The EXARC Board consists of nine people, elected by the Annual General Meeting.
Chair: Pascale Barnes
Chair@exarc.net
Member of ICOM: No
Period: 2019-2021
Pascale Barnes studied Human Nutrition at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, USA. She moved to the UK in 1985 where she worked for an economic development consultancy in London for several years, organising international workshops and conferences for a variety of European Commission programmes. She also worked as a freelance head-hunter for a British company, focussing on recruitment in France and Belgium. Most recently, Pascale was the Administrator at Ancient Technology Centre in Cranborne (2004 - 2017) and especially enjoyed liaising with visitors, organising public events, and raising awareness of the centre through social media.
Pascale holds dual American and French nationalities, is fluent in English and French, has some working knowledge of Italian and Spanish.
Vice-Chair: Dr Peter Inker
Vice-Chair@exarc.net
Member of ICOM: Yes
Period: 2019-2021
I begin working in archaeology in 1985, excavating and experimental archaeological reconstruction of a medieval village at Cosmeston, Wales, UK. Since then extensive experience in field Archaeology and research, with concentration on late Roman and Migration Period material culture studies. I gained my BA (hons), MA and PhD at the University of Wales looking at early medieval metalworking techniques. My most recent work has been in museum and heritage environments, specifically digital heritage through virtual and augmented reality. I was responsible for Virtual Williamsburg, the reconstruction of the 18th-Century City of Williamsburg, including everything from artefact reconstruction to building, cityscape, and topological reconstruction.
Secretary: Prof. Dr Javier Baena Preysler
Secretary@exarc.net
Member of ICOM: No
Period: 2019-2021
Javier Baena is professor of Prehistory and Archaeology who teaches on several issues at different universities of Spain, particularly at the Universidad Autónoma of Madrid (UAM, Spain). Through his work teaching Experimental Archaeology at UAM since 1990, he has supported and promoted different Experimental centres in Spain, such as the Museo de los Orígenes (Madrid), La Algaba (Málaga), Carex (Burgos), etc. Cumulatively, his work provides a body of scientific knowledge and experience for future generations of Spanish archaeologists. He is editor of the Boletin de Arqueología Experimental (http://www.uam.es/otros/baex/), and is one of the organisers of international experimental archaeology conferences in Spain. He is the vice-chair of the Spanish Association of Experimental Archaeology, is responsible for the Experimental laboratory at UAM (https://es-es.facebook.com/Ar
Treasurer: Maura Stefani
treasurer@exarc.net
Member of ICOM: No
Period: 2021-2023
In 2007 I obtained a bachelor's degree in Conservation of Cultural Heritage, specializing in Prehistoric Archeology and in 2010 a master's degree in Conservation of Archaeological Heritage at the Ca 'Foscari University of Venice. On both occasions I have discussed theses dedicated to the analysis of faunal remains in prehistoric contexts. I took part in several university excavations (especially University of Ferrara) in Northern Italy and I was part of a professional firm involved in archaeological surveys and excavations. Since 2009 I have been working in Parco Archeologico didattico del Livelet, an open-air museum in Italy. Initially involved in guided tours and workshops, since 2012 I have been in charge of coordinating the structure, working for UNPLI Treviso, the association that manage it.
Board Member: Caroline Jeffra MA PhD
c.d.jeffra@exarc.net
Member of ICOM: No
Period: 2020-2022
My first involvement with experimental archaeology was in 2005 when I started the MA in Experimental Archaeology at University of Exeter. I completed the MA with Distinction and continued to complete a PhD (Exeter, 2011) using experimental archaeology as a major component of my thesis. I have published a number of articles which address or make use of experimental archaeology and my current research at UvA is explicitly dependent on further experiments. One of my successes has been in identifying the presence of a combination technique in Bronze Age Cretan and Cypriot potting. Rather than building pottery wheels and starting to wheel throw vessels, my research has shown that the combination technique of wheel coiling was used - potters used rotation in differing proportions to complete the construction of partially coil-built pots.
Board Member: Professor Dr Linda Hurcombe
L.Hurcombe@exarc.net
Member of ICOM: No
Period: 2021-2023
Linda Hurcombe has broad interests in artefacts and material culture studies. She is especially interested in ethnographies of craft traditions, the sensory worlds of prehistoric societies and the manner in which archaeologists and anthropologists approach artefact studies. She has also worked on gender and material culture, and explored function as a concept as well as conducting functional analysis of stone tools via wear traces. Her research is characterised by the extensive use of experimental archaeology and ethnographies, providing a detailed practical understanding of how materials can be transformed into material culture. She was the founder and first director of the MA in Experimental Archaeology and has been the Head of the Department of Archaeology and is now the Director of Research Postgraduates. Fieldwork projects have been undertaken in Europe and Pakistan and in recent years she has worked with a variety of craftspeople. In association with the National Museums Scotland and a network of colleagues she led a study on touch experiences in museums using traditional and digital technologies to provide haptic experiences. She is currently writing a book on organic material culture - the 'missing majority' of prehistoric material culture – and her current research projects include working with Prof Robert van de Noort and the National Maritime Museum (Cornwall) to build a full size sewn plank boat based on archaeological finds from the Early Bronze Age.
Board Member: Dr Julia Heeb
J.Heeb@exarc.net
Member of ICOM: Yes
Period: 2019-2021
After completing my AHRC-funded M.A. in Experimental Archaeology at the University of Exeter in 2006, I knew that I wanted to work further in the field of Experimental Archaeology. In November 2007, I co-organized the second Experimental Archaeology Conference at Exeter University after receiving an AHRC grant for my PhD at the same institution. After two maternity breaks, I finished my PhD on an experimental approach regarding the shafthole copper axes from southeastern Europe in 2012. Between 2012 and 2015 I worked freelance based in Berlin, offering research and educational services for museums and translations of academic texts. In March 2015 I started working at the Stiftung Stadtmuseum Berlin in the Archaeological Open-Air Museum "Museumsdorf Düppel" and the archaeological collections. I am responsible for the archaeological collections, general research, exhibitions and experimental archaeology.
Board Member: Annemarie Pothaar BA MA
A.Pothaar@exarc.net
Member of ICOM: Yes
Period: 2020-2022
Ms drs Annemarie Pothaar (1977) Master of Arts in Heritage Education & Interpretation. After studying a bachelor degree of Leisure Studies in Rotterdam NL, Annemarie finished her Master of Arts degree (2001) in the UK at Newcastle University and was supervised by Dr. Peter Stone, one of the UKs leading specialists in heritage education. Since then she has worked for a national park, historical museums, archaeological open-air museums and the Dutch Royal Armouries. Annemarie is a visitor experience and interpretation developer, specialising in engaging visitors through a variety of interpretive techniques and encouraging learning in informal and formal heritage encounters. She is charmed by the use of live historic costumed interpretation, but makes use of the full possibilities of the interpretive mix, to find the right medium for each situation. She uses the latest insights and methodologies on cultural heritage-, intergenerational- and family learning to develop informal learning solutions. Her motto is engage, relate, reveal from Freeman Tilden. In her time off, you can find her in museums and heritage sites, performing live historic costumed interpretation and visiting international museums and heritage sites to get new ideas and compare best practices. Continuous professional development is very important to her and Annemarie plays an active role in European partnerships programmes by sharing knowledge and hosting workshops. Currently Annemarie is working towards the Associateship of the Museum Association.
Board Member: Thit Birk Petersen Mag. Art.
t.birk.petersen@exarc.net
Member of ICOM: No
Period: 2021-2023
Thit Birk Petersen (1984) has studied Prehistoric Archaeology at University of Copenhagen and specialised in medieval castles in Denmark. She also studied ”Battlefield and conflict archaeology” at University of Glasgow. She graduated in 2012. After graduating she worked as an archaeologist for a number of years, in 2016 she was hired as the curator of Middelaldercentret. She is in charge of interpretation and education. She has more than 20 years of experience in re-enactment and living history and has a lifelong passion for teaching the public about our common past via live interpretation and communication. She started as a volunteer in 1997 at Middelaldercentret / The Medieval Centre in Denmark at the age of 13, which lead her to study archaeology and alongside her studies working as an archaeologist at digs and as a guide and live interpreter at The Open-Air Museum in Lyngby (Denmark) and doing all sorts of re-enactment and living history (from the Middle aAges to WWII).
