While we were up in Scotland we visited Archeolink – a kind of archeology themed park which aims to inspire visitors to appreciate the dawn of Hibernian history and the techniques of archeology to boot.  Not a bad concept.

By and large, on our trip, we avoided the worst of the gloomy Scottish weather, but on Archeolink day it was gray and cool and drizzly.  Perfect for evoking the “mists of time” feel.

Iron age roundhouse

Bill had a grand old time running around and playing in the sand area designed to look like an archeological pit.   But until we wandered out of the stone age and into the techno-brightness of the iron age, we didn’t have the super fun that you might expect from a park dedicated to the geeky study of the long dead (hey kids, look at the excarnation stand).

But in the iron age round house, there were re-inactors or interpreters or whatever they call themselves.  And the round house itself was warmed by a fire with a pot bubbling (is that pot made of iron? is that eye of newt and wing of bat I smell cooking?)  It was smoky and the walls were decorated with ancient symbols.

The interpreters answered all our questions and prompted us to ask some more.   And then they asked if Bill wanted some facepainting.

He’s never had his face painted before, so he was highly dubious.  And in retrospect, why wouldn’t he b?  Strangely dressed women in a dark and slightly scary environment who want to do odd things to his face.

Apparently the interpreters are used to this sort of thing and they suggested that an adult go first.  Despite being in the presence of two loving parents and a doting grandfather no one sped to be the first.  Eventually, and opted against the traditional pictish blue for a lovely orange.  Simon explained that orange was the color of my University – Tennessee.

“We had a volunteer from Tennessee last year,” the face painter said.

“Well, it is the Volunteer State.”  I explained.

The other iron age lass did not seem to remember.  “Kyle – he was mostly Roman,” prompted the face-painter.

“Mostly Roman?”

“Yes, he came in and did his Roman thing.”

“That’s good, fun to be Roman…” I said.

“Oh no,” said the face-painter “Everything bad came with the Romans.”

“Indoor plumbing?” I suggested.

“Taxes and laws…” she said.

“To pay for bureacrats like me.”  I answered.

“It was the beginning of subjugation of women.” she replied.

Ummm, whatever (as if living in iron age Britain was a barrell of laughs for the ladies, as if no tribute was ever paid to the Chieftan) Anyway, my face was painted and then it was Bill’s turn.

Still a bit dubious

No Romans in the Round House

Daddy's turn

Volunteer war paint