"The Infantryman as Beast of Burden": Examining the Load Carried by Roman Legions, Wellington's 'Ros-Bifs' and the 'Tommies' of WWI
From the 2nd century CE to the present day, most combat infantryman have been expected to carry a standard marching load of between 30 and 40 kilograms of weapons, clothing, kit and food. However much military technology has changed, the weight did not. Period artifacts will be used to answer the question "What did they carry and how did it help them survive?"
Speaker: Peter Monahan

A mixed bag

Love and Body Part: A Study on the Use of Body Parts in Love Magic in the Greek Magical Papyri, the Picatrix and the Munich Handbook
Abstract is forthcoming.
Crossbows, Class, and the Late-Medieval Military Revolution
This paper examines the rise of the crossbow as a weapon in the Central and Late Middle Ages, as well as its role in evolving class structures. The dominance of the crossbow in late medieval warfare is both symptomatic of and contributor to the decline of mounted aristocracy and rise of infantry-dominated mercenary armies. I also argue that it was the crossbow, not black-powder weapons, that drove the emergence of ranged infantry as the dominant unit on the field.

Speakers: David Porreca, Ph.D., Dylan McCorquodale

Archaeology and Experiment: Moving beyond the Artifacts

Turf to Tools: Ore to the Rhynie Man Axe The 'Turf to Tools' project undertaken in August of 2014 at the Scottish Sculpture Workshop bought together an unusual team of interested individuals. The outline of the project was to investigate nearby natural materials, utilizing regional ancient process, with the intent of replicating a specific local 'Pictish Late Iron Age' object. Iron was to be smelted using the distinctive 'Macaulayite' ore. The prototypes for the furnace were those uncovered at the Cuduthel site in nearby Inverness. The object was the axe seen on the Rhynie Man picture stone. As with any experimental archaeology, the end results of Turf to Tools are a blend of rewards and failures, and surprising directions for future research.
New Speculative Reconstructions of Viking Age Women's Clothing Informed by Finds from Revninge, Hårby, and Lejre Evidence for the overall look of clothing in the Viking Age is inconclusive. Recently, three figurines have been discovered which shed substantial light on the silhouette, layering, and structure. These figurines do not provide enough detail for confident reconstructions; however, by working through some possibilities on cloth, and comparing the results to these images and others, as well as to literary and archaeological data, it is possible to improve our understanding of the dress culture. These new finds reveal surprising details about the upper chest and arm regions. Each provides a previously rare front-view, giving new context for the vertical lines seen regularly in side-views. As a group, the outfits are very different from one another, providing a useful opportunity to recognize consistencies across divergent costumes. Particular attention will be paid to silhouette, construction, and outer garments.

Speakers: Darrell Markewitz, V.M. Roberts

Arms, Combat, and Tactics of the Viking Period
This session will overview the common arsenal of Viking warriors - from axe to sword, shield to helmet, and everything in between - as well as live demonstration of their use by the fighters of Torvik, a Toronto-based reenactment group part of Vikings Vinland.
Speaker: Torvik

Bone and Antler Carving (3 hours)
A advanced hands-on course in early medieval bone and antler carving techniques. Please bring your projects in progress and work with Steven on them in this session. The focus will be on improving your technique and consulting with an expert. Some bone and antler will be available during the course at a cost of $5 each but bringing a work in progress is a much better choice. Appropriate knives will be available for use, and can be purchased at a cost of $15 each. Other tools will also be available for use, again bringing your own hand tools is a better choice. Bone is a hard material, this course is not suited to children.
Class is limited to 6 people.   
Speaker: Steven Strang

Breathing new life into History; Museums and Re-enactors
An exploration of creative museums' uses of re-enactors and their craft. Battles, encampments and teaching- OH MY! This session will use case studies and examples to examine how museums are looking beyond the obvious partnerships and developing new approaches to programming using re-enactors and re-enactment techniques.
Speaker: Dave Cox

Brocaded Tablet Weaving (2 hours)
This class is for those individuals who have some experience with tablet weaving or who have attended the introductory class. A hands-on introduction of various brocading techniques used on tablet woven bands. Historical applications and designs will also be discussed. Observers are more than welcome. The second hour is optional and will be hands-on time for those who bring their own warp and cards.
Speaker: Rob Schweitzer

Candida Luna, an 16th Century Italian Renaissance dance
Description will be along soon
Speaker: Marc Collins

Castles and Siege Engines
The early French were building castes to defend themselves from the Vikings of Scandanavia who eventually became the Normans of northern France. It was these Normans that brought castle building to England in 1066. The Motte and Bailey was a common site in England from the invasion of 1066 to Williams death in 1087. Using slides, books and discussion we will explore these early castles, their future designs, how they were defended and how they were destroyed. To finish things off everyone will have a chance to fire a scale model of a medieval Trebuchet right in the classroom!
Speaker: Ian Walsh

Chainmail - Beyond the Basics (2 hours)
Beyond the basics: mail is the most versatile, flexible armour ever developed. Able to be shaped to every part of the human form mail can also be the basis for wonderful jewelry. In this class you will learn how to make the King Chain, French Rope, and Foxtail patterns. A basic understanding of chain mail is required. Bring two pairs of pliers. In addition to more complex patterns with standard rings this session will explore the use of smaller rings and precious metal rings in decorative patterns and jewelry. Bring two pairs of pliers.
Class is limited to 10 people.   
Speaker: Jerry Penner

Chainmail for Beginners
Imagine a shirt made of thousands of tiny metal rings, all linked together to form a cloth impenetrable by sword. Why was chainmail the ultimate armour for warriors for over a thousand years? Chain mail is so versatile it is still in use today. You can see it on divers in shark-infested waters and on the hands of your local butcher. While you learn to knit your own bracelet that you get to take home we'll discuss the historical background of this wonderful armour. Please bring two pairs of pliers.
Class is limited to 10 people.   
Speaker: Jerry Penner

Children: Cave Paintings
Children will have cave paintings history briefly explained and then get a chance to create their own. (all ages)
Speakers: Alex Di Paolo, Ashley Dafoe

Children: Charades
Students act out fun roles from history.
Speakers: Alex Di Paolo, Ashley Dafoe

Children: Games
Children play games where they try to pin the tail on the dinosaur, or use a softball to knock down a castle.
Speakers: Alex Di Paolo, Ashley Dafoe

Children: Hieroglyphs
Children will be able to write their name in hieroglyphs from a template. (ages 8 and up)
Speakers: Alex Di Paolo, Ashley Dafoe

Children: Movie (2 hours)
Group can chose between Hercules or Mulan (ages 7 and up)
Speakers: Alex Di Paolo, Ashley Dafoe

Children: Pottery Smash
Children will try to re assemble broken pottery (ages 8 and up)
Speakers: Alex Di Paolo, Ashley Dafoe

Chivalry and Masculinity
Although noble masculinity was undoubtedly filtered through the lens of chivalry, the collective weight of this paradigm upon men's actual practice and identity is debatable. This session explores the real world impact of the piety and romance championed by chivalric authors on the construction of masculinity in the late medieval world.
Speaker: Dr. Darrin Cox

Counted Cross Stitch - Learn to Make Your Own Heirlooms
A hands-on course in counted cross stitch for beginners and experienced stitchers alike. There will be a brief outline of the history of needlework from the days when stitching meant that you were a lady of leisure to a present day craft that is enjoyed by all. Each participant will make a Celtic bookmark. All supplies provided. Limited to those over 6.
Class is limited to 15 people.   There is a materials fee of $2 for this class.
Speaker: Ellen Mervin

Dances from Tudor England (Gresley Dances)
Dating from around 1500, the Gresley dances are the earliest known English dances. Rediscovered in 1996, these are fun, easy dances for groups of two and three. No prior dance experience is necessary.
Speakers: Richard Schweitzer, Sarah Scroggie

Dancing with Children
Learning Renaissance dance is easier than you think. Suitable for children of all ages (and adults with 2 left feet), we will be running through a dozen dances with lots of teaching on the fly.
Speakers: Sarah Scroggie, Richard Schweitzer

Development of the King Arthur Legends
Who was King Arthur? How did a snippet of historical record become the rich tapestry of legend we know today? This class will take a lively romp through 1500 years of literary history; come learn things you never would have guessed about Britain's favourite hero!
Speaker: Heather Dale

English 16th & 17th Century dances from the Inns of Courts
Dancing in English Law Schools was actively encouraged, and held in such high esteem that it was 'accounted a shame for an Innes of Court man not to have learned to dance, especially the measures'. In this class, students will be guided through several of these easy social dances by reviewing copies of extant student's 'cheat notes'.
Speaker: Marc Collins

European Dance - 15th Century Italian Dances
We'll look at a few fun and pretty dances from Italy. Open to all skill levels. No partners required.
Speaker: David Learmonth

European Dance - English Country Dances
Dating from 1651, these dances range from Elegant to Energetic, forming the basis of more modern square dance and country dance. Open to all skill levels. No partners required.
Speaker: David Learmonth

Evolution of lace
Or all the ways we've put holes in things, on purpose! This conversational and casual talk will look at a wide variety of lace and lacemaking techniques starting in the 16th century and moving forward a couple hundred years. We'll look at where they've come from and how they've changed depending on the whim and whimsy of current fashion. No lacemaking experience required, just an appreciation for the art of combining string and air.
Speaker: Heather Bogart

Experiment and Experience
Re-enactors, Recreation, Interpreting, Experimental Archaeology, experiential archaeology - so many words. Are they the same? After giving a base for comparison this session will explore the background of Experimental Archaeology. We will also spend time discussing how to turn your interests into an experiment.
Speaker: Neil Peterson

Forging the Viking Age
This lecture will draw upon professional Artisan Blacksmith Darrell Markewitz's almost 40 years of study into objects of the Viking Age. First will be a discussion of the materials available to the Norse iron worker, and how they differ from modern metals. Next there will be a consideration of forge, anvil and tools used by the ancient blacksmith. Finally, a number of individual objects will be examined, and some suggestions made about what physical techniques may have been used to forge them. Illustrated with artifact images and actual replica objects.
Speaker: Darrell Markewitz

Games Through Time And Place
Join Cole for a hands on exploration of the evolution of games from the Classical era through the Enlightentment. He will also discuss the development of familiar games from their ancient roots and how to interpret them for a variety of ages and audiences.
Speaker: Nicholas Cioran

Getting started re-enacting
Does the idea of reenacting interest you, but you're being kept away by the logistics of it? Does it look like it's more confusion and work than it is fun? Is it that you just don't know how to go about starting, and building up a set of starter equipment? A re-enactor with a few years' experience will shed some light on the process of starting out, sharing personal experiences with reenacting as well as advice he wishes he'd had, and inform newcomers about the kinds of skills they should know but might not expect, and things they should keep in mind as they proceed.
Speaker: Damien Coles

Gryphon Medieval Brass Rubbings (I)
Brass rubbing is a creative historical art form using Monumental Brass replicas of personages from Medieval Europe, black paper and gold or silver wax. Gryphon Medieval Brass Rubbings have 60 replicas, depicting celtic circles, celtic crosses, knights in full armour, kings, queens, lords / ladies in court or religious dress and other costumes, from which you may choose to make a brass rubbing. Each replica has a story to tell and as they say 'a picture is worth a thousand words'. You may take either brass rubbing session. It is not a two hour session.
Class is limited to 15 people.   There is a materials fee of $5 for this class.
Speakers: Alexis Cooke, Colleen Moynham

Gryphon Medieval Brass Rubbings (II)
Brass rubbing is a creative historical art form using Monumental Brass replicas of personages from Medieval Europe, black paper and gold or silver wax. Gryphon Medieval Brass Rubbings have 60 replicas, depicting celtic circles, celtic crosses, knights in full armour, kings, queens, lords / ladies in court or religious dress and other costumes, from which you may choose to make a brass rubbing. Each replica has a story to tell and as they say 'a picture is worth a thousand words'. You may take either brass rubbing session. It is not a two hour session.
Class is limited to 15 people.   There is a materials fee of $5 for this class.
Speakers: Alexis Cooke, Colleen Moynham

Hávamál: Viking Words of Wisdom
"Too much beer is not good", "Give gifts often" are just two of the many jewels of wisdom we will be dropping in this class. The Hávamál provides us a fascinating look into different levels of the viking world and the expectations, and cultural norms of a very complex society. Join us for a look at some of the lessons that can be taken home when the norse wisdom is revealed.
Speaker: Neil Peterson

History TV's Vikings and History's Vikings
The History TV show is quite entertaining and while it has more than a couple of inaccuracies it does blend history and drama in an interesting way. Join Neil for a hour of discussion on the history behind the drama. Be sure to bring your favourite bit and we'll talk about that as well.
Speaker: Neil Peterson

Introduction to Tablet Weaving (2 hours)
This is a hand's on practicum where participants will be taught the basics of tablet weaving. Tablet weaving is a narrow-band weaving technique that is commonly used for belts, straps and decorative edging on clothes. The technique (also known as card weaving) developed independently in a number of countries and has been used for over a thousand years. Participants will learn how to string their own bands and will learn a variety of pattern techniques.
There is a materials fee of $12 for this class.
Speaker: Rob Schweitzer

Law and Order: Ancient Peoples' Unit - Cancelled
For as long as there has been society, there have been those who violate society's rules. This session will explore constructs of crime and criminality in ancient Egypt, Rome and Mesopotamia, touching on offenses ranging from piracy to medical malpractice. How did these ancient societies define a criminal? What systems were in place to handle law enforcement and criminal judgment? More importantly, who were the people committing these crimes?
Speaker: Cancelled

Leadership, Volunteerism, and Living History
Join Cole and see what makes an effective leader in volunteer organizations that reenact or recreate history. This talk will include practical advice for developing leaders based on his recently completed Master's research on living history organizations.
Speaker: Nicholas Cioran

Morris Dancing
In this workshop we will present two styles of Cotswold Morris Dancing. This is a heavy participation workshop. Comfortable footwear is recommended. Styles demonstrated are the evolution of a living tradition of dance in England. Historical traces of the dance include arrest records in the 1300s and carbon dating of the Abingdon Horns to about 1000 years. Morris Dancing originating in the Cotswold wool market towns features steps and style details particular to each village. It was danced to mark the agricultural cycle of the year at various community events, but is now also danced year round. Typically, Cotswold dances feature long sticks or long hankies. We will demonstrate the styles of a few villages and teach you a dance from each of two of them.
Speaker: Roy Underhill

Naalbinding 101
This will be an introductory hands-on class aimed at beginners. Come learn the basics of naalbinding, ( sometimes called single-needle knitting ) a textile craft used in medieval times. We will cover a basic naalbinding stitch you could use to make a hat, socks or mittens. Some wool yarn and a wooden naalbinding needle will be provided, but feel free to bring your own wool yarn and needle if you have either.
Class is limited to 8 people.   
Speaker: Mark Patchett

Naalbinding 102
Part 2 of hands on naalbinding -- this class will cover more advanced stitches and tensioning techniques. We will cover stitches such as Oslo stitch and Mammen stitch. Some naalbinding experience, including naalbinding 101 would be an asset, but is not required. Some wool yarn and a wooden naalbinding needle will be provided, but feel free to bring your own wool yarn and needle if you have either.
Class is limited to 8 people.   
Speaker: Mark Patchett

Norse Ethnomusicology
This session will examine the sounds of norse culture through examining the archeological and literary evidence, and then speculate about what the music then tells us about the culture that produced it
Speaker: Richard Schweitzer

Norse Sagas - the Bloody, Bawdy and Bizarre
Written in the 13th and 14th centuries, the sagas provide a unique glimpse into the lives of the Norse people, their beliefs and customs. The sagas also record gory tales of slaughter, sexual exploits, and some of the strangest tales ever set to paper. This class is a survey of the bawdy, bloody, bizzare world of the Norse sagas and is not suitable for all listeners. Audience discretion is advised.
Speaker: Richard Schweitzer

Some bits are old, some bits are very old and some are not so old
Using this quote as its basis, this talk will present a travelogue through some of my favourite parts of the West of England, including Neolithic cysts and temples, Roman baths, Norman castles, deserted medieval villages, Tudor ships, Georgian spa culture and artifacts of the Industrial Age.
Speakers: Marcus Burnham, Kate Burnham

Steam Traction 101
Description coming soon
Speaker: V.M. Roberts

Sustainable Archaeologies from Sustainable Archaeology
Archaeology as a profession and as an industry has experienced dramatic growth over the last 40 years. This largely has come from the focus in archaeology at successfully recovering that portion of the record that otherwise would be destroyed by land development or resource harvesting. But the scale of this success has also undermined the stated aims behind conserving and advancing knowledge about the archaeological heritage, as the ever increasing archaeological record recovered from development lands degrades in basements and storage lockers. As a result, criticisms have emerged that this practice is increasingly less about recovering the past before it is destroyed, and more about consuming archaeology for personal livelihood and gain. The status quo of this practice becomes unsustainable. At Sustainable Archaeology we seek to shift that status quo in archaeological sensibilities. We do this by amassing the harvested record from Ontario and converting archaeological collections into digital information, facilitating online access for researchers, Descendant communities, and the public to interact with this information and undertake a range of unique research foci only available when such a broad record of human history across time and space is available in one place. A sustainable archaeology, then, seeks to counter the "over-consumption" and "under-digestion" of contemporary practice by continually generating value-added research from that harvested record, while also acknowledging that the broader social relevance arising from archaeological practice is shaped by those people who come together over this archaeological heritage, beyond the interests and agendas of archaeologists alone.
Speaker: Dr. Neal Ferris

The Gender of Dragons
Dragon lore exists in all culture and goes back quite far. However, one interesting concept of dragons is how they are most often depicted as hermaphrodites, having both male and female traits. This talk will start with a brief introduction of dragon lore, then will look at one well-known example in art history and then will end with a discussion on several well-known examples in movies, included the dragon from Shrek and from Game of Thrones.
Speaker: Debbie Kerkhof

The History of Falconry
This session will cover the history and romance of this socially classed sport. After the roots and history, we will discuss present day Falconry, regulations and some of the species of birds used in this sport. We will also talk about current organizations and clubs to connect members to those practicing this sport recognized by the World Heritage Association.
Speaker: Jackie Shute

Three Medieval Games
Come and try your hand at three of the most popular games enjoyed during the medieval period. You will get a chance to play Nine-Man-Morris (a capture game), Glic (a card game) and Alqurques (also a capture game).
Speaker: Todd H. C. Fischer

Three fingers hold the pen... (2 hours)
"Three fingers hold the pen, but the whole body labours" - a calligraphy and illumination demo and workshop.
These words describe well the world of the calligrapher, indeed any craftsman, who bends to his work, spending long hours often in discomfort, yet produces work of great beauty. This session will examine this aspect of the artisan's working process, a demonstration of the use of period tools and materials, followed by the classes' creation of an exemplar using modern materials. (An exemplar is a sample of text and possibly an illuminated capital used for copy work and to learn the handling of letterforms.) The session will examine the carolingian miniscule hand, and simple rubric illumination in the style of an english manuscript c.1300. The object will be to develop the qualities of the eye and the hand performing in tandem. The class will be exhorted to follow the hand and styling of the exemplar provided: it is by observation and direct copy that the basics are best learned.
Speaker: Scott Caple

Through a broken mirror: Game of Thrones and medieval history
This talk will examine how George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire novels and the HBO series Game of Thrones draw on medieval history as their inspiration. Though neither the novels nor the TV series are historical fiction, they reflect many aspects of medieval culture, often in very direct and "authentic" ways.
Speaker: Alicia McKenzie

Viking Wire Weaving (session I)
Formally called trichinopoly, learn to weave wire into interesting chains and see a little magic. All tools will be provided for the day. The two sessions are independant, you may attend either and do not need to attend both. Materials charge is for wire and handouts.
Class is limited to 6 people.   There is a materials fee of $2 for this class.
Speaker: Jean Ross

Viking Wire Weaving (session II)
Formally called trichinopoly, learn to weave wire into interesting chains and see a little magic. All tools will be provided for the day. The two sessions are independant, you may attend either and do not need to attend both. Materials charge is for wire and handouts.
Class is limited to 6 people.   There is a materials fee of $2 for this class.
Speaker: Jean Ross

Weaving with a Rigid Heddle - hands-on introduction (2 hours)
From the oldest bone or wooden tablets to the modern 'knitters loom' the rigid heddle provides a basic tool to aid weaving of narrow bands and softer fabrics. Normally used for plain weaving, a rigid heddle provides a simple way to separate a warp into fixed and moveable threads allowing interest to be added through use of colour, in stripes and through pick-up of individual threads to create a design. We will look at modern rigid heddle looms as well using a rigid heddle for backstrap weaving, and will give students a chance to try their hand at weaving. Some previous weaving experience is preferable.
Class is limited to 15 people.   
Speaker: Jo Duke

Contact us if you have any questions or suggestions