REARC – Learning From Our Past... Looking To the Future

REARC is the conference on Reconstructive and Experimental Archaeology. These pages offer an archive of the REARC Conference from 2010 onward.

Photo Copyright: The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

The Reconstructive and Experimental Archaeology Conference (REARC) was formed as a sister organization to the Society for Primitive Technologies (SPT) in 2009. REARC was formed to provide an annual conference to align with the mission and purpose of the SPT which was to be a membership driven organization focused on publishing the SPT Bulletin. In 2012 the SPT was dissolved and REARC was re-organized as the Society of Experimental Archaeology and Primitive Technology (SEAPT) aligned with our sister organization (EXARC) in Europe to provide a common face for experimental and reconstructive archaeology.

Since its beginning in 2010 REARC has been North America's largest Reconstructive and Experimental Archaeology Conference. REARC held five conferences at the Schiele Museum of Natural History, three at Colonial Williamsburg and our most recent one at The Center for Historic Preservation at the University of Mary Washington & The Historic Ferry Farm Site. REARC conferences blend paper and poster sessions with hands-on experimental activity sessions to produce weekends well suited to all levels of academic and public involvement.

The REARC logo represents the cast, swing and flight trajectory of an atlatl spear as well as the recurve of a bow limb. It symbolizes REARC's mission to draw information from our shared human past as we aim toward the future.

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Venue: the Schiele Museum of Natural History, Gastonia, NC

Year No Papers / Posters / Workshops Participants Review
2010 REARC1 20 / 0 / 4 45 YES (Rev#1 and Rev#2)
2011 REARC2 10 / 4 / 5 plus 1 roundtable discussion 50 YES
2012 REARC3 9 / 1 / 5 60 YES
2013 REARC4 13 / 7 / 4 ? YES
2014 REARC5 20 / 0 / 4 ?  


Venue: Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, VA

Year No Papers / Posters / Workshops Participants Review
2016 REARC6 17 / 0 / 9 80 YES
2017 REARC7 15 / 0 / 8  68 YES
2018 REARC8 16 / 0 / 5 plus a Panel debate 79 YES


Venue: The Department of Historic Preservation at the University of Mary Washington & The Historic Ferry Farm Site – George Washington’s childhood farm, VA

Year No Papers / Posters / Workshops Participants Review
2019 REARC9 13 / 0 / 6 54 YES
2021 REARC10      

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REARC Committee

borderREARC is a 501c3 not for profit educational organization listed under Society of Experimental Archeology and Primitive Technology (SEAPT). border

Featured

Conference Review: Reconstructive & Experimental Archaeology Conference REARC 2019

Author(s)
Cameron Privette 1
Publication Date
REARC Conferences
***The 9th annual Reconstructive and Experimental Archaeology Conference, hosted by the Center for Historic Preservation at the University of Mary Washington and George Washington’s Ferry Farm in Fredericksburg, Virginia, took place between October 25th and 26th...

Conference Review: Reconstructive & Experimental Archaeology Conference REARC 2018

Author(s)
Susan Verberg 1
Publication Date
REARC Conferences
***The 8th annual Reconstructive and Experimental Archaeology Conference hosted by EXARC drew speakers and participants from many parts of the world. The REARC conference was once again hosted by Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia, from October 18-20th. Friday was reserved for the presentation of papers...

Conference Review: Reconstructive & Experimental Archaeology Conference REARC 2017

Author(s)
Mahala Nyberg
Publication Date
REARC Conferences
***There was something for everyone at the 2017 Reconstructive and Experimental Archaeology Conference, as it represented many aspects of experimental archaeology. The conference took place between the 16th and 19th of November, 2017, at Colonial Williamsburg in Williamsburg, Virginia. Although it was a small conference...

Conference Review: Reconstructive & Experimental Archaeology Conference REARC 2016

Author(s)
Christopher Menke 1,2
Publication Date
REARC Conferences
***The 2016 REARC conference hosted by EXARC in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia, from November 18th to the 20th, was an unforgettable experience. After a midnight drive and a short night's rest it was time to listen to papers. Everyone giving a presentation was incredibly knowledgeable and the passion they had for their topics...

Conference Review: Reconstructive & Experimental Archaeology Conference REARC 2013

Author(s)
David Wescott 1
Publication Date
REARC Conferences
***This article is republished from the Bulletin of Primitive Technology #46. The 4th Annual Reconstructive and Experimental Archaeology Conference was recently held in Gastonia, NC at the Schiele Museum of Natural History. The conference theme was Education and Reconstructive and Experimental Archaeology...

Conference Review: Reconstructive & Experimental Archaeology Conference REARC 2012

Author(s)
Darrell Markewitz 1
Publication Date
REARC Conferences
***The third annual Reconstructive & Experimental Archaeology (Re-Arc) Conference was hosted by the Schiele Museum of Natural History at Gastonia North Carolina, USA, 19-21 October 2012. Although the cost of the conference itself was minimal ($35 pre-registered, $20 for students) the large travel distances within North America always...

Conference Review: Reconstructive & Experimental Archaeology Conference REARC 2011

Author(s)
Mark Butler 1
Publication Date
REARC Conferences
***The second annual Reconstructive and Experimental Archaeology Conference was held at the Schiele Museum of Natural History, Gastonia, NC, 16-17 October, 2011 and was attended by over 50 participants representing at least 10 states, two countries and an unknown number of general museum visitors...

Conference Review: Report on the 1st Annual REARC Conference

Author(s)
Maria-Louise Sidoroff 1
Publication Date
REARC Conferences
***Mark Butler organized the First Annual REARC Conference, which was held on October 16-17, 2010 at the Schiele Museum in Gastonia, North Carolina. The conference was a great success. Dr. Ann Tippet, Schiele Museum Director, and Steve Watts, Director of Southeast Native American Studies (SENAS)...

Conference Review: The 1st Annual REARC Conference, Defining Reconstructive Archaeology for the 21st Century

Author(s)
Eric B. Marks 1
Publication Date
REARC Conferences
***The first annual Reconstructive and Experimental Archaeology (REARC) conference was held at the Schiele Museum of Natural History in Gastonia, North Carolina, October, 16 – 17, 2010. RE-ARC is the brainchild of Mark Butler, President of REARC, and eleven other individuals who comprise the Board of Directors...