Ancient Technology

The Quality of the Craft

Author(s)
Paul Eklöv Pettersson 1 ✉
Publication Date
EXARC Journal Issue 2013/1
In this study the sustainability of crucibles used during the Scandinavian Bronze Age is tested. Due to the crucible’s high or low sustainability the idea of it being a disposable object may be ratified or discarded. Earlier experiments focusing on the casting process in Scandinavian Bronze Age have concluded that crucibles such as the ones used during Bronze Age were disposable objects due...

Recreating the Fonseca Hairstyle

Author(s)
Janet Stephens 1 ✉
Publication Date
EXARC Journal Issue 2013/1
Roman women’s hairstyles of the late first century AD are notable for their voluminous frontal hair. Described by Juvenal as “tiers upon tiers” of curls (Sat. 6. 502-3), and by Martial as a “circle of hair” (Ep. 2.66.1) the development of this style is epitomized by the portrait of an anonymous woman known as the Fonseca bust...

What’s in an Experiment? Roman Fish Sauce: an Experiment in Archaeology

Author(s)
Sally Grainger 1 ✉
Publication Date
EXARC Journal Issue 2012/1

In the summer of 2009 I was engaged in the preliminary preparations for extensive experiments to manufacture fish sauces for my MA dissertation in Archaeology at Reading University. In my previous research into Roman food, it was clear that it was not going to be possible to truly understand ancient cuisine without...

Anatomy of Prehispanic Bells - Study of an Ancient Lost Process

Author(s)
Raúl Ybarra 1 ✉
Publication Date
EXARC Journal Issue 2012/1

The elaboration of bells in the Prehispanic Era was of great importance due to the special meaning attributed to them in religious ceremonies. Today, knowledge of the techniques that were used in their fabrication is scant and lacking in detail. For that reason, the objective of the present study was to carry out a morphological study of bells from western Mexico...