Developing experimental approaches in archaeology

Research Projects
An experimental identity
Project staff
Events

This 1 year project, funded through the SHES 2007 Research Project Competition, is developing experimental archaeology at Reading, building upon existing expertise across SHES, developing methodologies and research collaborations, and generating future research grant applications and publications.

The project is focusing on the importance of multi-disciplinary, controlled, and replicable experimental research as a key component of human and environmental sciences through its contributions to the understanding of biological, chemical and physical processes, and the formation of material/sedimentary records. Within its initial phase, the project is undertaking pilot research to generate preliminary data sets, intended to support the future development of long-term projects appropriate to the timescales required by robust experimental research.

We are very keen that over the course of this year the project will engage staff from across the school, leading to future collaborations and new research, and hope that colleagues will find time to attend the various project events.

New Research Projects

We are currently running three small pilot projects:

1. Slope processes and the formation of the archaeological record (Hosfield): this project is concerned with the physical modification and dispersal of cultural materials in off-site settings, as these processes are a major influence upon the structure of the archaeological record and the nature of archaeological investigations.

Over a 7 month period (September-March) the pilot project will study the dispersal (transport, burial) and modification (breakage, abrasion) of replica lithic artefact scatters, pottery scatters, and animal bone material in a variety of topographic settings (e.g. variable-angle slopes) at the University's Sonning Farm site.

The project builds upon Hosfield's recent research into the fluvial modification of lithic artefacts which also highlighted a number of other factors (e.g. the nature of artefact 'supply' into fluvial systems from surrounding terrestrial landsurfaces) which require further study.

2. In situ preservation of biological evidence and artefacts (Bell): this project is undertaking a preliminary pilot study of previously uninvestigated soils and biota buried beneath the experimental earthworks at Butser and Fishbourne for 20 years, with specific reference to the in situ preservation of biological evidence and artefacts.

The project reflects the growing need for scientific research to underpin policies of in situ heritage preservation, arising from developments in Planning Policy Guidance, heritage legislation, and implementation of the Valetta (Malta) Convention. The Experimental Earthwork Project (Bell et al. 1996) and Danish research on burial environments within barrows has also shown that short- and medium-term experiments make a valuable contribution to this issue because many key changes occur rapidly after burial, prior to a state of quasi-equilibrium. Results from the Experimental Earthwork Project have also suggested that land-use factors (e.g. type/intensity of grazing) can have significant effects on soil chemistry and preservation properties.

3. Life-history of buildings and site-formation processes (Matthews, Nortcliff, Brown & Banerjea): this project builds upon recent geoarchaeological and palaeoenvironmental analyses which have highlighted a series of major problems in the interpretation of material assemblages, site-formation processes and settlement space. Most important is the wide range of variables (e.g. environment, human agency, materials, and timescales) that affect pre-depositional, depositional and post-depositional histories of micro-artefacts, sediments, plant remains and organic matter.

The pilot project seeks to identify these variables and design research strategies for their measurement and examination in future research, through inter-disciplinary and multi-proxy characterisation of experimental archaeological spaces and taphonomic processes.
This project is undertaking preliminary experimental analysis of sediments and organic remains, in crop-processing, food-cooking, and metal-working areas; animal pens; and comparative off-site controls including surface soils and moss-polsters. The work is being undertaken at Butser Ancient Farm, theLejre Experimental Center near Copenhagen, and the Peat Moors Centre.

The project will also develop and test new techniques, including the integrated analysis of phytoliths, pollen and calcareous dung spherulites, and 13C NMR and BCPA Black Carbon analysis to study the nature and taphonomy of organic matter.

Sampling a disused stable floor at the Lejre Experimental Center	Phytolith sampling of the floor of the Longbridge Deverell round house at Butser Ancient Farm

Onset of soil development in one half (the left!) of an animal pen floor due to partial roof loss (Lejre Experimental Center)

An Experimental Identity

To promote and develop our experimental research identity the project is running a series of events over the course of the coming (2007/8) academic year: please check below for news of upcoming events throughout the year. We hope that the project will interest staff and postgraduate students from across the School, and we look forward to seeing you at some of this year's events.

Key events for this year are:
• Experimental research seminars, promoting recent experimental research. Seminar dates and speakers will be posted here soon.
• Experimental research workshops, promoting the development and exchange of methodologies and research themes. Workshop dates and topics will be posted here soon.
• An Experimental Archaeology at Reading brochure, summarising preliminary results from the pilot projects, and results from completed experimental research in SHES. If you are/have been involved in experimental research within SHES and would be interested in seeing the work included within the brochure please contact Dr Hosfield.

Postgraduate Students: We are keen for the project to engage the school's postgraduate students with the experimental pilot projects and experimental research more generally, through the project brochure, this website, and the project seminars and workshops. If you are interested in the possibility of doctoral (or masters dissertation) research on an experimental topic please contact any of the project's academic staff (Bell, Hosfield, Matthews, Nortcliff).

Undergraduate Students: The project will also publish (through this website) proposals and guidelines to facilitate and encourage the greater use of experimental methods and approaches within undergraduate dissertations. If you are an undergraduate student currently (or considering) conducting experimental research as part of a dissertation topic you are also very welcome to attend the various project events.

For current Reading students, guidelines for the use of experimental archaeology approaches in dissertations and doctoral research can be found on  Current students and staff page

For non-Reading students, guidelines for the use of experimental archaeology approaches in dissertations and doctoral research can be found here.  Best practice in experimental archaeology - UK students.

Project Staff

Project participants include Dr Rob Hosfield, Prof. Martin Bell , Dr Wendy Matthews , Prof. Stephen Nortcliff ,Dr Alex Brown, and Rowena Banerjea

If you would like further details on the overall project or any of the events (e.g. the workshops, seminars, and project conference), or have any comments regarding the website, please contact Dr Rob Hosfield . For details on the individual projects (including ideas for future collaborations and grant applications), please contact:

• Dr Rob Hosfield: Slope processes and the formation of the archaeological record
• Prof. Martin Bell : In situ preservation of biological evidence and artefacts
• Dr Wendy Matthews or Prof. Stephen Nortcliff : Life-history of buildings and site-formation processes

Upcoming Events

Date	Time	Venue	Event
18th October 2007	1–2pm	Archaeology Atrium	Project Launch
22nd November 2007	1–2pm	Sorby Room	Peter Crow (Forestry Commission): Archaeological preservation in woodland soils: An experimental approach
22nd November 2007	5-6pm	Sorby Room	Peter Crow (Forestry Commission): The application of LiDAR to map the Historic Environment under woodland
29th November 2007	12.30–2pm	Allen Lab G08	Micromorphology Workshop
7th February 2008	1–2pm	Sorby Room	Dr Richard Brunning (Levels and Moors Heritage Officer): "Bad science but good fun. The value of informal experimental archaeology"
Thursday 17th April 2008	5-6 pm	Sorby Room	Dr David Sim. Title: "A Terrible Weapon: Did the Dacian battle scythe deserve its reputation?"
Wednesday 18th June 2008		Butser	A one day workshop and field meeting exploring means of promoting experimental approaches within archaeology

For further details contact Dr Rob Hosfield