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July 7, 2024 @ 9:30 am - 4:30 pm
£65
Whether you’re a seasoned outdoor chef or an occasional bbq-er, this one day course will introduce you to a whole world of ancient cooking techniques that will open your eyes to the delicious and varied foods our ancient ancestors enjoyed. Let our experienced instructor guide you through key skills that our stone age ancestors would have relied upon as we prepare a Stone Age Feast; ground oven cooking using hot rocks, using natural materials to build a smoker for preserving fish, foraging and gathering native edible plants and cooking over the fire using a range of ancient methods. This special course is all set against the backdrop of the historically themed Park In The Past, site of the UK’s only full-size reconstructed Roman fort.
This one-day course is an immersion into the cooking skills of our ancient past which is perfect for both beginners and those who already enjoy the outdoor lifestyle but want to take their knowledge of bushcraft further. You will gain a deepened connection to nature whilst experiencing how bushcraft skills have shaped us into where we are today. You will be introduced to a range of practical skills whilst connecting with your inner hunter-gatherer. These skills can then be taken for continued practise in your own time. For those of us who are already practised in “modern day” bushcraft skills, this course is a chance to experience a world without the modern cookery gear you are used to. Wherever you are on your journey into bushcraft we aim to bring your confidence and skillset forward to the next level.
Your tutor for this special course is primitive skills expert Billy Souter;
“There is something magical about outdoor cooking and utilising ancient techniques, many of which are still used in some way today. Cooking and taking part in communal eating would have been a special part of life for our Stone Age ancestors. During this course students will use various skills to craft components to be used for cooking. Observational skills regarding seeking and selecting specific materials as well as fundamental skills like foraging, simple tool making and cordage will all be taught.”
- Discover how our ancestors cooked & preserved their food.
- Cook up a mouthwatering roast joint in a ground oven.
- Build a smoker using natural materials.
- Learn how to source natural materials for primitive cooking techniques.
- Roast up cat-tail roots in the embers – the Stone Age potato!
- Boil water the stone age way using hot rocks.
- Enjoy fresh, flavoursome fish from your smoker.
- Make wild teas foraged from plants around you.
- Craft natural cordage for bundling your foodstuffs.
- Cook up fish using the split-stick method – no pots or pans required!
- Learn how to identify key tree & plant species that can aid us in bushcraft.
- Improve your health & well-being by reconnecting with nature.
Your Tutor: Billy Souter
“My passion for Bushcraft came to life in my mid teens and quickly led me venturing down the path of primitive living skills.”
“Having found my passion and decided I wanted to expand my knowledge and pass these skills on to others. Since this time I have trained with various incredible teachers within this field and have used these skills in different environments including Scandinavia, Europe and North America.”
“In recent years I have developed and provided engaging Bushcraft sessions at an Outdoor Centre and Public workshop events for Children, SEN groups, Adults and training to forest school providers. I now also work as a Guest Instructor for established schools and individuals teaching Primitive Living Skills.”
You can view more of Billy’s excellent work via his facebook page.
Skills you will learn
Over the course of the programme you will learn a range of skills, including…
Your day will begin with arrival at our woodland basecamp set amongst trees and wildflowers. From here Billy will introduce you to a range of cooking techniques you’ll be diving into as we prepare our feast together. You will learn how to source the right stones for hot rock cooking methods and you will dig a ground oven where our joint of meat will be roasted, along with a mix of vegetables, a truly ancient way of cooking.
Whilst our food is roasting away we will then work together to construct a Stone Age fish smoker, using natural materials. You will learn how this ancient way of cooking not only preserved food for our ancestors but gave it great flavours too. You will also learn how to prepare fish for cooking over the coals using the split-stick method, using a greenwood frame prepared with flint cutting tools and natural cordage.
During the afternoon, you will learn how to manage the four areas of a cooking fire and how they can be used for different mouthwatering results. With no kettles or billy cans to hand you will discover how our ancestors made water safe to drink by using hot rocks. You will take a foraging walk to identify and gathering native wild plants to make nutritious wild teas. You will gather, prepare and cook cat-tail roots, baked in the embers, a great source of energy and starch for ancient people.
The day will culminate in our Stone Age Feast as we sit together, sharing and enjoying all the wonderful foods we have made, just as our ancestors did for thousands of generations.
Billy will also be displaying a selection of his primitive skills crafts to inspire you including; natural containers, natural cordage, bone tools and stone edge tools.
Book now
This course costs £65 per person and is open to adult learners aged 16 years and over. If you would like to make a weekend of it then you could also book on to our previous day’s course Primitive Skills: Flint Knapping & Woodcraft. You will not only get a 10% discount when you book on both days but you’ll also have the option to camp overnight on the Saturday. Use code PRIMITIVEWEEKEND at checkout to claim your 10% off. You can read our Event Terms & Conditions here.
