Unlocking Hidden Heritage European Project
Slovakian Action -Split Wooden Shingle-Making
Dates: 13th May to 25th May 2008
Slovakia has the highest density of centuries-old wooden churches anywhere in Europe. Weathered, dark wooden shingles seem to ripple and flow, like snakeskin, over these organic-looking structures, mostly located in northeastern Slovakia. Roof shingles are a roof covering consisting of individual overlapping elements. Wooden roof shingles were lighweight, made with simple tools and easily installed. Traditionally, many houses in Slovakia were made using this method and this action emphasizes the significance of reconstructing Slovakian material culture.
The action
involved three days working in the Hervartov workshop and a further four
days spent fixing of shingles on the roofs at the Open Air Museums in Bardejov
Health Spa and Svidnik. To coincide with this, participants also took part
in the 'Archaeopark' fair where there was a reconstruction of an old Slavic
settlement during the 8th–9th century, featuring craftsmen – pottery
men, basket makers, woodcarvers, spinners, weavers, etc. There was also
a cultural programme featuring old traditional fighting techniques from
the Early Middle Ages.
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Shinglemaking
in Bardejov, Slovakia
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Programme of the UHH workshop in Slovakia
13th May - arrival day
14th May - How to recognise a tree suitable for shingle making? A short
trip to a forest to see the trees suitable for shingle making and explanation
why. Visit of Hervartov wooden church and the workshop, where we will work
for two days.
15th May - Practical lessons of wooden shingles making in a real workshop.
Splitting of logs and cutting shingles by two hands knives.
16th May - As above
17th May - Bardejov town, Museum of Icons, St.Egidius Church and the Main
Square (into the list of the UNESCO World Heritage.)
18th May - The Market Day in an Old Slavonic village (old crafts, old traditional
Slavic meals, traditional fencing group …)
19th May - practical lessons, how to fix wooden shingles on a roof in Bardejov
Health Spa
20th May - As above
21st May - practical lessons, how to fix wooden shingles on a roof in Svidnik
Open Air Museum
22nd May - As above
23rd May - As above
24th May - guided visit of the Open Air Museum in Svidnik with more than
20 about 100-years-old thatched wooden buildings (wooden shingles and straw).
Visit of the Death Valley, where 90,000 people died in the battle in the
end of the WW II.
25th May - we will participate the presentation of a very special celebration
(small festival) in Kosice, where Stropkov folk dance ensemble will participate;
the folk celebration and folk craftsmen will present their products including
presentation of the crafts. It starts (usually at 9.30) by a
procession of folk ensembles along the Main Street (pedestrian zone) of
Kosice. Later, they have performances on a wider part of the main street.
Kiosks of craftsmen, refreshment, etc. Kosice is the second the biggest
town in Slovakia (more than a quarter of million inhabitants).
Leaving day as well.
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Reports from the Action in Slovakia |
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British participants Patrick Robson and Richard Henderson
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Cesta
za starým a predsa nepoznaným |
