Interpretation

Current Trends in Annual Historical Re-Enactments Events in Catalonia. Uses of Cultural Heritage

Antonio Rojas Rabaneda (ES)
EXARC Journal Issue 2019/1
Interpretation
The project “Re-enactments events in Catalonia” seeks to identify and analyse annually occurring events that make use of cultural heritage and history for the purposes of tourism, economic promotion and dissemination, and for other festive, recreational or educational ends. The activity programmes of all active events currently held in Catalonia were analysed and quantitative data provided in order to...

Public Access to (Pre-)History Through Archaeology

Katie Stringer Clary (US)
EXARC Journal Issue 2018/3
Interpretation
Public history, like experimental archaeology, is relatively new as an accepted academic program; the two fields are intrinsically linked and should, ideally, use interdisciplinary collaboration to better educate and involve the public in their work. This paper presents case studies in education and interpretation by the author, as well as exemplary programs from various sites in the United States and Europe...

The Forgotten Movement – A (Re)construction of Prehistoric Dances

Ivana Turčin (HR)
EXARC Journal Issue 2018/1
Interpretation

However, after studying archaeological artistic depictions, historical descriptions and contemporary ethnographic examples as the main research sources for the history of dance and dance movement and its development in the context of early human history, we created a conceptual reconstruction of prehistoric dances. It was presented in the form of an educational dance performance with the goal of presenting the archaeological heritage through a possible vision of dances and dance movements from a number of selected prehistoric periods: Neolithic, Chalcolithic, and Bronze Age.

Living History as an Instrument for Historical and Cultural Exchange in German Archaeological Open-Air Museums: an Online Survey Defines Present Status

Tatjana Meder,
Jana Seipelt and
Sabrina Slanitz (DE)
EXARC Journal Issue 2016/4
Interpretation

In Germany, for several years now it has become increasingly significant as a means of reflecting the cultural exchange of archaeological open-air museums, as well as in scientific discussions and interdisciplinary meetings

The VIA SCIPIONIS Project Outdoor Travelling Experimental Archaeology and Re-enactment

J. M. Gallego Cañamero,
E. Ble Gimeno,
P. Valdes Matias and
J. Garcia Perez (ES)
EXARC Journal Issue 2016/4
Interpretation
In August 2015 the first rendition of an experimental archaeology project was held, for the first time in Spain. The objective was to study the problems faced by the Roman Republican legions from the second Punic War during their marches. This project, named VIA SCIPIONIS, captured an historical episode...

A Broken Leg in the Year 1350: Treatment and Prognosis

Wiel van der Mark (NL)
EXARC Journal Issue 2016/2
Interpretation
It is the year 1350 in Gravendam (the medieval town of the archaeological open-air museum, (AOAM) Archeon, in the Netherlands). Master Roelof, a wood-and-bone processor, lies unconscious on the stone floor. Shortly before this, he had been climbing the ladder to the attic to grab a log of wood, but it slipped from under him and he ended on the floor...

Spiral Tube Decorations: a Thousand Years of Tradition

Riina Rammo and
Jaana Ratas (EE)
EXARC Journal Issue 2016/2
Interpretation
An overview of finds, their regional spread and significance though the ages. The spiral tubes are made of an alloy that consists of copper supplemented mainly with zinc and/or tin (Rammo, Ratas 2015, table 1). The outer diameter of the spiral tubes usually range from 2.5 to 5 mm. Woollen and linen threads as well as horse hairs, were used to join spiral tubes into decorations...

The Value of Experience: Lessons from a Study of Reenactment

Samantha Hartford (UK)
EXARC Journal Issue 2016/1
Interpretation
It is no secret that in many ways experimental archaeology overlaps with what has come to be called experiential archaeology, an interpretive and humanistic approach to the past. As a result of drawing distinct lines between the two, experimental archaeology struggles with its conception of itself, and experiential archaeology is poorly studied.

What Does Your Visitor Experience? Making the Most of Live Interpretation in a Unique Setting

Marc van Hasselt (NL)
EXARC Journal Issue 2015/3
Interpretation
OpenArch Special Digest 2015 Issue 2
***Archaeological Open-Air Museums (AOAM) offer a unique setting in which live interpretation can make history come truly alive. For many, or perhaps all, AOAM history is the product being sold to the public. During the five years the OpenArch project has run the partners have spent many hours discussing the...