Channelling the Inner Neolithic

A guest post by DD Storyteller

We have commisioned DD Storyteller to create a series of interactive stories to bring the farm to life for our younger visitors. DD will be training up our volunteers to deliver the stories and will be giving preview performances in May/June, more information...

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As a Consultant Storyteller, creating interactive performance stories for children, I not only write the stories but I also create the props that bring them to life.

I love every aspect of the creative process so when I needed to create a Neolithic cave painting in the form of a map, for a specially commissioned story I have written for Butser Ancient Farm, I couldn't wait to channel my inner Neolithic.

First stop was the Llandygai House at Butser Ancient Farm at the heart of their Stone Age area. On the wall of the house is a replica of a hunting scene from Turkey, similar to that found at Chatalhuyuk. This painting is also the inspiration for my story and map. The scene shows the hunting of an Aurochs and has a multitude of warriors and hunters surrounding this huge Neolithic beast. Bows drawn, spears raised, and adorned with hunting apparel, these brave tribes people had a mighty task ahead of them.

I wanted to keep my painting as authentic as possible despite being drawn by a twenty-first century homo sapien and so I created images reminiscent of those found in the painting in the Llandygai house. I researched cave paintings and created silhouette images of the animals in the story: Lynx, Stag Beetle, Wolf, Elk, Bear, Boar and Beaver. These were all animals that were found in the Neolithic although now some are endangered or even extinct in Britain.

I then outlined the animal silhouettes on a large canvas, drawing their habitats around them, again in the Neolithic style.

After a light grey wash of paint to give the appearance of a stone wall I started to fill in the detail. I did this using similar colours to those used in the Neolithic period. During this period they may have used iron oxide to get the red colour, iron to get yellow and manganese for black. I used the modern convenience of paint blocks, specifically Derwent Inktense Ink blocks as they gave me exactly the effect I needed. You can draw with them like pastels and then use water to create an intense paint colour on the canvas.

Here's the finished map:

For the performance, clues will be attached to the map to tell the story as the audience takes a journey back in time to discover what the Aurochs is and where it lives.

You can join us in 'The Hunt For The Aurochs', at Butser this May/June, designed for 7-12 year olds. For more information on these brand new, original, interactive mini mystery stories, you can visit my events page here. I look forward to seeing you there for a neolithic adventure!

The Magic Beast

A recent sighting of a white deer on the farm prompted one of our facebook followers to share the beautiful poem below with us. Timothy had written the poem after a similar deer sighting nearby.  We thought it would be lovely to share, particularly as it's World Poetry Day today.Thank you Timothy Concannon for sharing your work with us.

The magic beast

See a flash, unexpected, against the trees

A herd of deer is there, but something’s strange.

A white hart, unearthly, among the rest

A magic sight, the stuff of legend,

Here in the hangars of my home,

Not fairyland.

......

Diana's beast, the quarry of Alexander

And Caesar, Charlemagne, Rustvun-Shad.

The badge of Richard Lionheart,

Lofty Enlil’s earthly form.

......

I stop the car, and stare, enchanted.

How long has she been in my woods?

A living unicorn!

The clue’s in Harting, that selfsame pub.

......

The hart looks over Torberry,

Rumoured town of Rome.

Does she seek her ancient master?

Will she lure him back again,

To drown like faithful Bran?

......

She's off! I cannot follow

To find her marble halls

And dozen handmaids under the Lake

like ancient Rustvun

......

I muse, and dream of ancient times

And myth, and magic and ancient quests

I return to earth, and onward drive

But I still remember, that evening long ago

When a thing divine touched my mortal mind.

Timothy Thomas Concannon

Funding for new storytelling project

We're delighted to announce that we have received funding to support a project to creatively interpret Butser Ancient Farm through a series of specially commissioned stories.Councillor Robert Mocatta, as part of Hampshire County Council, has awarded the County Councillor Grant so that we can run training sessions for our volunteers to deliver the specially written tales.Two stories have been written by local author Dawn Nelson to enchant our younger visitors with tales of the people who may have lived in ancient homes like those at Butser; the interactive tales will transport our visitors back in time to imagine life in an ancient farm.The funding will enable Dawn to run training sessions for volunteers at Butser so more people will be able to tell the stories and help bring this special place to life.One of the stories will focus on the hunt for the Auroch, a scene painted on the wall of our Neolithic Llandygai house whilst the other will tell the tale of a missing Manx Loaghtan Sheep.Thank you very much to Hampshire County Council and Councillor Robert Mocatta for supporting this exciting project.  

Baby Goats born at Butser

This week we were delighted to welcome some more new arrivals to the farm. Twin baby goats were born overnight between Sunday 11^th and Monday 12^th March – a real Mothers’ Day surprise for their mum, English goat Bella! These were shortly followed at Lunchtime on Monday by two more twin girls born to our goat Ainee. Finally Sorrel gave birth on Thursday to a little girl bringing our Kid count up to 5!  

Life as a Roman: new virtual reality app in partnership with BBC Civilisations

We're excited to announce the launch of a new app featuring our Roman Villa in partnership with the BBC. The 'BBC Taster VR' app allows anyone to explore the villa in virtual reality from anywhere in the world!'Life as a Roman' is a collaboration between Butser Ancient Farm and the BBC as part of the landmark Civilisations series which tells the story of art from the dawn of human history to the present day, for the first time on a global scale.Butser Ancient Farm submitted the idea to use 360 video to explore the ancient Roman villa and the BBC helped us realise our idea.The Butser Roman Legion helped us populate the villa with a range of people from the villa’s master to lowly slaves. The 360 video lets you explore the villa inside and out and see how people would have lived in Roman Britain.See how the Roman soldiers used their swords, explore the Roman latrines and furnace, and spy on the Roman dining room.The app and download are available for three months, click here to find out more 

Ancient apples planted at Butser to mark a special celebration

Yesterday marked a special moment at Butser Ancient Farm as we planted five apple trees to celebrate the wedding anniversary of two wonderful members of staff. Sue and Trevor, our projects coordinators marked the occasion by planting these ancient apple varieties (aided by director Simon!) The beautiful specimens will form the start a small orchard which will be part of our exciting Roman garden development plans. Sue and Trevor picked the apple varieties, Charles Ross and James Grieve, to be of an old variety and tolerant of chalk soils. Thanks to head forester Michael Prior at Stansted Park for the advice on the best varieties to plant here.We hope they will thrive and that soon we will have tasty Butser apples to sample!thanks Sue and Trevor!  

First lambs of 2018 born at Butser!

This morning we arrived on the farm to a flurry of excitement as the first baby lambs of 2018 made their entrance to the world at the weekend. Two more were born this morning taking our total so far to 4.After the 'Beast from the East' brought plunging temperatures, snow and ice last week we're glad our Manx Loaghtan waited for the thaw before delivering the new arrivals. All mothers and lambs are healthy and well and after the recent cold snap we're delighted to be witnessing this real sign of Spring.  

February Half-Term

We have plenty of activities for the whole family over half-term (Feb 12-16) - and now is the perfect time to watch spring come to life on our ancient farm!There is a new exploration trail aimed at younger visitors, all about the Signs of Spring and the beautiful nature of the South Downs landscape. We'll also have a range of different activities and demonstrations to get involved with:Monday - Learn to make bird feeders to take home, and give your garden birds a burst of energy while they're making their nests.Wednesday - Our blacksmith Wes will be demonstrating knife-making, Hilary will be teaching visitors how to make felt, and Helen will be weaving in the roundhouse.Thursday - A Stone Age-themed extravaganza with flintknapping and deer skinning!Friday - Our Roman cook Janet will be sharing delicious food to taste, bake bread in our bread oven with Simon, and cook bread and stew over the Saxon fire with Elizabeth.We will also be running a rolling series of 10 minute talks on site, each morning and afternoon. The themes will change so have a look on the information board just outside the shop or ask at the reception desk for details. Each talk will give an insight into some aspect of our past.The wickerman has also started for our Beltain Festival 2018 - there aren't many chances to see a 35ft effigy being built in the sunshine! The goats are in kid and the ewes in lamb so, no promises but anything could happen there.... Everything is looking green and pleasant, so why not come and visit over half-term?