Experimental Archaeology

An Experimental Programme for the Collection and Use of Retouching Tools Made on Diaphyseal Bone Splinters

Author(s)
Millán Mozota Holgueras 1 ✉
Publication Date
EXARC Journal Issue 2013/2
The present work presents the results of 38 experiments of bone fragmentation and blank collection, together with 177 experiments of retouch. In the first series of experiments, the fragmentation step was executed by massive percussion using macro-lithic tools...

Testing a Reconstruction: A Frosty Week in a Viking Age House

Author(s)
Kristiina Paavel 1 ✉,
Viire Pajuste 1,
R. Rootslane 1
Publication Date
EXARC Journal Issue 2013/2
In the summers of 2010 and 2011, an archaeologically inspired Viking Age horizontal log house with a two-layer split plank roof, clay floor and a dry-stone stove without a chimney was built in Rõuge, Estonia. In the winter of 2012 (30 January 2012 - 05 February 2012) a one-week living-experiment was organised to test the building...

Fire and Bone: An Experimental Study of Cremation

Author(s)
Christophe Snoeck 1 ✉,
R. J. Schulting 1
Publication Date
EXARC Journal Issue 2013/2
7th UK EA Conference Cardiff 2013
***Many bone fragments have been burned in controlled laboratory conditions but few have been burned on outdoor pyres. In order to study and understand cremated bone, it is crucial to conduct experiments in real environmental conditions. In this study several cremations were carried out outdoors...

Let’s Build a Medieval Tile Kiln - Introducing Experimental Archaeology into the University Curriculum

Author(s)
Gaynor Wood 1 ✉
Publication Date
EXARC Journal Issue 2013/2
7th UK EA Conference Cardiff 2013
***As a lecturer at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN) I teach a course on medieval archaeology and run a successful programme in designing exhibitions for local museums and community groups. I also encourage my students to take part in the community archaeology and history projects...

Lithic Experiments in Rescue Archaeology: a Case from Southern Norway

Author(s)
Svein Vatsvåg Nielsen 1 ✉,
J. Åkerstrøm 1,
T. Vihovde 1
Publication Date
EXARC Journal Issue 2013/2

To test whether or not the form of the discovered quartz was a result of prehistoric technological choices, a fracture analysis on collected vein quartz from Aust-Agder County was conducted1 . Lithic experimentation is traditionally associated with either institutionalized academic research or post-production phases of excavations.

Experimental Lime Burning Based on the Findings from the Roman Empire Period

Author(s)
Richard Thér 1 ✉,
David Maršálek 1
Publication Date
EXARC Journal Issue 2013/1

In 2006 the remains of two lime kilns from the Roman Empire period were discovered in Tuněchody near Chrudim in the Czech Republic. These finds became the object of a detailed multidisciplinary research project resulting in hypotheses on the use of the kilns. Based on these hypotheses experimental research was designed (Thér et al. 2010)...

Results of a Discussion on the State of Experimental Archaeology in Switzerland

Author(s)
T. Doppler 1,
Stefanie Osimitz 1 ✉,
Kathrin Schäppi 1
Publication Date
EXARC Journal Issue 2012/3
On 27 March 2010, the board of the Working Group on Experimental Archaeology in Switzerland (AEAS-GAES) invited a panel of experts to hold a public debate in Olten on whether the incentives that had existed at the time still played their part, how they were now constituted and what the future perspectives were...

Scandinavian Iron Age and Early Medieval Ceramic Moulds - Lost Wax or Not or Both?

Author(s)
Anders Söderberg 1 ✉
Publication Date
EXARC Journal Issue 2012/3
1999 Wilhelminaoord Workshop
***Since the 1940s we have had a discussion in Scandinavia concerning ancient mould-making methods. The question of different methods in the production of ceramic moulds has taken a large part in these discussions; by lost wax or by direct matrix-methods...