Early Middle Ages

Culinary Weekend

Culinary Weekend
Date
-

Country

  • the Netherlands

Pierre Wind is busy both days with insect snacks from prehistoric times, Roman dishes for young and old, to medieval roasts.

International Iron Smelting Days

Date
-

Country

  • the Netherlands

The annual Iron Smelting Days are the largest gathering of its kind in Europe, with blacksmiths, artists and archaeologists gathering around a dozen or so iron smelting furnaces.  It is a unique chance to learn a lot in very short time about the process of producing iron in the old days.

Searching for Dubh: Experiments in Black Dyes Pre 15th Century in Ireland and Scotland

Searching for Dubh: Experiments in Black Dyes Pre 15th Century in Ireland and Scotland
Author(s)
Ashley Stillwell-Hasan 1 ✉
Publication Date
This paper explores sources of black dyes in Ireland and Scotland prior to 1500, in order to better understand the extent to which they were used and the hues that can be produced. I propose that it is possible to obtain true blacks using only natural dyeing techniques. To test this hypothesis, four variations of historically plausible dye methods, and a control, were tested based on the availability of the dyestuffs. Brown Shetland wool was dyed according to possible historical methods, and each variant was subjected to a series of tests to examine lightfastness and wash fastness. Initially, testing showed a low indigotin content, an organic compound which creates a blue pigment, in the sourced woad, resulting in a poor dye bath and skewed results.

Wooden Matrices in Bracteate Production: An Experimental Approach

Wooden Matrices in Bracteate Production: An Experimental Approach
Author(s)
Magnus R. Aunevik-Berntsen 1 ✉
Publication Date
The literature on the production of Migration Period (c.400-550 AD) gold bracteates has suggested wood as a possible material to be used for the matrix on which bracteates are made, but only in the production of a single or very few bracteates. This study experiments with how such a matrix could have been made and what part of the wood could have been used. Additionally, it examines the quality changes in serial production...

Origin of the Book of Kells

Origin of the Book of Kells
Date
Organised by
Tarbat Discovery Centre

Country

  • United Kingdom

Dr Victoria Thompson Whitworth will present her latest research exploring new theories about the creation of the Book of Kells and its potential ties to Pictish eastern Scotland. At the end of her talk, she will be joined by Master Craftsman Thomas Keyes, who will add his findings from recent archaeological experiments he is conducting.

Butser Book Festival 2024

Butser Book Festival 2024
Date
-

Country

  • United Kingdom

An incredible two days of entertainment and inspiration with bestselling writers! Join us for our inaugural book festival celebrating words, worldbuilding and the wilderness that inspires us.