Smelting - June 1st

We will be learning about metal and using ancient skills to turn rock into metal and cast a small votive axe pendant. During the excavation of the Bronze Age settlement we discovered evidence of smelting sites. This workshop is an exciting opportunity to experience this astonishing process first hand, right on the land here where there is evidence of our Bronze Age ancestors using these techniques.

 

We will start by handling various ores and artefacts to learn the story of the metal. Then we will break up gorgeous malachite ore and use the primitive bag-bellows on the charcoal furnace to transform the malachite ore into beautiful copper balls and pieces. After lunch, there will be the opportunity to try casting a small axe pendant or other small shape in a cuttle bone or lost-wax mould, using either bronze or pewter metal.