Experimental archaeology updates

[sister_raphael]

Also on the To Do list is write up the rosemary charcoal experiment and put that online too. Good thing I have all month to do it!

Here's the crushed up rosemary which was charcoaled by my friend Mim Carrington. I used this at the 1300-1500 Collegium earlier in the year. The web page for the results is made, but the images aren't all edited or loaded up and I need to finish off the text.

If you'd like a sneak peek, the page is here: Richard Bancke's Rosemary Charcoal Powder Experiment.

Here are his instructions, and, as always, they're a bit scanty.

RYCHARDE BANCKES
A Boke of the propreties of herbes called an herball. "Here begynnyth a newe mater, the whiche sheweth and treateth of ye vertues & proprytes of herbs, the whiche is called an herbal"
London. Date 25 March 1525

"Also take the timber thereof [rosemary] and burn it to coals
and make powder thereof and put it into a linen cloth
and rub thy teeth therewith, and if there be
any worms therein, it shall slay them
and keep thy teeth from all evils."

I'll do a full post about it once I've caught up.

Comments

[siglinde999]

Mmm. Charcoal with a hint of rosemary in my mouth. That sounds worse than mint toothpaste (I loathe mint).