Are your building skills positively neolithic?

Monday 05 September 2016

Jersey Heritage is appealing for volunteers who don’t mind getting their hands dirty to help build an authentic replica of a Neolithic Longhouse at La Hougue Bie.

The building project is being co-ordinated by the experimental archaeologist and Manager of the Ancient Technology Centre in Dorset, Luke Winter.

Mr Winter explained to Express the background of these ancient buildings:

“The Neolithic era is a period in history during the late stone age where people were starting to settle down for the very first time instead of living a nomadic existence. This is the first time that farming and the domestication of animals becomes commonplace. 

“In keeping with the change in people’s lifestyles, the buildings also start to adapt and the Longhouse begins to emerge.

“As the name suggests, a Longhouse is very long; about 20 metres in length, it is made with tree trunks and is divided into three sections. The middle section is the main living quarters where people would cook, eat and sleep. Another section would be designated for keeping domesticated animals and livestock and the third section would be a storage unit for grains and cereal crops.”

Mr Winter hopes that the building of this Longhouse will demonstrate the daily life of Neolithic people, adding to La Hougue Bie’s existing focus on burial and afterlife rituals. 

The volunteer project is due to take three years, with the Longhouse’s frame being constructed this year and into next year and the thatching process taking place after then. Mr Winter and Jersey Heritage are looking for a core group of volunteers to be trained up for the full duration of the project as well as more short term volunteers to drop in and out throughout the build. 

If you are interested in getting involved with this project, Heritage are inviting you to one of two open sessions today either at 14:30pm or at 19:30pm at La Hougue Bie. Each session will last about two hours and will be led by Mr Winter.