book

Book Review: Fragments of the Bronze Age by Matthew G. Knight

Author(s)
E. Giovanna Fregni 1
Publication Date
In this book, Matthew Knight examines fragmentation of metal objects from hoards dating to the Bronze Age of South-West Britain, and uses experimental archaeology to better assess fragmentation and destruction. Fragmentation is the deliberate destruction of metal objects. Other forms of destruction can include bending, folding, or crushing objects so that they are no longer useable.

Book Review: Reality or Fiction?

Author(s)
Roeland Paardekooper 1
Publication Date
In October 2018, a conference took place in Southern Poland. It was attended mainly by people from Poland and Slovakia, but also included several EXARC members from abroad. The conference was titled “Archaeological Open-Air Museums: Reconstruction and Reenactment – Reality or Fiction?” which is also the title of this book which was published in 2022...

Book Review: Craft Sciences by Tina Westerlund et al (eds)

Author(s)
Duncan Berryman 1
Publication Date
This book sets out to bring the topics of craft science and practitioner-research to a wider audience and integrate them into current craft practices. This is a subject that has seen significant development in Scandinavia but is much less common in other parts of Europe. The essays gathered here present case studies from a range of different crafts, from woodworking and pottery to gardening and textile...

Making the Book of Kells

Author(s)
Thomas Keyes 1
Publication Date
This article gives a brief history of the context of the Book of Kells before summarising recent research into its material makeup. It then goes on to introduce a possible site of production that has been excavated in the Scottish Highlands, before introducing a project to recreate a folio from the manuscript as an experimental archaeology project.

Book Review: Investigations into the Dyeing Industry in Pompeii by H. Hopkins Pepper

Author(s)
Mante van den Heuvel 1
Publication Date
I was honoured to be asked to write a review on H. Hopkins Pepper´s “Investigations into the Dyeing Industry in Pompeii” as well as a bit nervous… Who am I, a non-scholar to write a review on a PhD. Then I realised that there might not be that many people who read this kind of literature for fun and on a regular basis. I still feel a bit like an imposter, but here is my view on the Hopkins´ book.

Book Review: MI-60. Studies in Experimental Archaeometallurgy: Methodological Approaches from Non-Ferrous Metallurgies by Georges Verly et al (eds)

Author(s)
Terry Runner 1
Publication Date
Issue 60 of Monographies Instrumentum, titled Studies in Experimental Archaeometallurgy, methodological Approaches from Non-ferrous Metallurgies, exhibits 10 papers presented at the first International Conference on Non-Ferrous Metal Metallurgy and Experimental Archaeology – Metallurgie des non-ferreux et archeologie experimentale ICA I. The conference was held at the Museum of Art and History...

Book Review: Visitor Experiences and Audiences for the Roman Frontiers by Nigel Mills (ed)

Author(s)
Jan Hochbruck 1
Publication Date
“Visitor Experiences and Audiences for the Roman Frontiers”, BAR Publishing - BAR International Series contains 14 papers presented originally at the Limes Congress in Serbia in 2018. The Limes made the headlines on a variety of occasions in recent years, being the most ambitious UNESCO World Heritage project in Europe. Not all of these headlines were positive...

Book Review: A Handbook for Women’s clothing, Northern Europe, 1360-1415 by Ahlqvist and Neijman

Author(s)
Catharina Oksen 1
Publication Date

The book gives a short historical overview of major events in the chosen area, followed by an informative chapter on colours, a likewise very competent chapter on fabrics, and one on sewing techniques. Then the dress parts are presented, with very clear and informative modern illustrations. The focus is on ordinary dresses, not the really posh ones.

There are no sewing patterns as such, but the experienced seamstress can easily transfer the small silhouette patterns to real patterns, or one can search the bibliography in the book for relevant publications.

Book Review: Experimentelle Archäologie in Europa, Jahrbuch 2021

Author(s)
Stefanie Ulrich 1
Publication Date
Annual Proceedings of the EXAR Tagung
***This volume – like many in the last two years – has been affected by the pandemic and EXAR waived the fee for many of the affected members. As always, the periodical is divided into three parts: Experiment und Versuch (experiment and testing, pp.10-78), Rekonstruierende Archäologie (reconstructive archaeology, pp.80-101)...

Book Review: Exhibition Catalogue on Experimental Archaeology by Mamuz

Author(s)
Roeland Paardekooper 1
Publication Date
The Mamuz Schloss Asparn/Zaya, Austria, is best known for its archaeological open-air site with reconstructed buildings and an active experimental archaeology program. In 2021, MAMUZ designed a traveling exhibition on experimental archaeology, in collaboration with EXARC, who assisted with the provision of experimental archaeologists. Therefore, many of the authors of the exhibition are EXARC members or had previously presented at EXARC conferences...