Rebuilding the clay oven at Camp Virtus

Though out "Bread of the ancestors" project did not get funded by Com'On Cluj, we did manage to attract a consistent donation of wood and timber so we can proceed anyway! Thus this Saturday, September 17th, from 12 la 6, we will be at Camp Virtus again for a bit for experimental archaeology. We shall start with building the roof over the oven, as this will protect the structure from rain and too strong sun and will allow it to dry slowly and nicely.

Though not dressed up as Dacians or Roman, we will be glad to receive visitors and explain the experiment. You can volunteer to help, you can donate, or you can just check it out. The other attractions available are bow and arrow target practice and sales organized by our partners from Atelierul de istorie - unique handmade objects inspired by the Dacian and Roman civilization. 

 

Historical fun at the Dacian party

The Dacian party announced for the 20th of August at Camp Virtus, near Cluj, envisages lots of fun and competitive outdoor contests. One can shoot with the bow and arrow, try out the ancient sling, compete in arm wrestling while standing, pull the rope or even toss the caber. All activities are free of charge! Join the party to have fun, but also learn about the Dacians and ancient history in Transylvania. The event if family-friendly, as children can use less powerful bows, play ancient board games, or experiment being an archaeologist for the day - discovering mysterious artifacts that they can take home. See you at Camp Virtus next Saturday at midday!

 

Northern explorers at Camp Virtus

Our reenactment park Camp Virtus, near Cluj, has received the visit of a group of young northern explorers whom we dressed up as Romans and Dacians, checked their arrow shooting skills, and tough them hands-on about the past of Transylvania. Looking forward other organized groups of tourists, as we can explain everything in English as well! Contact us!

 

Dacian party

If on Sunday, July the 17th you are in Cluj and feel like practicing your bow and arrow shooting skills, trying the ancient sling, playing ancient games, or tasting food made according to an ancient Dacian recipe, then you should join the Dacian Party organized at Camp Virtus, near Cluj, in Salicea. We also speak English, so don't worry about than, or about the fact that you (yet) know nothing about the Dacians. Just find a way to get to Salicea, a bit out of town, from midday till six in the evening.

There is also a chance to win artifacts inspired by the Dacian civilization, provided by Atelierul de istorie.

 

Sheep and the Roman garden

Camp Virtus, the reenactment park in the making near Cluj (Romania), faces a tricky problem: sheep. Their presence was first noted when all the ivy planted along the fence has been completely eaten by the next morning. Traces of wool have then showed that the young shepherds do everything in their power (ruin the barbed wire fence and the gate) to get the sheep inside the camp. This proves very difficult for the planner Roman Garden, which now has to be fully enclosed with a wattle fence. While this enclosure is being made, through copious work and sweating, the Roman plants grow in exile, on my balcony: mustard (just producing hairy pods), sage, coriander (with a rather unpleasant taste), laurel, and ivy. Just hope they will adorn the actual garden, soon!

the garden

mustard pods

sage

mustard

coriander

 

Testing the ancient bread oven

Now that the bread oven replica at Camp Virtus has dried in the sun, we wanted to go to the next level. The first step was to correct the cracks that had appeared in the body of clay - as the composition was certainly uneven [see the entry on how it was built] and the exposure to the sun one sided. After these have dried as well, the Roman-inspired oven was fired, noting some persistent cracks where smoke escaped.

The final step was to actually try and bake some bread, to see if the heat was indeed enough for the process. Due to bad weather conditions, we used aluminum foil instead of cabbage leafs or anything more antique. We were also short of the appropriate wooden tools, thus the embedded cord that we used to pull the bread out of the oven.

The result was not bad, the bread loaf a bit undone in the center, but that can be easily fixed with a bit of experience in baking times and procedure. We'll be having practical workshops soon!

 

Beautiful young Dacians and Romans

During the special education week "Scoala altfel" hoards of young Dacians and Romans took part in the reenactment workshops organized by VIRTVS ANTIQVA near Cluj-Napoca, at Camp Virtus. The youngsters were able to try on costumes and pieces of arm and armor typical to ancient Roman soldiers, gladiators, and Dacian warriors, learned how to shoot with bows and arrows, trained the ancient way, and had fun discovering the secrets of perfume making, toilet using, and status display during Antiquity.

Building a Roman bread oven

 There will be no art making this week as my hands are all stiff and cut - but it was worth it! Last weekend I was out at Camp Virtus for a load full of experimental archaeology. The project envisaged building a bread oven inspired by ancient Roman models (archaeological, from ancient depictions) using only local materials - clay, sand, straw, water, and twigs. 

The Roman clay oven mid-way

 It took seven people one full day to complete it (with the rocky base done during previous sessions), it ended up a bit asymmetrical, and we have not yet had the chance to test it - the clay oven must dry slowly and then be slowly fired before having the first test bread baked inside. 

But we had fun building it and solving the practical issues along the way. Not sure our colleague who contorted his body inside the oven during the construction had as much fun, but that's reenactment, it takes sacrifice!

 

Branding - CAMP VIRTUS

We've had trouble finding a slogan in Romanian for our reenactment park Camp Virtus. It is intended as a theme park (historical), but it is not a park per se (though it will have a Roman garden). It is not an entertainment venue, as it is more educational in nature (though there will be reenactment shows). It is not at Antiquity park, as we might organize presentations of other historical periods and even other types of events all together (fairs, concerts). Even more, the term reenactment is not well known in Romanian and might not get the message through to all types of intended public.

When words fail, we turned to images - of activities and facilities on site. What do you think? Suggestions are welcome, as we are not PR specialists, but mere reenactors :) For more info on the Camp, see our website HERE.

 

Reenactment park near Cluj

VIRTVS ANTIQVA NGO has launched the website of their reenactment park in the making - Camp Virtus. The site is located 8 km from Cluj-Napoca, by the village of Salicea. It will have special areas for arrow shooting, Roman games, presentations of ancient equipment and costume replicas, an arena for shows (amphitheater-like gladiatorial shows, religious ceremonies, Roman dances and various types of entertainment), a Roman garden, ovens and kilns of different types (for cooking, for pottery, a forge), and replicas of ancient dwellings. Stay tuned for the grand opening! And you may also support the initiative, there are various way to do that - see HERE.