Experimental Archaeology

Hay is for Horses: Making and Using a Traditional-Style Irish Straw Harness

Author(s)
Rena Maguire 1 ✉,
Robert Johnston 2
EXARC Journal Issue 2024/2
The lack of metal lorinery in the archaeological record of early medieval Ireland is addressed through a hypothesis that post-Iron Age bridles were made of straw and rushes, which did not survive deposition. Reconstruction and testing of a straw bridle show the material to be strong and quite suitable for vernacular use.

The production of Roman metal screw threads - extended version

Author(s)
David Sim 1 ✉,
Chris Legg 2
EXARC Journal Issue 2024/2
During the Roman period, small metal screw threads were used both as fastenings and to impart motion. This paper, which is an extended version of my previous article, will show that it is possible to produce metal screw threads using very simple technology. The tools and expertise to carry out this work is...

An Experimental Approach to Baking Ancient Roman Placenta

Author(s)
Jake Morton 1 ✉,
Ellen Schlick 2
EXARC Journal Issue 2024/2
Cato The Elder (234-149 BC) wrote our oldest extant work of continuous Latin prose, On Farming (de agri cultura), a how-to guide for farming and life that also included many recipes. We were interested in the section on bread recipes in this text, particularly the recipe for the complex, layered placenta due to...

Cross-Contamination via Stone Tool Use: A Pilot Study of Bifacial Butchery Tools

Author(s)
Alexander Whitehead 1 ✉,
Anthony Sinclair 2,
Christopher Scott 2
EXARC Journal Issue 2024/2
The pathogenic environment has been a constant shaping presence in human evolution. Despite its importance, this factor has been given little consideration and research. Here, we use experimental archaeology and microscopic analysis to present and support a novel hypothesis on the pathogenic properties of bifacial butchery tools...

Experimental Approach to Flint Shaft Mining: Understanding the Extraction Process and the Technical Gesture at Casa Montero (Madrid, Spain)

Author(s)
Marie-Élise Porqueddu 1 ✉,
Nuria Castañeda Clemente 2,
Javier Baena Preysler 3
EXARC Journal Issue 2024/2
Since prehistory, human populations have developed specific knowledge related to the excavating and exploitation of underground resources. These abilities are reflected in the tools used to extract and process raw materials and the use of specific architectural expressions such as rock-cut tombs...

Experiments on Painting Viking Age Woodwork

Author(s)
Nanna Friis Hellström 1 ✉,
Anna Vebæk Gelskov 1,
Sofie Louise Andersen 1,
Henriette Lyngstrøm 1
Publication Date
EXARC Journal Issue 2024/1
Traditionally, studies on Viking Age pigmentation have focused on the minerals used to produce colours. The research conducted in this article concerns other factors, that might have influenced painted wood such as surface treatments, outlines, and paint components...

An Experimental Reconstruction of Hair Colours from the Jin and Tang Dynasties (265-907 AD) in China

Author(s)
Bangcheng Tang 1 ✉,
Yan Xue 2,
Yijie Yan 2,
Bo Yuan 2
Publication Date
EXARC Journal Issue 2024/1
Hair colours, as a daily cosmetic used in ancient Chinese life, often appear in ancient Chinese medical books, according to types, and can be classified into herbal hair colours and mineral hair colours.

Scraping Seal Skins with Mineral Additives

Author(s)
Lasse van den Dikkenberg 1 ✉,
Diederik Pomstra 1,
Annelou van Gijn 1
Publication Date
EXARC Journal Issue 2024/1
Neolithic scrapers from the Vlaardingen Culture (3400-2500 BC) display a variety of hide-working traces, amongst which traces interpreted as being the result of contact with dry hide. It has been suggested that, potentially, some of these implements were used to scrape fatty hides with mineral additives. Therefore, a series of experiments...

Historisches Handwerk L. Intichar (AT)

We provide demonstrations of historic crafts at medieval fairs and sometimes schools.

We provide demonstrations of historic crafts at medieval fairs and sometimes schools. Our current main focus is textile dyeing. Trained in history and archaeology, we started historic craft demonstrations as spare time activity and in order to not lose contact with our academic professions. Demonstrating historic crafts has also been a preferred way to continue the focus on experimental archeology developed during studies.