Learning new skills from ancient days at Lyth
NEOLITHIC towers whose remains are scattered throughout Caithness proved to be the inspiration for a special event at Lyth Arts Centre.
Brochtober is an annual month of celebration of our county's heritage organised by the Caithness Broch Project and the session on Sunday was billed as an Archaeological Arts and Crafts Fun Day.
There was storytelling from children's author Elspeth Grace Hall in character as the The Silver Tongue. Elspeth is more commonly known to local schoolchildren as the Bard of Bower but she assumed the mantle of another character for the day to tie in with a Pictish theme.
"Today I'm not a bard, as bards are a Scottish invention – the Scots having come from Ireland originally. In the days of the Picts we [storytellers] were called 'silver tongues' so that is what I'm calling myself today for the children."
Elspeth taught the youngsters words for birds, animals and various objects in the endangered ancient language of Norn.
Other skills that artists and craftspeople were sharing with the children included Neolithic pot-making using air-dried clay that did not need firing in a kiln; Celtic stone carving by broch project co-director Iain Maclean, allowing the children to create an artwork with the initials of Lyth Arts Centre inscribed upon it; and making Neolithic stone ornaments by using stone tools – which is not an easy feat but was ably demonstrated by Chris Gee from Orkney.
Glasgow-based archaeological artist Kate Robinson collaborated with the children using age-old pigments to create historical stories that filled a huge tabletop.
Broch project director Kenneth McElroy said: "Despite the inclement conditions we had a great day. Everyone, adults and children alike, really enjoyed themselves. It gave them a chance to try new – and at the same time very old – archaeological activities.
Brochtober culminates with a live auction of art this Friday (November 1). The public can bid on 50 broch-inspired artworks that include pieces by Ian Charles Scott, Lisa Poulsen and Patricia Niemann.
Further information on this and Caithness Broch Project can be found here.