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Agenda

Agenda. Discuss term paper rough drafts and issues Experimental archaeology Ethics in archaeology: Preservation. Experimental Archaeology. The past in the present. Various approaches. Reconstruction Reenactment Actualistic studies Replication Adventure. Reconstruction.

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Agenda

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  1. Agenda • Discuss term paper rough drafts and issues • Experimental archaeology • Ethics in archaeology: Preservation

  2. Experimental Archaeology The past in the present

  3. Various approaches • Reconstruction • Reenactment • Actualistic studies • Replication • Adventure

  4. Reconstruction • Efforts to reproduce results or methods used in the past: • Example: ancient Roman iron forges • Example: reproduction of medieval siege machines • Example: reproducing construction methods for pyramids, standing stones, etc.

  5. Reproducing ancient iron smelting

  6. Reenactment • Recreating the processes that lead to the archaeological record. • Example: manufacturing stone tools, using them to butcher animals, analysis of residues, wear, and debitage. • Example: using replicas of ancient tools to enact ancient production methods.

  7. Experimental tools and animal butchering. Tools will later be studied under microscope for wear patterns.

  8. Burning a hut to study the deposits.

  9. Actualistic studies • Combines ethnographic, ethno-historical and archaeological analysis using modern groups for analogy. • Example: Study how modern Inuit hunt. Study the remains of hunting camps and butchering sites. Compare with ancient sites.

  10. Ethnographic: cultural analysis and interpretation (contemporary writings) • Ethno-historical : using historical models of past behaviors • Ethno-archaeology: using archaeology of modern peoples to model the past behaviors

  11. Cutting down a tree with a stone axe.

  12. Replicating ancient African iron forges.

  13. Replication • Use historical and archaeological data to replicate a technology and study its performance under test conditions. • Example: Greek trireme replication and sea trials • Example Kyrenia ship replica • Example: Sumerian beer based on 2500 year old recipe

  14. Kyrenia ship replica based on actual wreck remains.

  15. Siege engine based on Roman plans.

  16. Adventure • Reenactments of hypothetical events (particularly for events about which no data actually exists). • Examples: various voyages; Kon Tiki, Ra, Brendan voyage, Sinbad voyages, solar mirror cutting of Inca stonework, Nazca hot air balloon flights, search for “lost tribes”...

  17. Image from the book Aku Aku, by Thor Heyedhal

  18. Did the Nazca have hot air balloons? Dubious.

  19. Of scientific value...? • All have merit except the adventure approaches which serve to sell books and fire the imagination, but add little actual knowledge where needed most. (But it’s fun!)

  20. Example study from the field of Nautical Archaeology • This arena for experimental research is especially fruitful. • Example: Greek trireme... • Process

  21. Sources • Ancient texts • Statements by Herodotus • Classical Plays of Aristophanes • Art • Painted vases, mosaics • Archaeology • Ship sheds at Piraeus • Ship Slips at Melos • Excavation of contemporary merchant ship • Athlit ram (Roman)

  22. Sources continued • Ship facilities at Carthage (Libya) • Galleys of 13th-15th century Europe • Yet to be of value: discovery last summer of Byzantine galley, 10th century AD

  23. Assignment: Experimental Archaeology on the Web: Annotated • Internet search • Begin with the Easter Island Statue Project (EISP) url posted on course website. • Then, hunt down another website devoted to experimental methods. • Beware of pseudoscience sites.

  24. Assignment • Locate three websites the inform on experimental archaeology. • Record the URL • Briefly summarize the project and findings. • Evaluate: Was the work convincing or sufficient? Explain. • Hand in on March 20.

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