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Secrets of ancient trades revealed at Badbury Rings

VOLUNTEERS from the Cranbourne Ancient Technology Centre (ATC) recently visited Badbury Rings to showcase ancient crafts.

The group joined rangers and archaeologists of the National Trust (NT) for a weekend demonstrating metal work, weaving, string making and how to create a wall with wattle and daub.

“Adults and children alike dug and crushed chalk, mixed it with straw and water to produce a muddy compound, which they slapped on a woven hazel panel to produce a solid wall which was used to build homes by our ancestors,” an ATC spokesperson said.

“This method of construction can be found used in Dorset cottages to this day.”

Meanwhile, the archaeologists showed how to sift the earth to discover buried items and identify tools, pottery and flint tools.

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On display were finds from various digs carried out on National Trust sites in the area.

“The weekend provided an insight into the continuous work of discovery carried out at Badbury Rings by the NT,” the spokesperson added.

The Ancient Technology Centre is next holding an open weekend on July 27 and 28, where the Saxons and the Vikings will be looking for young warriors to strengthen their Shield Wall.

Who will you join – the Saxons or the Vikings?

For more information, log on to ancienttechnologycentre.com.

Volunteers from the Cranbourne ATC at Badbury Rings

Volunteers from the Cranbourne ATC at Badbury Rings

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