Experiencing archaeology by experiment - Experimental Archaeology Conference

There is a growing trend among archaeologists to re-create
artefacts and actions at a 1:1 scale in order to answer questions
and gain new insights into the past. In November 2007, the
University of Exeter hosted a one-day conference on experimental
archaeology, and it was soon discovered that experience is a key
issue in understanding the use of materials and past processes.
Papers presented in this volume consider both theoretical issues
and practical case studies. The scope ranges from skinning
animals or dyeing wool the Roman way, to producing sound with
flint tools, carving stone on Chalcolithic Cyprus, or casting
bronze objects both as art and science in Ireland. The eight
chapters in this book demonstrate the myriad possibilities of
archaeology by experiment. Experimental archaeology is
multi-disciplinary by nature, with examples from anthropology,
ethnography, taxidermy, finite element analysis and manufacturing
systems theory all being present in this volume. Not only does
this sub-discipline have a colourful and meaningful past, but it
will surely have a significant future.