Agenda

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Agenda

• Discuss term paper rough drafts and issues
• Experimental archaeology
• Ethics in archaeology Preservation

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Experimental Archaeology

• The past in the present

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Various approaches

• Reconstruction
• Reenactment
• Actualistic studies
• Replication
• Adventure

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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.

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Reproducing ancient iron smelting
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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.

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Experimental tools and animal butchering. Tools
will later be studied under microscope for wear
patterns.
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Burning a hut to study the deposits.
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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.

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• 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

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Cutting down a tree with a stone axe.
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Replicating ancient African iron forges.
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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

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Kyrenia ship replica based on actual wreck
remains.
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Siege engine based on Roman plans.
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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...

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Image from the book Aku Aku, by Thor Heyedhal
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Did the Nazca have hot air balloons? Dubious.
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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 its fun!)

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Example study from the field of Nautical
Archaeology

• This arena for experimental research is
  especially fruitful.
• Example Greek trireme...
• Process

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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)

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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

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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.

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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.