Viking Age

Book Review: Viking Age Brew, by Mika Laitinen

Merryn Dineley (UK)
What did ale and beer taste like in the past? How was it made? What sort of equipment did they use and what were the ingredients? The answers to all of these questions, and more, can be found in this book. Archaeologists, experimental archaeologists, brewing historians and anyone interested in ancient technologies will find this book invaluable as an easily accessible study and explanation of ...

Universität Hamburg (DE)

Member of EXARC
No

Since the 1990s, experimental archaeology has been anchored in teaching and scientific research in pre- and early-historical archaeology at the University of Hamburg, and has been applied in different ways and considered in individual theses with a clear archaeological experimental contribution.

By 2004, the Experimental Archaeology with its own seminar and adjoin practice part is an integral part of the curriculum of Prehistoric and Early Archaeology. In addition to the introduction to the history, theories and methods of experimental archaeology, the seminar offers students the opportunity to develop their own projects with archaeological-experimental questions. The supervision of the students takes place on the whole by two experimental archaeologists and is supplemented by further experts for certain questions.

Københavns Universitet (DK)

Member of EXARC
No

Since 1998, the course Experimental Archeology, Ethno-archeology and Simple Technology has been offered every fall semester at the University of Copenhagen. The pillars have been the same every year: 10-14 students from many different subjects, craftspeople, guest lecturers and two teachers.

The course consists of four elements:
1) Introduction to research history and theory
2) Presentation and discussion of selected case studies in lecture form, where the experimental-archaeological method and the interaction with the other disciplines are central elements
3) a series of practice experiments and technology studies as well
4) presentation, discussion and perspective of the experiments performed.

The course is offered in collaboration with the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde and with Sagnlandet in Lejre.

Universität Wien (AT)

Member of EXARC
No

Vienna Institute of Archaeological Sciences - Experimental archaeology
Coordinator: Dr Wolfgang Lobisser

Research services:
• Archaeological experiments on specific research questions
• Reconstruction of archaeological exhibits
• Conception and planning of exhibition projects
• Construction of archaeological open-air museums
 

Experimental archaeology is highly suited to putting our ideas of the technical capabilities of our ancestors on a lifelike basis, to review our explanations and interpretations of excavation findings.
The experiment begins where conventional methods of archaeology no longer work and tries to test, explain and ultimately reconstruct crafting practices, technical equipment and work processes.

University of Reading (UK)

Member of EXARC
No

With several colleagues, Prof. Martin Bell has coordinated several experimental archaeology projects at the University of Reading over the years.

Experimental archaeology plays an important role in research and teaching at Reading University. Staff with particular involvement in experimental archaeology at Reading are Prof. Martin Bell and Dr Rob Hosfield, but experimental research also features in the projects of many other staff (e.g. Prof. Steven Mithen & Dr Wendy Matthews), and spans all archaeological periods.

Bournemouth University (UK)

Member of EXARC
No

Several archaeologists at Bournemouth University work with experimental archaeology. 

Dr Derek Pitman is an archaeologist who studies production and resource use. His research involves a combination of field archaeology, laboratory analysis and experimental reconstruction. 

South Ural State University (RU)

Member of EXARC
No

At the South Ural State University, based on the Scientific and Educational Center for Eurasian Studies, under the scientific supervision of Ivan Semyan, a comprehensive laboratory of experimental archaeology operates, which carries out international experimental research projects, and also studies and models the technologies of the ancient population of the Urals. 

The laboratory is a member of the Archaeos Association representing a community of archaeologists, experimenters and reenactors. The consolidation of forces interested in modeling the phenomena and processes of the past allows the laboratory of experimental archaeology at SUSU to carry out a wide range of multidisciplinary tasks: scientific and popular science activities, creating museum displays and replicas of artifacts, educating pupils and students, and participating in tourism and charity projects.