Arms, armour, ducks and doors

Apr 23, 2022 19:32

As well as spotting comical lions, last weekend we made Bronze Age swords ( Read more... )

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Comments 9

puddleshark April 24 2022, 07:44:58 UTC
Oh, wow! Plough horses! And now, I really, really want to visit.

Wonderful spooky pictures of Fort Nelson. For some reason, the With Person one is spookier.

That hat is magnificent!

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ladyofastolat April 24 2022, 16:16:43 UTC
They weren't making any sort of a show with the ploughing. It wasn't An Attraction; it was just something I glimpsed through a gap in the hedge on the edge of the site, not long before closing. I stood poised with camera hoping to get a better shot on their next pass, but they never returned, having presumably stopped for the day. But that only made it seem more magical, really - as if I've glimpsed very briefly into the past.

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hundreds and thousands pigshitpoet April 24 2022, 09:24:12 UTC
i watched a documentary on persian and mongol history from the past and how they had armies of hundreds of thousands of soldiers
the host asked the question searching through old ruins, as to where they would have obtained that much armour to outfit such a large force
he said there would have to be metallurgy factories somewhere, but there was no evidence of this.. just for the swords!
then think of the horses and saddles, it is mind boggling what history presents...
in the cozy world of king arthur we have the noble blackssmiths
prior to that were there so many blacksmiths back then to outfit such large armies?
makes one ponder...
thanks for sharing
are your having a medieval festival?

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Re: hundreds and thousands ladyofastolat April 24 2022, 16:32:57 UTC
I think the Bronze Age turned into the Iron Age because iron - although it produced inferior weapons - was SO much easier to work, and so much more abundant, too. Bronze weapons like we were making would have been for the elite, but you couldn't really outfit an entire army with them, unlike with iron.

I remember going to a lecture at university when we were told that if we went by archaeological evidence alone, we would conclude that there were no mills in 11th century England. However, because of the Domesday Book survey, we know that there were hundreds. Without that document, we just wouldn't know. So it's probably the same with swordsmiths etc. They were there, but nobody wrote down about them, and no archaeological evidence has been been unearthed.

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RE: Re: hundreds and thousands pigshitpoet April 25 2022, 00:24:48 UTC
sounds like i'm living in the ice age
cold steel on my brain
LOL

they must have had secret meatllurgical skills, i'm going to try look that up.
you got me curious!

carry on then
: )

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siglinde99 April 24 2022, 11:24:44 UTC
Both those visits sound wonderful. They are on my list of places to visit if I ever get back to the UK. Usually I pay attention to what they are doing in the kitchen and textile areas, so it is fun to see what interested you.

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ladyofastolat April 24 2022, 16:20:19 UTC
Oh, I paid attention to the history; I just, for some reason, didn't get round to photographing any of it. :-) Not that they had much in the way of activity and practical demonstrations. I think they're still operating under some Covid restrictions, since there have been people cooking in the kitchen on my previous visits, but this time it was empty, and they weren't letting people into the mill. It's well worth a visit, though.

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leesa_perrie April 24 2022, 13:06:35 UTC
It's been ages since I went to the Weald and Downland open air museum, I must go back one day! I hope the ducks will be performing when I do, but must remember not to go during the Duck Olympics, as they'll surely be there with gold medals! :D

The fame doesn't appear to have gone to the fence's head. Not that it has a head. But, you know what I mean!

The sword looks good. One day I will get to Butser Ancient Farm, I've been wanting to go for a while, but things keep getting in the way (ie too many other things to do when visiting my Fareham friend - or it's been raining all week *sigh*). Anyway, I hope the swords polish up well, even if it means your phone doesn't recognise your fingerprint!!

And lol, of course you accepted the challenge! Love it! :D

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ladyofastolat April 24 2022, 16:25:04 UTC
I love the Weald and Downland museum, although I always said that the main thing wrong with it was inadequate cafe facilities. So the new large cafe overlooking the lake was very welcome.

Hopefully the swords will end up being lovely, but I suspect it will be many weeks yet.

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