Day8!

Today was the start of a new phase of The Eurybia project. With the log 'flipped' yesterday we were now able to start the experiments on hollowing out methods. The log has been divided up into four different sections (1-4) and each section will be used to test different methods of construction.

Showing one of the four sections The Eurybia has been divided into. This is Section2 and will be used to test different Mesolithic tools on removing charred remains.

Work began today on Section2. This section would be hollowed using fire to char the wood and then a range of different Mesolithic tools to remove the charred remains. The difficult part is starting to char the parent log without there being a flat surface to put a fire onto. We got over this problem by holding a burning log on top of the parent log and allowed the embers to catch the parent log on fire.

Holding the embers of a burning log on top of the parent log to catch it alight.

Blowing oxygen on to the embers to increase the heat and help catch the parent log alight.

Once the parent log started to burn by itself a bigger fire could be built on top to char a bigger area. Once an area had been burnt it was time to try and remove some of the burnt wood. This was done today with an antler pick.

The antler pick in question. From a Red deer these are common finds in prehistoric finds assemblages. They can be used for all manner of jobs from mining to adzing. 

The pick was closely photographed before use and its wear will be monitored as it is used. As we began using the pick we re-learnt a lesson from last years boat build. Even if an area looks well charred that char may not penetrate the log very far. This was the case today, despite the parent log looking well burnt the burning had not gone deeply into the log making removing anything very difficult. It was however a good chance to work with a very new type of tool and reminded us that we need to burn a lot longer if we want to  remove any substantial about of material.

The antler pick in use.

Tomorrow the fire will be set on Section2 at the start of the day so by the afternoon we can really make a dent in the parent log. We will also try using more, different, Mesolithic tools. We are also looking forward to having volunteers from Help for Heroes recovery centre, Tedworth House, Wiltshire who will begin work on The Epimetheus!