experimental archaeology
Shaping Minoan Clay Tablets and Hanging Nodules: Contributions from Experimental Research and X-radiography
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This paper investigates the potential for experimental archaeology and X-radiography to improve our understanding of the manufacture and use of two categories of prehistoric Cretan administrative clay objects: clay tablets and hanging nodules. The results are encouraging: the simple and three-fold tablet shaping techniques can be distinguished confidently, incised writing that was erased can, potentially, be made visible again and...
The Monoxylon Expeditions: The starting Points of a Nautical Archaeological Experiment
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The aim of this article is to present the starting points of the archaeological experiment named Expedition Monoxylon IV. The expedition, which took place in 2023, was an experiment with a replica of a dug out boat in the Aegean Sea. It followed up a series of earlier experiments (Tichý, 2016; 2020), one of which took place in the Western Mediterranean. Knowledge of the nautical characteristics of the three vessels and also their crews was gradually gained...
A Workflow Tool for Archaeological Experiments and Analytics
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This paper outlines the background to, and design of, a workflow tool intended to help plan and record archaeological experiments. The tool consists of a user-friendly interface for annotations and drawing flowcharts, and is being developed to work on smartphones, tablets and desktop computers. It is being written as part of a larger project aimed at creating a digital infrastructure that should make it easier for everyone involved in archaeology to share digital resources...
Event Review: Experimental Archaeology in Denmark 2024
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From the 8th to the 10th of November 2024, the Viking fortress Trelleborg welcomed researchers, students, and craftspeople for three days of celebrating experimental archaeology. This was the fourth annual meeting of “Eksperimentel Arkæologi i Danmark”(EAD) [Experimental Archaeology in Denmark], following the success of meetings at Ribe Vikingecenter...
Event Review: Vounous 2024
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The annual Vounous Symposium was once again held at the site of the Bronze Age cemetery in Çatalköy, Northern Cyprus, from 1-16 September. Over 60 artists and researchers from Europe and America participated in the event, recreating Bronze Age Vounous ceramics. As in past years, artists, craftworkers, and researchers gathered from around the world to participate and experiment with...
Experimental Recreation of a Pumpkin (Cucurbita spp.) Leather Mat
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The ethnohistoric record from the American Great Plains indicates that dried pumpkin (Cucurbita spp.) strips were often woven into mats as a form of food storage. This form of food storage was likely employed over large geographical areas and deep in time, but archaeological methods for identifying their production and use have been wanting...
Book Review: Experimental Archaeology: Reconstruction of Material Heritage of Lithuania, Volume I by Daiva Luchtaniene (ed)
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I am honoured to write a review of the book Eksperimentinė archeologija, Lietuvos materialaus paveldo rekonstrukcija, I tomas or Experimental archaeology, Reconstruction of Material Heritage of Lithuania, volume I; compiled by Daiva Luchtanienė. I have to admit that I know very little about Lithuania and their experimental archaeology and I was looking forward to learning more...
Book Review: Experimental Archaeology: Reconstruction of Material Heritage of Lithuania, Volume II by Daiva Luchtaniene (ed)
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Experimental Archaeology: Reconstruction of Material Heritage of Lithuania, Volume II, is an interesting journey back into the past by means of practical experimentations. An insightful volume that contains a collection of well-written and well-crafted essays exploring different facets of ancient life in Lithuania...
Cross-Contamination via Stone Tool Use: A Pilot Study of Bifacial Butchery Tools
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The pathogenic environment has been a constant shaping presence in human evolution. Despite its importance, this factor has been given little consideration and research. Here, we use experimental archaeology and microscopic analysis to present and support a novel hypothesis on the pathogenic properties of bifacial butchery tools...
Obituary: Andy Kurzweil (16 July 1945 – 13 March 2023)
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On March 13, 2023, my long-time friend Andy Kurzweil, fellow researcher and co-founder of AG Teerschwele (Working Group on Tar) at the Museumsdorf Düppel (Berlin-West Germany), died at home at the age of 78. I met him on my first visit to the Museumsdorf Düppel in 1977 at the tar production area, when I offered him my help...