Youngsters from Aberdeen (Scotland) have been trying to build their own Bronze Age boat at an annual summer workshop for aspiring archaeologists. Members of the club YoungArchaeologists@Aberdeen took up the challenge of building their own coracle at the city's Marischal Museum.
     Coracles were small, keel-less boats traditionally made from basketwork frames covered with animal hides, and probably made their first appearance in the north-east during the Bronze Age, between 2,200 and 750 BCE. The same period saw immigrants arrive in the area from north-western Europe, and it is believed many of them made the perilous journey across the North Sea in the flimsy vessels.
     Group leader Claire Smith said: "The aim of the activity is to give them an idea of the kind of transport that would have been used at that time." YoungArchaeologists@Aberdeen welcomes anyone aged between eight and 16. Meetings take place once a month at the museum. For more information visit the website http://www.abdn.ac.uk/youngarchaeologists

Source: The Press and Journal (13 August 2005)