Experimental archaeology workshop

Experimental archaeology workshop

The experimental archaeology workshop was coordinated and run by A.A. 2009-2010 in person by Dr. Ramona Cappai and Dr. Laura Manca, as one of the courses in Palethnology at the University of Sassari. Some of the lectures concerning the applied technological analyses of stone tool production, pottery and hard animal materials, were followed by practical lessons on the analysis, description and representation of archaeological objects (critical observation and methods of description, graphic reproduction and macroscopic observation with the use of a stereomicroscope). Several of the lessons on experimental archaeology made it possible to complete the notional transmission of the principal methods of analysis of archaeological finds and to introduce the second phase of the workshop, dedicated to practising experimental activities. The latter involved the following themes: 

  • the reproduction of objects made from bone and shell from the Neo-Eneolithic period;
  • the use of wood - ethnographic research and interaction with the prehistoric world;
  • the harvest and use of other plant materials - ethnographic research and interaction with the prehistoric world;
  • reproducing pottery from the Neo-Eneolithic period;
  • tanning hides - ethnographic research and interaction with prehistoric world;
  • the reproduction of different prehistoric stone tools and millstones.

The students, physically taking part in various activities while developing others to a higher degree, gained the necessary competence to draft an experimental protocol based on specific problems, as well as learning different ways to experiment and methods of processing the resulting data. 

We wish to thank the students who participated in the workshop for their photographs displayed on this site: Maria Giovanna De Martini; Giovanna Dedola; Antonella Dessole; Mario Paddeu; Daniela Pazzola; Simone Sanna; Daniela Sechi; Donatella Serra.