Linda Hurcombe
8.10.2012
st
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Exeter
Dialogue with Science Workshop
Department of Archaeology
University of Exeter
Experimental Archaeology:
interacting range of approaches
Exeter Dialogue workshops
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Realistic experiment with many interacting
variables:
intensive
records but
Not one conference
butless
series
of workshops
broadscale results
with small numbers
Preferred time of year – Autumn and late
Intermediate
Spring
Explore theories
andcontrolled
methodologies
Highly
experiment: intensive
record keeping giving detailed results
Present case studies
Develop areas of interest
1st Exeter Dialogue with Science Workshop
•Planning for these was begun with all Openarch partners in Modena in
April where pedagogical and methodological issues were the preference
•designed as ‘dialogue with science’ (Work Package 5) so methodologies
and writing up issues covered.
take advantage of current and planned projects, location etc so site visits to
the boat project and to St Fagans
•help information exchange between partners and Exeter staff + students
• the project stresses transnational experiments and experimental actions
•experimental actions are written up as project outcomes
Linda Hurcombe
Introduction:
the methods and parameters of
experimental archaeology
What do people mean by experimental archaeology?
The strengths and opportunities of experimental archaeology
What do we mean by a dialogue with science within Openarch
What do people mean by experimental archaeology?
•A scientific approach to testing theories based on archaeolgical
evidence such as artefacts (Exarc definition)
•Experimental archaeology is the investigation of archaeological
issues using experiments (Hurcombe).
• Archaeology by experiment (Coles)
•Public perception can be living history, re-enactment, theme park
Lejre, Denmark
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Experimental Archaeology
Experimentelle Archäologie
Archeologia Sperimentale
Linda Hurcombe
and thanks to Johanna Niederkofler, Katrin Chania,and Lara
Comis for translations, opportunities and discussions
Evidence needs interpretation through theory
Funde müssen mit Hilfe von Theorien
interpretiert werden
I fatti necessitano di interpretazione attraverso la
teoria
Artefacts but what
about the people
Funde von Dingen –
aber was wissen
wir über ihre
Nutzer?
Oggetti – ma dove
sono le persone?
Experimental Archaeology
Research method and Educational tool
Forschungsmethode und Lehrmittel
Metodo di ricerca e strumento didattico
Like all science: experiments investigate theories and
show possibilities
Wie überall in der Wissenschaft: Experimente dienen
zur Überprüfung von Theorien und zum Zeigen von
Möglichkeiten
Come ogni scienza: gli esperimenti esplorano teorie e
mostrano possibilitá
?
• Technologies
• Processes
• Social
interactions
• Beliefs
• Concepts
• Natural
processes
• Techniken
• Prozesse
• Soziale
Interaktion
• Weltsicht
• Konzepte
• Erhaltungsbedingungen
• Tecnologia
• Processi
• Interazioni
sociali
• Credenze
• Concetti
• Processi
naturali
Actualistic studies: real life and people
Aktualistische Studien: wirkliches Leben,
wirkliche Menschen
Studi realistici: vita e persone reali
Ethnoarchaeology (marginal environments)
Ethnoarchäologie (Randgebiete menschlicher Besiedlung)
Etnoarcheologia (ecosistemi e societá marginali)
Experimental archaeology (lab or field)
Experimentelle Archäologie (im Labor oder im Feld)
Archeologia sperimentale (in laboratorio o in campo)
Build the boat with bronze age
tools, oak trees, and yew withies
Bootsbau mit bronzezeitlichen
Werkzeugen, Eichenholz und
Eibenschößlingen
Costruire la barca con strumenti
dell’etá del Bronzo, quercia e
polloni di tasso
sewn plank boat
c 2000 BC
“genähtes” Boot
Barca in tavolato
“cucito”
Sea trials – perhaps wet feet!
Testfahrt im Meer – keine Angst vor nassen Füßen!
Test di navigazione in mare – piedi bagnati?
Butser Iron Age Farm, UK
Conceived as 20 year research project also open to the
public
20 Jahre Forschung, für die Öffentlichkeit zugänglich
Un progetto di ricerca di 20 anni e aperto al pubblico
Construction techniques and weathering
Konstruktionsmöglichkeiten und
Haltbarkeit
Tecniche di costruzione e manutenzione
Farm as complex system: land, crops,
animals, buildings, storage and people
Bauernhof als komplexes System: Land,
Feldfrüchte, Tiere, Gebäude,
Vorratshaltung, Menschen
Insediamento rurale come un sistema
complesso: terra, coltivazioni, animali,
costruzioni, stoccaggio e persone
Experiments storing
grain in pits:
grain is good for food
and seed
Experimente zur
Vorratshaltung von
Getreide in
Erdgruben: geeignet
für Verzehr und
Aussaat
Esperimento sullo
stoccaggio del grano
in fosse: utile sia per
utilizzo alimentare sia
come semente
Using stone tools
Verwendung von
Steinwerkzeugen
Utilizzo di strumenti
litici
to compare wear traces; but what materials and what tasks?
Vergleich von Abnutzungsspuren – aber von welchen
Materialien und welchen Vorgängen?
Per confrontare i segni d’uso: ma con quali materiali e quali
obbiettivi?
Issues in experimental archaeology
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Short vs long term
Public presentation
Publication (amateur and researcher)
Expertise; materials
Variables; controls; replication
Relevant records
A dialogue with science? Or a tableau?
Are visitors to a traditional museum doing
archaeology?
Are visitors to an experimental archaeology
open air centre doing experimental
archaeology?
Experimental Archaeology:
interacting range
of approaches
Experiment
- a scientific
investigation
contributes to archaeological research issues or the means of
communicating theseRealistic
issues experiment with many interacting
variables: less intensive records but
broadscale
results
Experience - participation in an
action or
within an
environment
Intermediate
can contribute to research and to effective public engagement and
education
Highly controlled experiment: intensive
record akeeping
giving detailed results
Demonstration - showing
process
Usually contributes to communication, public engagement and
education
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Experimental Archaeology:
interacting range of approaches
Realistic experiment with many interacting
variables: less intensive records but
broadscale results
Intermediate
Highly controlled experiment: intensive
record keeping giving detailed results
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Experimental Actions: strengths in
Archaeological Open Air Museums
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Space: inside and outside
Time: longevity; many days per annum and multi-year projects
Diversity: each has different climate, soils, ‘time periods’
People:
staff researchers/presenters/volunteers
public of all kinds - families and children!
Living settings: interactions between tasks/spaces/people/seasons/crops/animals
Tools/structures – performance and maintenance until exhaustion
Depositional processes and formation/survival of archaeological evidence
Sustainability and climate change agendas
Experimental Actions: weaknesses
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Use of Space: needs to be in keeping with period and safe for public
Time: –longterm commitments need to cope with many people or change in
personnel
Diversity: no clear patterns
Staff /volunteers – need to do their job not make records
public - difficult to keep records comparable and record the diversity of
participants
Living settings: interactions between
tasks/spaces/people/seasons/crops/animals – reasoned guess
Tools/structures – performance and maintenance until exhaustion – may not
be truly comparable to past practices
Depositional processes and formation/survival of archaeological evidence –
changes can be exponential and influenced by sporadic events
What do we mean by a dialogue with science
within Openarch?
Framing investigations in the scientific way to
advance archaeological research
and improve the visitor experience
Products: Book
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3 fold approach - taking account of who is designing and recording the
experiment and its intended publication route
Examples of good practices on the methodology of experimental archaeology
for different contexts and across different subjects
Examples of recording methods – easy to use or to adapt