Stone Age Foraging Workshop
Sun Nov 10, 10:00 - Sun Nov 10, 15:00
Veld and Sea
ABOUT
STONE AGE FORAGING WORKSHOP
Based on her research on the diet of early humans in the Cape, Elzanne Singels has
developed this workshop to enable modern humans (you) to experience a day in the
life of our early ancestors. A guided walk, forage, cooking and stone tool production
exercise will show participants how early humans not only survived in the Cape, but
thrived, where the special plants and animals of this mega diverse region shaped
what our species came to be.
INTRO
The day will begin with a brief presentation of the recent evidence of early human
evolution in the Cape and how we understand they survived from the resources they
could hunt and gather. This presentation will include a brief showcase of the
important stone tools these people used.
WALK AND FORAGE
Then we will put this newly learnt information to the test, we will have a short walk
and gather food with stone age equipment, after which we will return to the Veld and
Sea cabin to cook and process this food using stone age methods.
WATSONIA PROCESSING
At the cabin the main activities will be to process the Watsonia corms into food and
glue, which will be accompanied with drinks for those that are thirsty
Fynbos Martini and G&T: Fynbos infused vermouth and gin drink will be served
Non-alcoholic options: Honeybush Iced Tea and Kombucha
With the fires already going, the Watsonia will be roasted for half an hour, after which
we will process them by removing the husks and expressing as much glue from the
corms as we can. This will be set aside. The corms will be ground into a paste and
set aside for the mash that will be served with mains.
LUNCH
The lunch will consist of a stone age meal with some modern additions to be cooked and enjoyed around the fire, followed by the last and much anticipated activity of the day: Composite stone tool production session.
Menu:
Starters (Vegan): Watsonia crackers (made from Watsonia flour using a stone age
method) and Veldkool hummus
Mains: Springbok fillet will be braaied and served with Watsonia mash and
fermented indigenous greens
Vegetarian/Vegan option will be available
COMPOSITE STONE TOOL PRODUCTION
The glue will be used to produce the composite tools that everyone gets to take
home. With the digging stick that everyone was given at the start of the workshop,
each participant will attach a stone flake to the tip of the stick with the Watsonia glue
and place next to the fire to roast. This process will be repeated many times until the
haft is secure. Everyone can check and reapply their own stone tool before it is time
to go home.
- What participants will need to bring:
Hiking gear - proper shoes, hat, sunscreen, water bottle
- What participants will be provided with
Booklet for the event which will include basic info on stone age hunter-gatherer life in
the Cape and the menu. Digging stick, that will later act as a haft for production of
composite stone tool, where they will be provided with stone flake to glue onto the
stick. They will take home the spear. Food and drink.
- What you will gain from the workshop
Understanding of what a day in the stone age life would have been like
Learn how profoundly important fynbos was in our species evolution
Learn how exactly the plants and animals of the Cape shaped what we are today
How stone tools were produced and used
How early humans cooked (without pots and pans)
What the real paleo-diet consisted off
Cost: R850 per person