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What We Do
The AAF incorporates a wide range of topics. What are you interested in?
The Ancient Arts Fellowship is based around the period of British and Northern European history from about 700AD to the Battle of Hastings in 1066, focusing particularly on the Vikings, Saxons and Normans. We describe this as our "Core Period". However, we are quite open to members wanting to reenact other periods of history - for example, we have several people interested in the Crusades, and there have been a number of members talking about putting together some 14th Century kit. So whether your interest is in our Core Period or elsewhere, we will have something for you.
Events:
The Ancient Arts Fellowship hosts and attends regular events - small picnic feasts that everyone is welcome to, and big national gatherings of reenactors from all over the country. To see what is going on in the AAF world, take a look on the right-hand side of the screen to see the Calendar and Upcoming Events.
Also see the "regular events" tab at the top of the page for information about our weekly and monthly events.
If you would like to add an event to the Calendar, please see the Tutorials section of the site, or email the Editor.
Joining the AAF
Would you like to join the Ancient Arts Fellowship?
Training
AAF uses a safe yet active fighting style, which is both effective and looks good, drawing on both medieval manuscripts and personal experience. Fighting is open to people over 16, and under 16s must have parental supervision. Our fighting style is partway between a martial art, a physical hobby and a sport. While not as formal and structured as a martial art, it is less competitive than a sport. Safety is our primary concern. New combatants are taught to be safe first, and then progress to more advanced weapons, such as spears and two handed axes. We also wear amour to make fighting safer. It looks cool and is fun to make. If you are just starting, or just want to have a look, we can lend you all the equipment you need. Then, at workshops and craft nights, we can teach you how to make your own. See here for articles and information about our fighting style. For more information about fighting, please email our Chief Marshall at chiefmarshall@aaf.org.au |
Archery
Archery was an important part of Dark Ages warfare for all of the AAF’s core cultures. As a refection of this; several members of the club have purchased period bows and are currently exploring opportunities to train for archery on a regular basis. Archery is a safe, non contact sport that is open to all ages and is becoming a big feature of interclub events. We train with the Canberra Archers on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Sunday of every month, weather permitting, from 9am till midday. Field fees are $5 per session unless you are also a member of the Canberra Archers. We try to hold costumed shoots every couple of months; these will be advertised in the upcoming events section. If you don't have your own gear and would like to have a go please contact the Archery Marshall at archery@aaf.org.au so she can arrange for a bow to be available for you.
In the future we hope to organise intense archery weekend workshops in conjunction with Halfdan and the Bega Valley Archers with whom we have a close affiliation. See here for articles and information about archery. For more information about archery, email our Archery Marshall at archery@aaf.org.au. |
Armouring
The Ancient Arts Fellowship prides itself on making much of its own equipment at the various armouring workshops, held regularly at all times of the year. We can teach you how to make helmets, armour, shields and wooden chests, as well as using a lathe to make bowls and cups. We have a wide range of wood and metal working experience, and will soon have you dishing, raising and fluting with the best of them. We also have access to a forge, so if you have ever wanted to see a blacksmith in action, or learn how to do it yourself, come and see. We can teach you how to make knives, axes, spears and a range of other items. See here for information about how you too can make your own armour. For more information about armouring, email our Master Armourer at armouring@aaf.org.au |
Craft and Costuming
One of the many parts of what the Ancient Arts Fellowship (AAF) does is reaserching and creation of clothing in the same style as the people we are studying. There is something for everyone at a craft night. If your interests lie with sewing and crafts, we can teach and provide the equipment to make clothes in the style of the period, decorative edging (tablet weaving), cord making (troggle and snodgaffle) or even ancient styles of knitting using only a single needle (nalebinding). Also, if you are interested in leatherwork - making things such as pouches, shoes, belts and sheaths - we have a range of leather and leather working tools. In addition to all this, our members have dozens of books to research and get ideas from. See here for more about craft and costuming. Period clothing is one of the first things we encourage new members to make. |
Bardic
Performing in public may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it is certainly a lot of fun, and makes for an entertaining night's feasting. Here we have collected a selection of songs and performance pieces to share with our colleagues and friends.
See here for songs and performance notes.
Research
We try to be as historically accurate as possible in everything that we do. To this extent a lot of our effort is devoted to researching the period, using whatever resources are available to us.
Our main area of interest is Britain, circa 800AD - 1200AD, or the period known as the "Dark Ages". we focus on the Saxons, the Vikings and the Normans.
For more information about any of these subjects, please contact us