The EXARC Show

Dive into the fascinating world of experimental archaeology, where scientists, craftspeople, sound-experts, musicians, artists and re-enactors come together to recreate the past. They investigate human activities from a wide range of eras, areas and civilizations. Their work involves both the use of traditional materials and techniques but increasingly also modern digital technology. In each of these podcasts two experts from a particular field discuss their experiences, triumphs and tribulations. Each session is followed by a live Q&A session where listeners can join in to ask questions but also to share their own expertise. For more information, visit us at https://exarc.net.So far topics have covered ancient bread baking; the know-how required for skin tanning and antler work; sewing and embroidery techniques in the Middle Ages; the re-creation of ancient music and the recording and collection of soundscapes; the delicate act of interpreting history; and last but not least how current hot topics like sustainability and conservation impact on the practices of experimental archaeology.

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EXARC Extracts 2024/3

August 20, 2024 • EXARC • Season 2024 • Episode 3

The 2024/3 EXARC Journal brings you five reviewed and five mixed matter articles. All the articles are open access to allow for free exchange of information and further development of our knowledge of the past.

This time two of the reviewed articles come from the UK and one a piece from Greece, Norway and the United States. Each of the articles tackles a different topic. John Whittaker and Mary Jane Berman used microlithic flakes as teeth in a wooden grater to better understand the archaeological evidence of such teeth and also the processing of manioc. Sally Pointer’s project looked into the earliest soapmaking. Georgia Kordatzaki’s study assessed the impact of firing on burnished ceramic surfaces. Andrew Fitches and Ben Elliott’s article studies Mesolithic drilling methods and is based on a series of experiments, in which different techniques were used to drill holes in red deer antler. Antoinette Olsen tested a possibility of weaving eight end satin with five rods on a warp-weighted loom.

In the mixed matters section John Hill introduces the Nesshenge project, there is a review of Experimentelle Archäologie in Europa, Jahrbuch 2023.reports from the EAA Conference in Belfast in September 2023 and from the seminar: The Future of Experimentation – from experiment to new archaeological knowledge in Lejre Land of Legends in March 2024.An article on the RETOLD project from Museumsdorf Düppel talks about standardizing documentation of archaeological house reconstructions.

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Welcome to EXARC Extracts with me, Matilda Siebrecht, as we summarise the latest reviewed articles from the most recent issue of the EXARC Journal.

Hello and welcome to the third episode of EXARC Extracts for 2024. Our first peer-reviewed article is entitled Knowing the Drill: Investigating Mesolithic Perforation Technologies Through Experiment, Traceology, and Photogrammetry, written by Andrew Fitches and Ben Elliott. While it is widely understood that prehistoric European society had drilling technology, the authors argue that there have been relatively few studies that focus on an experimental approach to this technology. They therefore aim in this article to undertake a detailed experimental analysis of different methods of drilling holes in red deer antler, using flint drilling tools, specifically comparing hand drilling versus bow drilling - as well as certain other characteristics. The study had some really interesting results, and it also explored how photogrammetry could be used as a method for analysing technological traces of manufacture.

Next up is An Experimental Exploration of the Earliest Soapmaking by Sally Pointer. Similar to in the previous article, this study aims to shed more light on a topic that is so taken for granted that very little research has actually gone into it – in this case: soap! The author provides a summary of the earliest documented mentions of proto-soap, and presents an experimental study to test the consequent possibilities. It is a relatively short but pretty detailed paper outlining the experiments, and the directions for future research. If you want to hear more about this topic btw, the author also featured as a guest in our February episode of The EXARC Show podcast, so the monthly discussion series “#FinallyFriday”, so do go and check that out as well!

Our third article is For the Grater, Good (some great puns in the articles this issue!): The Value of Informal Experiments for Understanding Bipolar Flaking and Manioc Grater Teeth by John C. Whittaker and Mary Jane Berman. While the previous two articles aimed to provide a formal experimental outline for the investigation of their relevant technologies, this article goes the other way and aims to show the value of more informal experimentation. To demonstrate this, the authors share how a simple starting experiment that looked at exploring grater technology, consequently helped to understand the archaeological evidence of this technology found on San Salvador in the Bahamas. The article is not in a classic “methods” / “results” / “discussion” format, but aims to instead walk the reader through the process of the researcher in this more informal approach to experimental archaeology.

The next article is by Antoinette M. Olsen and asks the question: Is it Possible to Weave 8.end Satin with 5 Rods on a Warp-weighted Loom? This issue seems to have the perfect range of experimental approaches, because this article takes yet another angle to those before, and aims to explore the possibility of using a particular type of material with a particular type of tool. In this case, weaving 8-end satin with five rods on a warp-weighted loom. The experiment was prompted by observations made by the author while studying different weaving theories, and the lack of any reference to this particular method in historic or research sources. Another short paper, but one that will be of particular interest to our textiles specialists. (On that topic, don’t forget that we now have a textiles working group, which you can join by signing up to our free Discord server – all details on the website!)

Our final peer-reviewed article of this issue, from Georgia Kordatzaki, is another experimental archaeology project, entitled Approaching Pottery Burnishing through Experimental Firings. The author based their research on examples from prehistoric Greece, where burnished pottery has been widely identified. The aim of the study is to explore the different ways that such burnishing is produced, focussing on identifying the qualitative characteristics of the pottery surface, and comparing the effect of different firing types and clay types on the final burnishing. The article goes into a lot of detail on each part of the experiment, and also provides some really beautiful images showing the results.

As well as our peer-reviewed articles, we also have four unreviewed Mixed Matters articles. First up is a book review on Experimentelle Archäologie in Europa, Jahrbuch 2023, reviewed by Svenja Fabian. There is also an article written by John Hill on Nesshenge: an Experimental Neolithic Henge with 15 Years of Exposure. We also have an article on RETOLD: Unlocking the potential of archaeological house reconstructions by standardizing documentation in open-air museums – experiences from the Museumsdorf Düppel in Berlin, Germany, written by Julia Heeb and Svea Rӧbke. (If you’re interested in finding out more about the RETOLD project, you can still register for our upcoming conference in September on Digitalisation in Open-Air Museums. All details can be found on the EXARC website.) And finally, a conference review of EXARC at the EAA, Belfast, September 2023, written by E. Giovanna Fregni. And actually, if anyone will be at this year’s EAA, which is taking place next week (last week of August 2024), we will be having an EXARC meetup on Friday 30th in the evening, so check the website and our socials to see details of that.

So, a short but sweet issue this time. If you want to find out more about any of the studies mentioned in this episode, check out the latest edition of the EXARC Journal, which can be accessed online at exarc.net/journal. And if you’d like to discuss any of these articles further, please do come and join the EXARC Discord community server. It’s open to both members and non-members, and is completely free to join. I look forward to seeing you there!

This was EXARC Extracts. If you want to find out more about the research mentioned in this episode, check out the latest edition of the EXARC Journal, which can be accessed online at exarc.net/ journal.