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29 April 2009
Learn about life on an Iron Age farm
Heeley City Farm is holding a Farming Heritage Day on Saturday 2 May
2009 between 11am and 3pm, and letting people try their hands at ancient
crafts for free. Families will have the opportunity to try bronze
casting with the University of Sheffield, make model Iron Age boats with
Sheffield Young Archaeologists Club and visit the reconstructed Iron Age
Roundhouse to find out about life on an Iron Age farm.
This event is part of the Heritage Lottery funded project, “Digging Our
Roots,” which works with young people at Heeley City Farm to explore
farming heritage from the past to present day. Sally Rodgers, the Heeley
Farm Heritage Officer, says: “This will be a fun event whilst at the
same time letting people experience for themselves some of the
activities which were practiced in the Iron Age.”
Construction of the Iron Age Roundhouse began last October, in
partnership with Dr Roger Doonan from the University of Sheffield´s
Department of Archaeology. Students from the department and local
volunteers of all ages have helped bring the building to life. The
reconstruction of the Iron Age Roundhouse (the first form of housing in
Britain) is a major part of the Heritage Lottery funded project,
"Digging Our Roots," and visitors will be able to get a really good feel
of life on an Iron Age farm by exploring the house on the day.
Dr Roger Doonan said:“This weekend should be fantastic, staff and
students from the department will be co-ordinating a range of authentic
and very exciting activities at the Iron Age Roundhouse. The Iron Age
bronze casting and metalworking should be spectacular!”
Wendy Burroughs one of the leaders of the Sheffield Young Archaeologists
(YAC) added:“The club is pleased to be helping to host this event, we
will be making mini Iron Age coracles (a sort of boat), and learning
about woad. Come and have a go at some art work – give yourself a ‘woad
tattoo’!”
Heeley City Farm staff and volunteers will be available to show children
the animals and give tours of the site, families can create masterpieces
out of junk at the “Recycle Art” craft workshops in South Yorkshire
Energy Centre and the Farm Café and Garden Centre will be open all day.
The event is free of charge and there is no need to book, just arrive on
Saturday the 2 May after 11am.
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