Following a highly successful summer season of ancient technology and craft demonstrations launched for the Scottish Crannog Centre’s tenth anniversary celebrations this year, the Iron Age team are now regularly offering visitors a wide range of activities inspired by archaeological discoveries in Loch Tay and elsewhere in Scotland.

New events include creativity with clay, utilising local resources to recreate ancient pots and paint.

Inspired by the charred and fragmented remains of a simple cooking pot found at the 2,600 year old site of Oakbank Crannog in Loch Tay, visitors of all ages may make simple pots and experiment with firing them, or just make designs simulating rock paintings using a claybased slurry.

A workshop dedicated to such experiments will take place at the Centre on Wednesday, 15th August, but hands-on opportunities will carry on through September for Scotland’s National Archaeology Month.

The Crannog Crew have also been busy with basic longbows, offering youngsters target practice and the chance to test out their aim.

Scotland’s earliest longbow dates from the period of hunter/gatherers of 4040-3640 BC. Discovered near Moffat and made from yew, the bow resembled one that had been strung with nettle or flax fibre found with Otzi, the early Bronze Age ‘Iceman’ found in the Austrian Alps. While such a bow might have had a relatively low draw-weight and short range, it would certainly have been capable of killing a deer or wild boar. While no discoveries of bows or arrows have yet been made in Loch Tay, abundant quantities of nettle and flax were found at Oakbank Crannog.

The Iron Age team at the Crannog Centre are certain their ancestors would have been highly skilled in the craftsmenship and usage of longbows. Accordingly, the Crew will continute to provide opportunities for visitors to hit the ‘bullseye’ and targets of makeshift wild animals throughout August and September. Booking in advance is advised.

Meanwhile, the hands-on archaeology continues with opportunities to learn basic recording and excavation techniques in a series of weekend events through September.

From standing in welly depths, to trowelling through sand or taking the plunge, there is a bit of practical archaeology for all.

These mostly free but bookable events include: Shallow Water Archaeology on Saturday, 1st September; Come and Try Snorkle Archaeology on Saturday 8th September; and Sandpit Archaeology: The Little Dig on Sunday, 16th Sept.

Details of all events and regular activities are listed on the website at www.crannog.co.uk/events or contact the Centre on tel. 01887 830583 for further information.