Late Middle Ages

Tangible and Intangible Knowledge: the Unique Contribution of Archaeological Open-Air Museums

Linda Hurcombe (UK)
EXARC Journal Issue 2015/4
Archaeological Open-Air Museum
OpenArch Special Digest 2015 Issue 2
***Over the years my personal research interests have focussed on the less tangible elements of the past, such as gender issues, perishable material culture, and the sensory worlds of the past, but all of these have been underpinned by a longstanding appreciation of the role experimental archaeology can play as...

Conference Review: Was it all worth it? Archaeological Reconstructions Between Science and Event

Roeland Paardekooper (NL)
EXARC Journal Issue 2015/4
Mixed Matters
On the 3 February 1990, as the Iron Curtain dropped and the border between Bavaria and Bohemia opened, three archaeologists from both countries met. One year later they managed to get 27 participants together and soon the archaeological working group East Bavaria, West- and South Bohemia (and latter also Upper Austria) was a fact.

Book Review: Experimentelle Archäologie in Europa, Bilanz 2014

Christian Horn (DE)
EXARC Journal Issue 2015/3
Mixed Matters
Annual Proceedings of the EXAR Tagung
***Volume number 13 of the periodical Experimentelle Archäologie in Europa. Bilanz contains 215 pages with 18 different articles on a wide variety of subjects. The contributions are presented in four sections: Experiment and Test, Reconstruction Archaeology, Theory and Emanation’, and Short reports...

Archeoparco Didattico della Fortezza di Radicofani (IT)

Member of EXARC
No

At the Archeoparco Didattico della Fortezza di Radicofani one can learn about the history of human being over the past 4,000 years, all in one place.

Similar to a Chinese bag, it has a Copper Age site in its centre, covered by a medieval fortress, surrounded by a big and beautiful 18th century fortress, all of it embedded in a forest. The site is on top of an old volcanic cone. Being open since 2006, the Archeoparco Didattico della Fortezza di Radicofani exists of several living history areas in and around the fortress and in the forest. The goals are to maintain and preserve the site, lifelong learning and teach the visitors about their roots for a better understanding with the new generation.

Museum Theatre in Greece: Perspectives in Site Interpretation

Foteini Venieri and
Nikonanou Niki (GR)
EXARC Journal Issue 2015/2
Interpretation

Introduction

Museum theatre as an umbrella-term is used to describe a variety of performative events aimed to interpret fragments of cultural heritage. In the framework of one of the main challenges contemporary museums face, that of having a social impact while dealing with heritage, whom values and narratives can always be “contested and disputed” (Smith 2011, 70), museum theatre has proved that not only can it enforce a constructivist approach in a museum environment but it can also generate debate and promote critical thinking on controversial issues (Farthing 2010).

Conference Review: 9th Experimental Archaeology Conference, Dublin 2015

Katy Whitaker (UK)
EXARC Journal Issue 2015/2
Mixed Matters
EAC Conferences
***The ninth Experimental Archaeology Conference was held over 16-18 January 2015 at University College Dublin (Ireland). A large gathering of nearly 200 delegates from more than 25 countries across the EU and the Americas was hosted by UCD School of Archaeology and the Irish National Heritage Park. Twenty papers and 26 posters...

Putting on a Show - The How and Why of Historical Shows and Theatre in a Historical Setting or Theme-park

Jaap Hogendoorn (NL) and
Erik Collinson (UK)
EXARC Journal Issue 2015/1
Interpretation
As long as people have walked the earth, stories have been told; from stories around the campfire told by older people to entertain and educate the young, to 15th century knights dressing up as Romans during themed tournaments. Telling a story is putting on a little show; a show is a great way to tell a story... Including Spartacus in Archeon by Erik Collinson

Book Review: Accidental and Experimental Archaeometallurgy by D. Dungworth and R. Doonan (Eds)

Dave Budd (UK)
EXARC Journal Issue 2015/1
Mixed Matters
Spawned from an HMS (Historical Metallurgy Society) conference at West Dean College in 2010, this book is a unique compilation of papers written by both academics and craftsmen. Further articles not directly drawn from the conference have been included and cover non-ferrous experiments and an ethnographic study of blacksmithing...

Gród na Górze Birów (PL)

Member of EXARC
No

The spectacular cliffs of rocks which form the elevation of Birow mountain hide an outstanding reconstruction of the fortified castle which was once standing here.

In a breathtaking landscape and close to the ruins of another beautiful castle, the wooden reconstruction of the mount Birow Castle is a must-see intriguing site.