Experimental Archaeology - Any Ideas??

[GnomeKing]

all good stuff

[Dinosaur]

So what we should really do is get together a wish-list of things-to-do-with-posts and write a research-design as a template/tick-list for the next time such an opportunity comes up? :face-approve:

Actually it's Friday night, I'm knackered and can't decide whether to reach for the soap or the wine first - will mull it over while potwashing tomorrow....

[EXARC]

and don't forget to look into previous research so you don't make the same mistakes in research design but your results are comparable. That would be nice!

[EXARC]

Mark Butler, Chair of http://www.rearc.us says:

After thinking about this some, basically I would suggest developing an educational program that may look something like this:

1. Create a “known” archaeological based scenario that requires the recognition of an unresolved problem.
   
2. This “site” posses an element(s) that will require one or more reconstructive experiment(s) to resolve.
   
3. Develop a testable hypothesis(s) that would resolve the conundrum
   
4. Test the hypothesis via experimentation.
   
5. Record the experiment thoroughly and postulate additional research possibilities
   

I would choose something that the students would be able to accomplish in the time allowed… but nothing that would require accumulated physical experience/skills in order to test (such as metallurgy, flintknapping, etc). Several scenarios come to mind such as certain construction elements that could be done on a small scale to extrapolate data from.
Questions for the students to ask such as: how do you think it looked?; how do you think it was constructed?; how would you design an experiment to test these theories?; would be part of the class experience
Models can be constructed out of many things such as foam core; cardboard; etc.
Hope this helps you a little.

[archaeomike]

Yes, let's recreate Thermopylae in Croydon.

[GnomeKing]

....yeah...foam core...

[Dinosaur]

Yes, let's recreate Thermopylae in Croydon.

The Aegean, cliffs, mountains and hot springs might present a bit of a challenge to the students? And wasn't it a big stone wall Leonidas et al were cowering behind (mysteriously missed out in 300, although seen briefly in the 'proper' (but equally camp) 1960s film) - what's that got to do with experimental archaeology on posts? }

[EXARC]

back to the original question - what did you finally plan and do?