Ancient Technology Centre
Open Country

Ancient Technology Centre

B1IntermediateAugust 20, 202623 min

Martha Kearney learns ancient skills like forging a knife, flint knapping and making a fire with flint and steel, alongside local schoolchildren at the Ancient Technology Centre in the Dorset countryside. The centre is a unique collection of archaeologically accurate reconstructions of ancient buildings, used for hands-on outdoor history education. Each building represents a different time period: there’s an Earthouse, a Roman forge, an Iron Age Roundhouse, a Saxon workshop and a Viking Longhouse. Producer: Beth O'Dea

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I'm hammering out an orangey red piece of metal here in the

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0:00

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. I'm hammering out an orangey red piece of metal here in the piece of metal here in a really authentic reproduction of a Roman forge at the ancient technology center in Dorset which I'm visiting for open country and

1:10

I'm learning how to make the kind of tools, the knives, that the Saxons would have done. Antony Whitlock is the tutor here and you've been teaching children here all morning. Now I can see your fires going down a little bit, shall I have a go at the bellows. If you're happy to that'll be brilliant yeah I'll put a bit more charcoal on.

1:35

Okay so there's a handful of charcoal. Just tell me when to start bellowing normally people are telling me to stop bellowing. Right well yeah if you're happy to start now so yeah so so up and so on. Alternating. Double handed bellows. This is a very good work out. It is actually. And that way there's a continuous supply of oxygen going down into the fire.

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