Ancient Technology

This article examines the art and craft of flintknapping and how the OpenArch project has influenced the way in which this specialized body of craft-knowledge can be most efficiently presented to the public, but additionally—and more importantly—how making the most of teaching opportunities can convey a deeper interpretation to the museum-goer...

Analysis of plant remains and soils collected during excavations of the Iron Age and Roman Period salt production site at Stanford Wharf Nature Reserve on the coast of Essex have shown that saltmarsh plants and adhering sediments had been used as fuel to evaporate brine and crystallise the sea salt.

The relative rarity of textiles in the archaeological record makes this a fascinating area of research not least because the technology is well understood but also because, in many cases, little changed over time. Traditional methods of felting, spinning, weaving and sewing are commonplace activities undertaken by many amateurs and professionals worldwide...