EXARC Journal - Latest Articles

Obituary: Peter Kelterborn (4 July 1928 – 9 March 2017)

Author(s)
Kurt Altorfer 1
Publication Date
On 9 March 2017, Peter Kelterborn, Swiss civil engineer and experimental archaeologist closed his eyes for good at the age of 89. He was known to many of his colleagues through his well-researched works on prehistorical flint and rock technology, but also from his methodological scientific experiments in archaeology. Many cherished him as a modest and thoughtful colleague, friend and counsellor...

Beyond School - Workshops in Experimental Archaeology at the Museum (Romania)

Author(s)
Vasile Diaconu 1
Publication Date
Experimental archaeology, as an educational means, has become a particularly useful practice in museum institutions in Romania, although there is no tradition in this field. Here, we present activities of the History and Ethnography Museum in Târgu Neamţ, where several experimental archaeology workshops were organised for pupils aged between 9 and 12 years. Participants were introduced to the prehistoric technologies...

An Experimental Diachronic Exploration of Patination Methodology of Dark Patinated (Arsenical) Copper Alloys on Case Studies from the Eastern Mediterranean Bronze Age and Early Iron Age

Author(s)
Marianne Talma 1
Publication Date

Artificially dark patinated copper alloys appear in various times and regions and are commonly applied in prestigious polychrome metallic objects. Currently, the earliest finds known are from ca. 2000 BC in Egypt (See Fig. 1) and Palestine (See Fig. 2), followed by ca. 1500 BC in Greece and Cyprus (See Fig. 3 and 4) and again during the Roman period from ca. the late 4th century BC (See Fig. 5 and 6). 

The Experimental Building of a Wooden Watchtower in the Carolingian Southern Frontier

Author(s)
Imma Ollich-Castanyer 1,2 ✉,
Albert Pratdesaba 2,
Montserrat de Rocafiguera 2,
Maria Ocaña 2,
Oriol Amblàs 2,
M. Àngels Pujol 2,
David Serrat 2,3
Publication Date
10th EAC Leiden 2017
***During fifteen days of June 2015, the team of l’Esquerda worked in a research project to build a Carolingian wooden watchtower on the River Ter, in Roda de Ter, Catalonia, Spain. The idea was to test our hypotheses experimentally, (a) if the wooden watchtower could...

‘Re-rolling’ a Mummy: an Experimental Spectacle at Manchester Museum

Author(s)
Lidija McKnight 1
Publication Date

Introduction

The unwrapping and dissection of mummified bodies was a common practice in 19th century Europe. These autopsies were conducted as part of scientific endeavours and social spectacles, motivated by a desire to advance the fields of science, medicine and archaeology, coupled with a sense of macabre fascination (Moshenska, 2014). The scientific capability required to study mummified remains non-invasively had yet to be developed, leading to the destruction of many hundreds of specimens. 

Vacation in the Past - Effective Heritage Interpretation through Education

Author(s)
Réka Vasszi 1
Publication Date
2018 EXARC in Kernave
***Heritage sites are breathing memories from the past; however, visitors can hardly imagine or experience the ancient life on the spot. In fact, these visits are supposed to conjure up journeys back into the past and park managers should facilitate such experiences by the most effective means possible in order to help tourists gain...