1st Exeter Dialogue with Science Workshop

Department of Archaeology

University of Exeter

Linda Hurcombe

8.10.2012

Experimental Archaeology: interacting range of approaches

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Exeter Dialogue workshops• Not one conference but series of workshops

with small numbers• Preferred time of year – Autumn and late

Spring • Explore theories and methodologies • 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

?Experimental Archaeology

Experimentelle ArchäologieArcheologia Sperimentale

Linda Hurcombe and thanks to Johanna Niederkofler, Katrin Chania,and Lara

Comis for translations, opportunities and discussions

Evidence needs interpretation through theoryFunde müssen mit Hilfe von Theorien

interpretiert werdenI fatti necessitano di interpretazione attraverso

la teoria

Artefacts but what about the peopleFunde von Dingen – aber was wissen wir über ihre Nutzer?Oggetti – ma dove sono le persone?

Experimental Archaeology

Research method and Educational toolForschungsmethode und LehrmittelMetodo di ricerca e strumento didattico

Like all science: experiments investigate theories and show possibilitiesWie überall in der Wissenschaft: Experimente dienen zur Überprüfung von Theorien und zum Zeigen von MöglichkeitenCome ogni scienza: gli esperimenti esplorano teorie e mostrano possibilitá

?

• Technologies• Processes • Social

interactions• Beliefs• Concepts• Natural

processes

• Techniken• Prozesse• Soziale

Interaktion• Weltsicht• Konzepte• Erhaltungs-

bedingungen

• Tecnologia• Processi • Interazioni

sociali• Credenze• Concetti• Processi

naturali

Actualistic studies: real life and people Aktualistische Studien: wirkliches Leben, wirkliche MenschenStudi 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” BootBarca 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, UKConceived as 20 year research project also open to the public20 Jahre Forschung, für die Öffentlichkeit zugänglichUn progetto di ricerca di 20 anni e aperto al pubblico

Construction techniques and weatheringKonstruktionsmöglichkeiten und HaltbarkeitTecniche di costruzione e manutenzione

Farm as complex system: land, crops, animals, buildings, storage and peopleBauernhof als komplexes System: Land, Feldfrüchte, Tiere, Gebäude, Vorratshaltung, MenschenInsediamento rurale come un sistema complesso: terra, coltivazioni, animali, costruzioni, stoccaggio e persone

Experiments storing grain in pits: grain is good for food and seedExperimente zur Vorratshaltung von Getreide in Erdgruben: geeignet für Verzehr und AussaatEsperimento sullo stoccaggio del grano in fosse: utile sia per utilizzo alimentare sia come semente

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?

Using stone toolsVerwendung von SteinwerkzeugenUtilizzo di strumenti litici

Issues in experimental archaeology

• 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

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Experiment - a scientific investigation

contributes to archaeological research issues or the means of communicating these issues

Experience - participation in an action or within an environment

can contribute to research and to effective public engagement and education

Demonstration - showing a process

Usually contributes to communication, public engagement and education

Experimental Archaeology: interacting range of approaches

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Experimental Actions: strengths in Archaeological Open Air Museums

• 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

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Experimental Actions: weaknesses

• 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

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What do we mean by a dialogue with science within Openarch?

Framing investigations in the scientific way to

advance archaeological researchand improve the visitor experience

Products: Book• 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

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