Young Person's Flintknapping Workshop

PLEASE NOTE THIS LISTING IS FOR A 1.5 HOUR WORKSHOP FOR 8 - 14 YEAR OLDS. THE FULL DAY WORKSHOP FOR THOSE AGED 15 AND ABOVE IS LISTED SEPERATELY.

Discover the art of the oldest craft in the world: Flintknapping. How did our earliest ancestors make tools to survive the Stone Age?

Find out with experimental archaeologist James Dilley who will guide you through the process of making your flint tools to take home at the end. The oldest flint tools found in Britain date to around 1 million years ago, the latest around 3000 years ago so you will have the chance to try your hand at a process used for 99.7% of human presence in Britain!

The aim of the workshop will be for attendees to have fun, go home with a stone tool they have made, learn new flintknapping skills and have a new, hands-on appreciation for prehistoric technology and life in the Stone Age.

Dr James Dilley is an archaeologist and craftsman who specialises in prehistoric technologies with over 18 years of experience. James has worked with museums and heritage centres around the UK such as The British Museum and Stonehenge and alongside media companies such as the BBC, Channel 4, ITV, Smithsonian Channel and National Geographic.

As apart of the workshop, children will have the chance to have a go at spear throwing! You'll be supervised with a member of our Facilitation team, to learn how Stone Age people would have hunted thousands of years ago. This will take place in the middle of the session.

Workshop Times:

10:00 - 11.30pm

12:00- 13:30

14:00-15:30 

Please arrive at the Creswell Crags car park 15 minutes before the start of your session at the latest.

Please note, these workshops are for ages 8 to 14 and are not suitable for younger children, or adults.

Except in adverse weather, this event will take place outside: please make sure participants wear suitable clothing and footwear for the conditions. We recommend comfortable, practical clothes and sturdy boots/shoes.

All flintknapping materials, safety equipment, and tools will be provided.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Tea, coffee and juice will be provided, as well as biscuits to keep you going. Lunch will not be provided, but Creswell Crags does have a café. All purchases support the charity. If you do not want to use the café, you are welcome to bring a packed lunch.

There is car parking at Creswell Crags and all participants will be given a parking pass so you do not have to pay for parking.

Please note that attending the workshop does not give you access to Creswell Crags' caves. If you wish to go on a cave tour, you must book that separately via the Creswell Crags website. There will not be time during the workshop, but you might be able to book before or after you workshop, depending on the timings. Cave tours take approximately one hour.

All participants, and their parents/family group, will be allowed to explore the on site museum of prehistoric artefacts free of charge (usual ticket price £3 per adult) and will be able to walk around the limestone gorge if there is time, or in the lunchbreak.