Stanwick Lakes: Volunteers replicate Bronze Age tools to build log boat

The volunteers poured molten bronze into moulds made from sand to make the tools and once cooled, filed down any rough edges

A group of volunteers have created replicas of ancient tools as part of project to build a Bronze Age log boat.

The team at Stanwick Lakes nature reserve, Northamptonshire, plan to carve out the boat from a 4.5m (14ft) long lime tree log over the summer.

It is part of a £250,000 Heritage Lottery project to connect the site to its ancient past.

Experimental archaeologist James Dilley said the aim is to build a boat like those found at Must Farm, Peterborough.

James Dilley is an experienced experimental archaeologist specialising in the Stone Age and Bronze Age

The replica bronze tool heads were made from scratch under Dr Dilley's guidance by seven volunteers, who took them home to whittle their wooden handles.

Stanwick Lakes heritage co-ordinator Nadia Norman said first they had to make moulds out of sand using existing axes as templates.

"When the molten bronze, which is a mix of copper and tin, comes to temperature, it is removed from the fire and the liquid bronze poured into the mould," she said.

It was then cooled in water and filed to remove the rough edges.

Only ancient techniques will be used during the course of the boat build

A team of 10 volunteers, many with carpentry, engineering or building skills, will now be taught how to carve the boat from the lime tree.

Mrs Norman said: "We won't know what it'll look like until we start work, we could uncover a knot or a split which will affect its shape."

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Stanwick Lakes Heritage has partnered with Dr Dilley, co-founder of AncientCraft, as part of the three-year National Lottery Heritage funded project.

Mrs Norman said it was "exciting to work with someone with that knowledge and enthusiasm".

Nadia Norman hoped the project would help visitors to the Stanwick Lakes nature reserve learn more about its ancient heritage

However, at one point she feared she would be unable to find a suitable lime tree to use for the project.

Boughton House, near Kettering, a stately home with 18th Century landscaped grounds and woodlands, stepped in to offer one of its fallen lime trees

Parks and gardens manager David Cullum said: "To re-purpose and re-use fallen timber from our historic lime tree avenues couldn't be a move fitting continuation in their historical journey."

The boat building will start on 3 June.

By the end of the summer, the volunteers hope to carve out a log boat like the one above and float it on the lake