Mesolithic

Conference Review: Reconstructive & Experimental Archaeology Conference REARC 2013

Author(s)
David Wescott 1 ✉
Publication Date
EXARC Journal Issue 2014/2
REARC Conferences
***This article is republished from the Bulletin of Primitive Technology #46. The 4th Annual Reconstructive and Experimental Archaeology Conference was recently held in Gastonia, NC at the Schiele Museum of Natural History. The conference theme was Education and Reconstructive and Experimental Archaeology...

Conference Review: 8th Experimental Archaeology Conference, Oxford 2014

Author(s)
E. Giovanna Fregni 1 ✉
Publication Date
EXARC Journal Issue 2014/1
EAC Conferences
***The conference unofficially began in the Royal Blenheim pub at 6 pm on Thursday evening. Conference staff and attendees filtered in throughout the evening eventually filling the back room. The pub had excellent food and a good variety of local ales. Those who managed to brave the flooding introduced themselves and got to know...

Reconstructing a Prehistoric Fish Trap

Author(s)
Eva IJsveld 1 ✉
Publication Date
EXARC Journal Issue 2014/1
OpenArch Dialogue with Skills Issue
***Fish traps, still in use all over the world today for catching fish and crustaceans, have been used by mankind at least since the Mesolithic period. Their shape at that time is quite well-established, suggesting that they may have originated even earlier. This type of fish trap is made up of two elements...

Living Museum of the Mbunza (NA)

Member of EXARC
No

As with all Living Museums in Namibia the main focus of the Mbunza Living Museum is to provide visitors to the museum with a detailed and authentic insight into the traditional, pre-colonial culture.

The Living Museum, situated at the Samsitu Lake, is a traditional village of the Kavango, who have lived in this area for centuries. The village has been built entirely from natural material and the actors of the Museum carry clothes made from self- tanned, with Mangetti nut oil refined leather. The outfit actually had to be reconstructed from old photographs.

Living Hunter’s Museum of the Ju/’Hoansi, Xa Oba (NA)

Member of EXARC
No

Apart from getting to know the fascinating ancient culture of the Ju/’Hoansi, native to the Kalahari desert for thousands of years, experiencing a real hunt with hunters from the Living Museum is the focal point.

Here the traditional bow hunt with poisoned arrows, the digging out of spring hares and porcupines, the snare catching of guinea fowls, khoraans and other birds for the daily hunt for food has never been terminated. The San living in this area are actually the only ones of their cultural group that are officially allowed to still hunt traditionally. Thus they still master the art of reading tracks and are delighted if visitors show special interest herein. The opportunity for visitors to be able to take part in such a hunt is also unique.

Living Museum of the Damara (NA)

Member of EXARC
No

Together with the Bushmen the Damara belong to the oldest nations in Namibia. Their original culture was a mixture of an archaic hunter-gatherer culture and herders of cattle, goats and sheep. Due to their loose social structures the Damara were not able to defend themselves against aggressors during the colonization of Namibia. This is one of the reasons why their culture has to a great extent fallen into oblivion.

Within the framework of the Living Museum of the Damara an attempt was made to reconstruct the “lost culture” of the Damara. Here the visitors have the unique opportunity to get to know the fascinating traditional culture of the Damara, thus contributing to the preservation of the culture as well as to a regular income for the Damara community that built the museum.

The museum is member of the Museums Association of Namibia; the LCFN is member of EXARC.

Living Museum of the Mafwe (NA)

Member of EXARC
No

The Living Museum offers visitors an interesting insight into the life of the Mafwe. The Living Museum is an authentic open-air museum where guests can learn a lot about the traditional culture and the original way of living of the Mafwe.

They demonstrate and describe everything with great dedication and the guide translates into english. Almost every offered program is interactive, because it is also great fun for them when the visitors try to weave a traditional net or taste some of the offered meals.

The museum is member of the Museums Association of Namibia; the LCFN is member of EXARC.

Living Museum of the Ju/‘Hoansi - Grashoek (NA)

Member of EXARC
No

The Living Museum of the Ju/'Hoansi-San gives visitors an interesting insight into the life of the San. The Living Museum is an authentic open-air museum where guests can learn a lot about the traditional culture and the original way of living of the San.

The Ju/'Hoansi demonstrate and describe everything with great dedication and the guide translates into english. Almost every offered program is interactive, because it is also great fun for the Ju/'Hoansi when the visitors try to shoot an arrow, experience the special Ju/'Hoansi rope skipping or try to sing an original song.

The museum is member of the Museums Association of Namibia; the LCFN is member of EXARC.