Past Projects
Past Projects |
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The Highland Fling
October 16-November 2, 1998 Urquhart Castle, Scotland A group of some 35 U.S. timber framers and another 15 of their European counterparts traveled to Inverness, Scotland, Oct. 16 to participate in building authentic replicas of a medieval siege engine called a trebuchet. The project was filmed by NOVA/WGBH Boston for NOVA's Secrets of Lost Empires series, shown on public television in the U.S. and Channel 4 in the U.K. The program is planned for airing in the spring of 2000. (Photo credit: Peter Bull) BackgroundGreat medieval castles still stand as a testament to the fearsome nature of siege warfare. The thick stone walls appear impregnable even today. Without cannon fire at their disposal, how did 13th century attackers' lay siege to these formidable fortresses? They relied on trebuchets. A massive wooden structure, the trebuchet is built in proportion to the length of its longest piece — the throwing arm. The long throwing arm harnesses gravity to fling huge stone missiles with enough speed, accuracy and power to knock down a castle wall . . . at least according to medieval manuscript accounts. NOVA's goal was to test out the validity of these claims. The project took place in the shadows of Urquhart Castle, overlooking Loch Ness in Inverness, Scotland. Over a 15-day period, in a field adjoining the castle, the volunteer timber framers built two full-size trebuchets of competing designs, with an international team of engineers and medieval historians contributing their expertise. In constructing these machines, NOVA hoped to demonstrate the tools and techniques available to a 13th century carpenter. The final test was knocking down a masonry replica of a castle's curtain wall. Please read our report to find out how the project turned out. Preparations Before ArrivalArrival Work Begins Tuesday, Wednesday Thursday Our Trip to Stirling Castle Progress Saturday - Monday Work Continues to Assemble & Raise - Tuesday, Wednesday Melting & Pouring Lead: Thursday Raising the Sides: Friday Halloween at the Castle Launching! Launching Again & Departure! Reprise & Update from Ed Levin 
Group Photo & Participant ListDramatic Photos The British Are Coming! Touring Around the Scottish Highlands Photos from Karl Brandt Mike Goldberg's Journal Mike Goldberg's Journal Continued 
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 One of 2 trebuchets built successfully in Scotland.
The group. 
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