Making fire with two Boy Scouts

Home blank for beaker dagger produced by John Sharp on a workshop New ornamental flushwork on the church porch at Gt Witchingham A sample of random knapped flint for architectural use Tools made from bone & antler

It has long been a joke, but at Creswell Crags during National Archaeology Weekend 2004, this jest became reality.

The assistance of Richard and David, two boy scouts from the 100th Newcastle Eastern Scouts, really helped Val & John to make fire!

Smoke appears after a few seconds of bow-drilling

After about 15 seconds of vigorous bow-drilling, a pile of charred dust had been produced. A few seconds later, a dense wisp of smoke indicated that the charred dust was smouldering.

The group blows gently on the smoldering tinder

The smouldering material was added to a nest of dry tinder consisting of fluffy seed down from rose bay willow herb mixed with fine dead grasses. The group then took turns to blow gently on the glowing nest until -----!

'FIRE'

'Fire' with the aid of two Boy Scouts.

A lifelong ambition realised at Creswell!

The Creswell Heritage Trust, provides a variety of exciting workshop events on a regular basis at Creswell Crags.