THE ancient art of charcoal burning is being rekindled this bank holiday weekend.

Expert David Hutchinson will build and burn an earth-mound kiln on the North York Moors, a skill that has not been used for at least a century.

Mr Hutchinson, of the Yorkshire Charcoal Company, in Scarborough, is working with volunteers and archaeology students from Bradford University.

He said: "For thousands of years charcoal has been made in earth kilns, producing the fuel that lifted mankind out of the Stone Age.

"Without charcoal we wouldn't have been able to smelt the metals that helped transform early man into the technological man we are today."

Charcoal is made up of almost pure carbon which does not biodegrade and is found on most archaeological digs, which is why the students are taking part.

They will be learning about what happens to the wood and the ground around the kiln during the burn. Magnetic surveys will also be carried out.

The event takes place until Tuesday, on National Trust land below the Bridestones at Low Staindale on the Forest Drive.