all nearby major towns (Salisbury, Blandford Forum..) can be used.
Please note it is only possible to stay overnight at the Ancient Technology Centre on Saturday 10th May 2025. There are numerous camp sites, B&B's and Air BnB's available local to Cranbourne with a quick online search.
FAQs
We have had enquires about whether guests can wear replica costume items they have made, and the answer is the more the merrier! We are all going to be at the event to celebrate heritage textile methods and archaeological finds so please do share yours.
We are an inclusive not-for-profit company and want all of our attendees to have the same accessibility for the weekend of workshops. If you require anything to make your weekend more accessible please let our directors know at [email protected] and we will endeavour to work with the venue and tutors to meet your requirements.
All profit from the sales of these tickets goes straight back into the ongoing maintenance and building projects at the Ancient Technology Centre. Once you have visited you will realise what a special place this is and how we have to work to conserve it for the future generations of visitors.
Location
The Ancient Technology Centre, BH21 5RP
Advertisement
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Ancient Technology Centre, Ancient Technology Centre, Wimborne, BH21 5, United Kingdom,Wimborne, Dorset, United Kingdom, Verwood
Tickets
