Ways With Wood: The Turnery Prize

Artefacts of the Month - Lathe off-cut; Tankard Stave

We take wood for granted here in Big Tree Country but it is and was a precious commodity which our Iron Age Ancestors exploited. Join us for wood-turning and carving demonstrations by experts from throughout the country and pick up a bargain or two as you watch! Help our ‘Visitors Vote’ to award the new Crannog Turnery Prize for the best pole-lathe-turned object.

Wood was then and is today an essential part of Crannog life for building, fences, fuel and everyday objects. Our archaeological evidence suggests the ancients practiced woodland management and deliberate selection of wood for specific purposes.

Our artefacts of the month are just two of more than 200 wooden objects discovered underwater at Oakbank Crannog. The first, a round off-cut or ‘waster’ from a pole-lathe, indicates the ancient loch-dwellers could turn wood; the second, a delicate stave of a tankard, indicates their skill with hand tools. Appropriately, this event will also award a Crannog Carvery Prize for the best hand-carved item.

Will you become a chip off the ‘ol block? Join us for an exciting and artistic day celebrating Scottish native woods and Iron Age-inspired talent.

All day time events include museum exhibits, talks around a log-fire in the Crannog roundhouse, demonstrations and hands-on experience of ancient crafts and technologies.