Dover Boat: Boat 1550 BC Project Educational Activity

By Marion Green

Many KAS members will know about the 'Boat 1550 BC' project. Indeed, two gold ornament hoards from Aylesford held in the Society's collections form part of the project's travelling exhibition. Currently at Ename, Belgium, the exhibition moves on to Dover in July and members will then be able to see these in all their glory!

The Canterbury Archaeological Trust Education Service, supported by the KAS, is working with educationalists in France and Belgium on a number of forthcoming activities associated with 'Boat 1550 BC', including the building of handling kits and supporting learning projects for school children, students and teachers in all three participating countries. Liaising between three countries can be challenging, even with 21st century technologies and a mix of languages (but seldom Flemish) can result in some interesting communication at times.

In this year of the project one of the key education activities is to build the handling kits which will be part of the legacy long after 'Boat 1550 BC' has ended. The principal aims for the kit and associated learning activities are to encourage understanding about the Dover Boat and the Bronze Age and to develop cross-border communication between children, students and teachers.

To this end, in consultation with colleagues in France and Belgium, CAT and Canterbury Christ Church University Faculty of Education are writing the Boat Kit Teacher Guide. This introduces the Bronze Age to non-specialists through lesson plans and resources drawing on the Dover Boat discovery and others this side of the Channel. Adding to this are examples from our colleagues of Bronze Age discoveries in France and Belgium will result, we hope, in a unique 'Transmanche' teaching and learning tool.

Each Boat Kit will include a set of replica Bronze Age items to illustrate the culture and technologies of the time, the Teacher Guide, selected child-friendly items from the travelling 'Boat 1550 BC' exhibition along with some other items illustrating results of the project. There will also be some fragments of archaeological material (but sadly probably not Bronze Age) enabling young people to practise analytical skills and get their hands on some original finds.

While 'Boat 1550 BC' is principally an EU funded project, CAT Education Service activities are also supported by the Kent Archaeological Society.