On May 5 & 6 Ancient Celtic Clans participated in Celebration of Celts "Pan-Celtic Timeline. We set up numerous displays including, spinning, weaving, bow making, cooking, and the one that made us famous, baking!
A lot was learned at this event, since about half the skills displays were being presented to the public for the first time. Additionally, we camped out overnight in the tent and hudfats to pretest them for the upcoming Primitive Trek.
Probably the biggest anachronism that we still have to overcome is the use of cast iron cookware for open fire cooking. Such cookware didn't start becoming common until the mid 1500's. Instead, wrought iron or bronze cookware was used by the Celts.
This is the first oven that we built. Unfortunately, the entire Timeline was forced to moved and so we had to abandon it.
Performing a pre-fire on the oven to test draft and general design.
Katharine (left) and a member of the public (right, who turned out to be an archaeologist!) work together to determine an effective heddle arraignment.
Hannah works on whittling.
(Left to right) Casey, Hannah, Samantha all snuggle with baby Keira.
Kim tries her hand at some basic carving.
Joey adds a clay chimney to the new oven.
A bit ugly, the first loaf didn't have a cut to allow it to bake evenly.
Joey roughs out piece of wood split from a log that will become a "peel" for handling the bread in the oven.
Joey prepares the dough. The entire mixture was unmeasured. He simply added ingredients until he felt it was correct.
Stew and a leg of lamb cook over the open fires.
The completed tent, all set and ready to use.
This small hole is the chimney on the backside of the oven.
Katharine prepares the warp weighted loom.
The completed loom with 4"-6" woven fabric.
Hannah, Casey, and Kim work on preparing the vegetables for the stew.
Joey uses the shaving horse to clamp the stave he is making into a bow.
The second oven built that day is ready for a test firing.
The first loaf of bread is started.
The final loaf of the event. This particular one was a currant fruit bread.
Joey finds a new way to make butter as the hand churn (left item in the air) is deftly juggled.
Our brand new clan banner sits next to a donation sign for our Primitive Trek. The Trek is being undertaken in part to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
The beautiful loaf of currant bread. The last loaf of bread baked during the event, it made for a fine morning meal.
Cormac (left) holds two spears while discussing the day's plans with McLaren (right)