WP 5: Dialogue with Science

1. Miska Sliden Workshop on Experimental Archaeology Exeter, October 8th- 10th 2012 WP 5: Dialogue with Science Writing up ExperimentalActions: Museum´s point of view

2. WP Objectives • WP 5 will focus on experimental archaeology and how experiments can contribute to make the visitor experience at archaeological open air museums even better. • Large trans-national experiments are important, but there must also be a presentation aspect in the experiments (not just scientific value). • The experiments will be defined in cooperation with experimental archaeology experts and universities, so that the experiments of this project add value and are not just replications of previous experiments. Target groups: • Specialists from Universities and other academic institutions; archaeologists; students • Craftspeople • Visitors.

3. Whywedoit? • Experimentalarchaelogy is one of the ways of bridging the gapbetween ”ordinarypeople” and archaeological science and raisinginteresttowardsarchaeology. • Reconstructions and re-enacting play vitalroles in gettingpeopleinterested in pastcultures and thus, archaeology. • Thesethingsarecrucial for the success of archaeologicalopen air museums. • Weaim to study and learnabout the past as well as entertain the public, usingexperimentalarchaeology.

4. Experimental Actions • Archaeological remains and objects need to be interpreted to give meaning today. Experiments help people to understand how objects were made, how constructions looked like and how people acted in the past. • The partners will conduct experimental studies, including e.g. life experiments, event development with re-enacting activities, building reconstructions and artefact replication. • Documentation and experience sharing with other partners is of importance – with added value to visitors in mind. • Co-operation with experimental archaeology experts and universities. • Presentation aspect; experiments should have an impact on the visitor experience, or be used as visitor attractions by themselves. • Research and final publication (online) • Our objective is to get one step up in experimental archaeology. To get there, Exeter will produce an online booklet for partners to use.

5. Themes of ExperimentalActions 1) Everyday life of the past (Stone, Bronze, and Iron Age, Middle Ages) 2) Clothing 3) Tools & Processes 4) Architecture • Building with natural materials • Reconstructions of (pre)historic buildings • Maintenance of reconstructions

6. Tips to start with • Start with small and simple and move on to morechallengingexperiments • Do the planningduring the (s)lowseason • What to doyourself and what to outsourceordelegate to others? • Co-operationwithexperts outside yourorganisation (e.g. affiliatepartners) -> makeclearthatit´salsotheirduty to participateactively in reporting! • Involve university researchers and students (whenever possible)

7. Writingup the Experiments • The difficultthing is to decidewhat is an exp. action • Luckily, youcandiscussthesethingswith Linda now • Templatefound on the websitegives the outlines of what the reportshouldinclude: preparations, goals (possiblehypothesis), implementation, problems, goodpractices, and results. • It´seasy to comeupwith a reportwhenyouthinkaboutthesequestionsalreadywhenconducting the experiment • Makenotesduring the experiment • Startwriting the reporta.s.a.p. • Note: Using a translator is an eligiblecost in the project!

8. Uploading the report • The mosttime-consumingtask is to scale the photos doitbeforehand • Uploading: http://openarch.eu/ 1) ChooseAddcontent -> WorkPackageActivity • Cut & paste the textfromyourfile • Addphotos & relatedfiles (press release, pressclips etc.) • There is an onlinemanualavailable. It´seasy!

9. Examples of experiments done EXAMPLE 1: Primitive pottery making & burning Kierikki Stone Age Village, July 2011 • Designed and conducted Elsa Hietala and MiskaSliden • The goal was to try pottery burning on open fire and learn the process. http://openarch.eu/work-packages/activities/everyday-life-past-primitive-pottery-making-burning

10. Examples of experiments done EXAMPLE 2: Crafting a wooden anthropomorphic statue using wooden, stone and bone tools • Designed and conducted by TuukkaKumpulainen • The goal was to craft a wooden anthropomorphic statue using only Stone Age tools and to explore the demands of this activity on the tools and on the workers using them. http://openarch.eu/work-packages/activities/everyday-life-past-crafting-wooden-anthropomorphic-statue-using-wooden

11. Thankyou for yourattention!