ARCHON Summer School: Experimental Archaeology – 21-23 August 2023

Date: 21-23 August 2023

Location: Symposium: Cultural Heritage Agency, Amersfoort; Workshop days: Masamuda, Vlaardingen and preHistorisch dorp, Eindhoven

Credits: 2 EC

Abstract

Experimental archaeology can be a powerful tool for interpreting the past. It is for example often used in the creation of reference collections to study micro-wear traces and technological aspects of flint tool production. The method can be applied to all materials which were used in the past, from bronze tools and ceramics to animal skins and plant fibers. Yet, at present experimental archaeology is not being taught as an independent course in Dutch universities. Therefore, this summer school aims to introduce students to experimental archaeology. Participants will be introduced both to the methodological and scientific aspects as well as the practical aspects in the field. The summer school will consist of three days: a one day symposium followed by a workshop day on prehistoric technology in Masamuda (Vlaardingen) and on the third day we visit a 14^th century living experiment in the prehistoric village in Eindhoven. The summer school is a cooperation with the NWO-project ‘Putting life into neolithic houses’ by the Leiden University.

Learning goals

After the event the participants of the summer school are able to set up an archaeological experiment themselves. They know what conditions must be met for an archaeological experiment to be of scientific value, how they can use experimental archeology for their own research and they have thought about how they can involve the public in their experiment. The participants will also increase their knowledge about the way objects are made and used by means of prehistoric technology.

Assignment

1 EC is for ARCHON members attending the conference and handing in a reflection report afterwards.

2 EC is for attending the full summer school program including the background reading and handing in the report (see below).

Students read mandatory literature before the event. The literature is needed for the preparation on both assignments.
Students need to do an assignment on designing an experiment related to the theme of the workshop they attend. They need to think about what you need to conduct the experiment, what you need to document it, and which variables you need to document in order to create useful data with the experiment. Students will receive the assignment in advance which include, besides instructions, also suggestions for research questions. It is however also possible to choose a research question of your own as long as it is related geographically and temporally to the Vlaardingen Culture (Van Gijn and Bakker 2005). It is advised to make a draft version of the assignment in preparation of the summer school so that the workshop on the second day can be used to ask questions and maybe even do some small tests (if there is room for that) related to their research question.
Students need to prepare two questions for the discussion with Yvonne Lammers-Keijsers on the topics of the scientific value of living experiments and/or the involvement of public in experiments.
Students need to write a report containing both assignments including an introduction stating the reason why they attended the workshop and a reflection on what they have learned and how this might be useful in their own research.

Preliminary Program

21-08-2023: Symposium

10.00-10.30 Annelou van Gijn: Experimental archaeology in theory and practice: exploring past technology

10-30-11.00 Yvonne Lammers-Keijsers: Live report from the fourteenth century – how to engage the broader public, craftspeople and scientists in a medieval setting

11.00-11.30 break: coffee/tea

11.30-12.00 Mans Schepers: Testing hypotheses and dewilding the past: arable farming on salt marshes

12.00-12.30 Simone Bloo: Reconstructing the people behind the pot by means of a sherd

12.30-13.30 lunch

13.30-14.00 Lucy Kubiak-Martens: Porridge and mushes in the European Late Neolithic culinary tradition

14.00-14.30 Noora Taipale: Role of experimental archaeology in functional studies

14.30-15.00 break: coffee/tea

15.00-15.30 introduction to the visit to Masamuda (Vlaardingen) and the preHistoric village (Eindhoven) (other symposium participants can leave during the break)

22-08-2023: Workshop day

There are 3 different workshops with different themes:

Basketry and textile production with plant fibers
Building a Neolithic shelter
Cooking (using different techniques, edible plants and animal parts)

Each workshop can accommodate approximately 6 participants for one day. The workshops are aimed at exploring prehistoric techniques and how these can be used in experiments.

23-08-2023: Visit 14^th century living experiment

We will visit Yvonne Lammers-Keijsers in the preHistoric village/Museum Eindhoven where she is doing her living experiment in the 14th century. Entry for participants of the summer school is free. She is able to tell everyone on location what she’s been doing and the things she learned/and problems she encountered.

Registration: Registrations for the full 3-day program are closed.