| In contrast to
the guns and tanks used by soldiers in the D Day
landings, over the Bank Holiday weekend Butser Ancient
Farm showed that Prehistoric man also had a formidable
array of weapons. Throughout both days, flint knapper
William Lord showed groups of visitors how hand axes and
arrowheads could be made from field flints. Jim Clift
from Hayling Island then demonstrated their use in his
beautifully crafted bows. Bronze Age metals expert Neil
Burridge gave a demonstration showing how a sword can be
created by molten bronze. Roman writers mention that Celtic warriors painted themselves blue and that they had a ‘terrible appearance’. They may have been plain blue all over or may have been tattooed. Visitors were offered the less painful choice of having their faces painted before having a go at throwing spears at a target. The next Open Weekend will be on Saturday and Sunday 26th/27th June from 10am to 5pm. Cookery expert Sally Grainger, author of the Classical Book, will be giving demonstrations on both days of the sort of dishes the inhabitants of the Roman Villa might have eaten at their dinner parties. And good news for all those who were unable to have a go at flint knapping – William Lord will be visiting Butser again for the last Open Weekend on 25th/ 26th September. |
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
William Lord demonstrating the art of Flint Knapping
The resulting flints
Butser Ancient Farm is open to the
public on the last weekend in the months
March – September
Created 14 February 2003 - Updated 08 June 2004