Back in Time

On Saturday we took the train to Eindhoven and then a bus to the open-air museum.  It has local buildings from before the Romans built a fort on the river there through the middle ages.  It was very hot, so the medieval family were all napping in the shade, but one of the men did show us how to use a bow and arrow.

Henry Draws his Bow

We saw smithies and bread ovens and looms for wool and linen and then we came upon a woman from Roman times washing the laundry.  She showed us how she used a plant called zeepkruid (soap herb) for soap.  William picked some from the garden and washed his hands with it.

Roman Soap

She showed us how to dig clay and make things with it and how gave us a tour of their house.  The family lived in one third of it and the cows and sheep lived in the rest of it.  She also showed us how to make spears and let us practice with them on a wooden target cut like a boar.

Grinding Spear Tips