Building a Anglo-Saxon wattle and daub pithouse using Anglo-Saxon Axes

[transmaster]

Found this interesting YouTube. The Archaeological recreator in the UK is building a 7th century Anglo-Saxon Wattle and daub pit house. You will note he is using 2 types of axes, "T" axe and a "felling" axe.

 

[transmaster]

I have watched bushcrafters who only carry their axe heads into the backcountry. When they reach a camping spot they fashion one out of branch wood they find at the campsite. Looking at the "T" axe minus a helve would make a really good ulu type utility knife.

 

[catspa]

That’s pretty cool, thanks for posting it.

The T axe (more of an elongated hatchet, really) looks like it probably weighs about 1-1/2 lbs? Not much more, based on the way he used it.

I’m surprised he didn’t choke up on it more for the finer carving. Can’t argue with his results, though.

Parker

 

[John A. Larsen]

Interesting video, he did a lot of work building that structure. John

 

[I'mSoSharp]

Looking at the "T" axe minus a helve would make a really good ulu type utility knife.

I’m surprised he didn’t choke up on it more for the finer carving.

3 seconds in from the start shows it (very briefly) being used to strip bark, gripped by the head.

.

 

[transmaster]

There is a brief view of some type of utility seax knife. Looks to have, maybe, and 5" blade. What little I could see it looked something like this. The is a recreation of a 7th century Seax, Viking/Anglo-Saxon belt knife.

 

[transmaster]

It is noteworthy that almost all of the utility belt knives in the British isles, Europe, and Scandinavia around the 7th century have blades of between 4 and 5 inches in length. With a similar blade shape. I suppose you can think of this type of belt knife as the Middle Ages Leatherman, you could do just about anything with it. The fact that Bushcrafters in the US in the 19th century independently came up with similars designs tells you just how timeless this type of blade is.

 

[Boattale]

Watching that was time well spent. Thanks for the post.

 

[transmaster]

Archeologists in the UK excavating the remains of Bronze Age Roundhouses know they lasted more that 100 years when continuously occupied. The closet modern version would be a Mongolian Yurt.

 

[Boattale]

Archeologists in the UK excavating the remains of Bronze Age Roundhouses know they lasted more that 100 years when continuously occupied. The closet modern version would be a Mongolian Yurt.

Grandson is bringing his yurt to our place for Family Christmas get together this year. I've already called dibs on it for at least one night. Hope it's cold enough the stove in the yurt feels good.