Community Events In Bournemouth & Poole

Join Castle Hill Heritage Skills CIC at the Ancient Technology Centre, Cranborne, Dorset BH21 5RP for a whole weekend of Deer butchery and using the whole animal.

Learn to make tools and cook using Stone Age methods.

Our experts are:

Sarah Day and associates: Memma the Cave Woman and Prehistoric Experiences Stone Age school visits.
You will have 4 sessions over the mornings and afternoons of both Saturday 11th October and Sunday 12th October 2025. These will involve using Stone Age tools and methods to butcher a deer. You will tan skins and use parts of the animal for cordage and tools. You will also cook and preserve parts of the deer in Stone Age methods and recipes.

Weekend structure:

Skinning and butchery. You will work on a deer to learn how to butcher for meat, skins and tools.
Basic tanning. Using skins in various stages of the tanning process you will learn how to preserve a skin and turn it into leathers.
Bones and antlers and tendons. Using parts of the animal to create tools and cordage.
Stone Age cooking. Using a fire pit over and some foraged plants you will create a range of dishes to enjoy with your fellow attendees.
Prices and extra fees

Tickets are £215.00 for the weekend tutoring and evening talk. You will have around 2 and a half hours with each skill and tutor to learn the history and have a go yourself. On the Saturday evening we will gather for a communal meal (additional fee TBC) and an evening talk led by our expert tutors.

Tutors will also have items for sale on Saturday evening.

We are working on providing an evening meal on Saturday 11th October 2025 for a small extra fee to extend your day and the community we will be created. We are still in negotiation with caterers so will email out a link to the meal at a later date. All dietary requirements will be catered for.

Please bring your own lunch for both Saturday and Sunday.

There is limited accommodation on site. There are 14 places available for guests to sleep in the communal Viking Longhall. All bedding plus mattress must be brought with you if you select this option. This is for an additional £25 fee and can be selected when you purchase your main weekend ticket. There is also space for 5 campervans which can be selected when you purchase your main weekend ticket at a fee of £20 per campervan.

Once the options for staying in the Viking Longhall or having a campervan have run out at the ticket sales page there are no additional spaces. You may only stay overnight at the Ancient Technology Centre if you have purchased a ticket to the weekend course.