A group of young people from East Sussex (England) will be getting to grips with the Stone Age in a unique apprenticeship project made possible by a £17,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund's Young Roots programme. Run by Sussex Downs College, the project is targeting up to 40 16 to 19-year-olds as part of its e2e (entry to employment) programme. An initial visit to Bentley Woods had the young people inspecting the reconstructed Mesolithic and Bronze Age buildings there before trying their hand at flint 'knapping' to create scrapers and arrow heads.  They also attempted to light a fire using only a friction bow drill, flint and steel, and iron pyrites. An autumn activity programme will involve a series of projects based on aspects of the middle Stone Age period.
     During the week October 27-31, the students will access all aspects of reconstructing a Stone Age building, making fire, flint tools, clothing, gathering and preparing food, looking at making and using a range of tools and exploring the artistic and cultural elements of life during this period. Supported by the East Sussex Archaeology and Museums Project (ESAMP) the work will enable Sussex Downs College to develop a heritage and archaeology foundation apprenticeship to add to its e2e programme. College spokeperson Mollie Butters said, "The HLF grant has made is possible for us to work closely with ESAMP to develop a really engaging and challenging project that will open minds and ideas to our ancestry."

Source: Eastbourne Today (16 October 2008)