ARCH lectures, courses and bronze casting video!

18 November 2013

 The North Kessock and District Local History Society Bronze Age crafting day on 5th October was a great success. A variety of crafts were showcased, with many providing opportunities to have a go, including basket making, pottery making (using local clay), bread making and green wood working. The National Museums of Scotland Build a Roundhouse computer program was running on the day, and there were a variety of craft activities available. 

The highlight was bronze casting, where Neil Burridge from Cornwall produced a replica late Bronze Age sword, spearhead, and sickle. The sickle was based on the mould fragments found during excavations at North Kessock (see Find of the Month). A video of the casting of the sickle can be seen on You Tube - where Neil is assisted by Susan of ARCH and Lisa McCrossan of Fortrose Academy - thanks to Kay Burton for filming this. The crafting day was funded by Heritage Lottery Fund, Highland Council and Talking Science.

ARCH was involved in courses before the event, and will be continuing after Christmas with opportunities to compile a gazetteer of Bronze Age metalwork in the Moray Firth, and take pictures of some of the surviving objects. Contact the office if you would like to be kept informed.

Meanwhile the next ARCH lecture will be on Monday 25th November, where Ian Hammond will talk about lead seals found at Cromarty, and provide a practical demonstration of their manufacture - and a chance for some to try their hand at it as well. There are also two courses still going this autumn. Focus on the Past at Hilton Community Centre in Inverness, on Mondays, 10-12:30 provides an opportunity to learn how to research local heritage, and Ancient Textiles on Saturday in Nairn this month offers a chance to learn about and try out different ancient textile crafts. Further information is in the Events section of the website..