BONE TOOLS & KNAPPING
During this one day course students will gain knowledge and hands on experience learning how to work bone into tools and components using a variety of stone age techniques. This will include knapping flint and other stones into small blades, saws and drill tips that will be used to work the bone.
Bone has been used as a material for a range of purposes for millions of years, our ancestors were able to craft functional equipment from sewing needles to harpoons and jewellery.
Students will learn about the properties of bone and flint plus what considerations must be factored in before deciding on a craft. Sourcing, selecting and processing techniques will be taught.
During the course students should expect to cover the following:
Knapping flint to create a variety of tools including microlith blades, saws and drill tips
Working bone with stone age techniques to create crafts such as sewing needles, projectile points, hooks, jewellery and harpoons
Making pine resin glue for crafts
Courses run with a maximum of 8 people to ensure sufficient attention and guidance is given to individuals when needed.
Children 16+ must be accompanied by a paying Adult
Additional course information:
Location -Wirksworth, Derbyshire (Full address provided post booking)
Duration - One Day (09:00am-17:00pm)
Catering - Tea/Coffee/Hot Chocolate provided (Bring own packed lunch)
TESTIMONIALS
-
Excellent, educational and entertaining workshop. Myself and my wife attended this course in March 2022. Billy the tutor was very knowledgable and a great communicator, who has a clear joy in passing on his knowledge. The course is hands on, there was a large handling collection of bone objects to examine close up. A full range of flint, stone and antler implements where provided to work the bone into tools. People in the group made needles, awls, amulets, arrowheads, harpoons and even a crochet hook. We came away with an appreciation of the skill required by our ancestors to make their own tools and a new understanding of bone as a material. It is not the grey, soft and sad material left on your plate after a meal but a tough, durable and flexible material that has many practical uses. We would recommend this course if you are looking for something slightly different in Bushcraft knowledge or are curious about experimental archeology.
Ralph, Bone Tools Course
-
We booked a private day with Bill to introduce us to working with bone to create basic tools. He brought a great selection of items he had created to give an idea of what can be done and also talked through the processes that our ancestors would have used before starting us on a simple needle project using bone and flint flakes to cut with. Bill provided detailed safe working practices and allowed us to progress at our own pace, making time for each of us. We made simple flint drills to make the eye of the needle which incorporated the use of pine pitch tar for gluing. Later we worked on individual projects from harpoon heads to jewellery all guided expertly by Bill. An excellent absorbing day, thoroughly recommended.
Peter, Bone Tools Course
-
I had a great day learning how to carve bone using flint and stone as our early ancestors would have done. With brilliant tuition from Billy it was very satisfying to produce something without modern technology. Billy's work is so inspiring; it goes beyond bone carving, encompassing all kinds of materials and processes used in prehistoric times.
Sara, Bone Tools Course