1st Exeter Dialogue with Science Workshop

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1 1st Exeter Dialogue with Science Workshop
Linda Hurcombe 1st Exeter Dialogue with Science Workshop Department of Archaeology University of Exeter

2 Experimental Archaeology: interacting range of approaches
Exeter Dialogue workshops Realistic experiment with many interacting variables: less intensive records but broadscale results Intermediate Highly controlled experiment: intensive record keeping giving detailed results 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

3 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

4 the methods and parameters of experimental archaeology
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

5 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

6 Lejre, Denmark

7 ? Experimental Archaeology Experimentelle Archäologie Archeologia Sperimentale Linda Hurcombe and thanks to Johanna Niederkofler, Katrin Chania,and Lara Comis for translations, opportunities and discussions

8 Evidence needs interpretation through theory Funde müssen mit Hilfe von Theorien interpretiert werden I fatti necessitano di interpretazione attraverso la teoria

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

10 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

11 ? Technologies Processes Social interactions Beliefs Concepts
Natural processes Techniken Prozesse Soziale Interaktion Weltsicht Konzepte Erhaltungs-bedingungen Tecnologia Processi Interazioni sociali Credenze Concetti Processi naturali

12 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)

13 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”

14 Sea trials – perhaps wet feet!
Testfahrt im Meer – keine Angst vor nassen Füßen! Test di navigazione in mare – piedi bagnati?

15 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

16 Construction techniques and weathering
Konstruktionsmöglichkeiten und Haltbarkeit Tecniche di costruzione e manutenzione

17 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

18 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

19 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?

20 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?

21 Are visitors to a traditional museum doing archaeology?
Are visitors to an experimental archaeology open air centre doing experimental archaeology?

22 Experimental Archaeology: interacting range of approaches
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 Realistic experiment with many interacting variables: less intensive records but broadscale results Intermediate Highly controlled experiment: intensive record keeping giving detailed results

23 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

24 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

25 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

26 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

27 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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