The wicker man

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The experimental cameo in the Anglesey programme featured a dramatic reconstruction of a wicker man – the concept of creating a combustible structure in human form, thought to have been used in Iron-Age pagan ritual.

The 1973 film The Wicker Man, starring Edward Woodward and Christopher Lee, turned the ritual into a cinematic spectacular. But who could build a wicker man today? Time Team managed to find a modern day reconstruction specialist, David Freeman, who was able to construct a model of what an Iron-Age wicker man might actually have looked like.

David has years of experience in archaeological reconstruction work, from the fantastic buildings of Butser Ancient Farm to projects with textiles and pottery. He has also built the odd 40-feet wicker man in the past. He spoke to the Time Team website about this reconstruction.

What was the thinking behind the cameo?
The Romans attacked Anglesey because, they said, it was a stronghold of the druids. In other writings the Romans describe the druids practising human sacrifice, with Caesar saying: '…Others have effigies of great size interwoven with twigs, the limbs of which are filled up with living people, which are set on fire from below, and the people are deprived of life surrounded by flames…' So that's what it was all about.

What materials did you require?
There was an internal frame composed of two tree trunks, with the surrounding body woven out of willow rods. The materials had been sourced on Anglesey, from managed plantings. The timber was kindly donated by the Merick Estate.

What tools did you use and were they historically accurate?
We used hand tools to construct the wicker man. The main one was a billhook, very similar in shape and size to finds from the Iron Age.

What were the main steps in the process?
The main frame was erected by digging the butt-ends into the beach. The rest of the body was woven and tied around the frame. All lashings were done with strips of bark from the willow rods.

What was the hardest part of the reconstruction?
Because of the high winds, the most difficult part was getting the head up the ladder (yes, they had ladders in the Iron Age) and fastening it onto the frame. We ended up with help from the land owner using his tractor, which had a hydraulic bucket on the front.

Would you change anything if you did the reconstruction again?
The frame needed to be further into the sand. The rain, wind, and tide combined to make the whole thing a little unstable, but it was interesting. Thanks to the team for letting me join in with one of the Time Team episodes.

David Freeman's website is at www.gallica.co.uk

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