Living Archaeology
Unveiling the Past through Experimental Archaeology
1st Edition
Published on 16. April 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
360 pages
978-94-6426-435-7 (ISBN)
Description
Despite the wealth of material remains uncovered by archaeology, our understanding of how people in the past lived, worked, and thought remains fragmentary, especially fort he most ancient times. Many aspects of ancient technologies and daily practicesare poorly documented in the archaeological record. Experimental archaeology connects theory with practice by recreating past techniques and technologies. By reconstructing ancient techniques, tools, and lifeways under controlled and replicable conditions, it allows researchers to test hypotheses, evaluate functional assumptions, and build data reference collections.
This volume presents the proceedings of the 6th International Congress of Experimental Archaeology (CONEXP), held in Pezenas, France in 2022, hosted in collaboration with EXARC and leading European institutions. The book brings together over 33 contributions from different resarchers using experimental archaeology to interpret the archaeological record and past human behaviors.
The contributions reflect the remarkable diversity within the experimental archaeology community, showcasing its vibrancy and interdisciplinary reach. From taphonomy to technology, ceramics to lithics and bone work, and from metallurgy to traceology, ritual practices, art, and subsistence strategies-this volume spans an impressive range of themes. Readers will find case-studies stretching from the Lower Palaeolithic to modern times, with examples drawn from across the globe.
This volume presents the proceedings of the 6th International Congress of Experimental Archaeology (CONEXP), held in Pezenas, France in 2022, hosted in collaboration with EXARC and leading European institutions. The book brings together over 33 contributions from different resarchers using experimental archaeology to interpret the archaeological record and past human behaviors.
The contributions reflect the remarkable diversity within the experimental archaeology community, showcasing its vibrancy and interdisciplinary reach. From taphonomy to technology, ceramics to lithics and bone work, and from metallurgy to traceology, ritual practices, art, and subsistence strategies-this volume spans an impressive range of themes. Readers will find case-studies stretching from the Lower Palaeolithic to modern times, with examples drawn from across the globe.
More details
Edition
1. Auflage
Language
English
Place of publication
Leiden
Netherlands
Target group
Professional and scholarly
College/higher education
Illustrations
112fc / 43bw
Dimensions
Height: 280 mm
Width: 210 mm
Thickness: 28 mm
Weight
1530 gr
ISBN-13
978-94-6426-435-7 (9789464264357)
DOI
https://doi.org/10.59641/u3x9r0s1t2
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Cyrielle Mathias is a postdoctoral researcher (HNHP-ComE and CRFJ laboratories) specialising in the early Middle Palaeolithic industries of the Mediterranean and Near East. She has developed specific experimental programs focused on recycling practices - particularly recycled percussion materials and cores-on-flakes - as well as the production and use of small tools. Laurence Bourguignon is a research engineer at INRAP and a member of the ArScAn-AnTET laboratory. Her work focuses on Lower and Middle Palaeolithic sites in southern France. As an expert flintknapper, she has a particular interest in Quina debitage and retouch strategies, as well as basalt knapping. Jerome Ivorra, M.A., is a geologist affiliated with the GREPAM. He is part of the team excavating and studying the Lower Pleistocene site of Bois-de-Riquet (southern France). His research focuses on raw material procurement, and he has participated in numerous flintknapping experiments. Cyril Viallet is a CNRS researcher (ArScAn-AnTET laboratory) working on Middle Pleistocene sites in the Mediterranean region. He has developed a particular interest in experimenting with the production and use of Large Cutting Tools (LCTs), as well as investigating differences in raw materials efficiency.
Content
Preface
J. Baena Preysler
Introduction
C. Mathias, L. Bourguignon, J. Ivorra, C. Viallet
PART 1: Taphonomy
Deplacement et enfouissement des vestiges lithiques en contexte tempere de plein air : premiers resultats apres 5 ans d'experimentation a Villard-de-Lans (massif du Vercors)
M. Rue, L. Chesnaux, P. Fernandes, B. Kaufmann, R. Marciau, J. Robbe, A. Taylor
Trampling experimentation: impact on the breakage of small mammals' skeletal elements
L. Lebreton
Silex y fuego en cueva Prado Vargas: Programa experimental para determinar alteraciones macroscopicas y cambios de coloracion
R. Alonso-Alcalde, C. Gonzalez Sacristan, M. Navazo Ruiz, A. Benito-Calvo
Analisis termico experimental de las rocas que fueron utilizadas para la combustion en la Prehistoria de las cuevas del Reclau (Serinya, Girona)
J. Fernandez-Ruiz, J. Maroto
PART 2: Techniques
Savez-vous casser des os ? Approche de l'efficacite de la fracturation en fonction des percuteurs et de l'experience des operateurs
L. Justiniany, P. Magniez, C. Viallet, D. Vettese, C. Mathias, L. De Weyer, L. Bourguignon, J. Ivorra, A.-M. Moigne, J.-Ph. Brugal
Realization of a reference system dedicated to bifacial manufacture with tangential percussion on Senonian flint (Upper Cretaceous)
L. Vanuxem, F. Le Mene, A. Lamotte
Traces et morphologies : que reste-t-il d'un cycle de reaffutage sur un racloir Quina ?
A. Vincent-Pennec, L. Bourguignon, M. Massoulie, S. Soriano
?Intencionalidad o accidente? Aproximacion experimental a la produccion de retocadores oseos en el nivel 4 de Prado Vargas (Burgos, Espana)
H. De la Fuente Ruez, P. Alonso-Garcia, M. Navazo Ruiz
The role of bipolar technology on quartz in the Robberg of Umhlatuzana Rock Shelter (South Africa)
V. C. Schmid, M. Roussel, T. Abruzzese, I. Sifogeorgaki, G. L. Dusseldorp
Variabilite des techniques de retouches abruptes sur les pointes et les lamelles a dos : etat d'avancement d'un protocole experimental
E. Cormareche, G. Ricci
Different paths for a common destination: Experimental comparative study between direct and indirect percussion techniques in bifacial production
M. J. Garcia Natale, J. Baena Preysler
Looking for the perfect tree? Selecting and felling a Neolithic logboat tree
P. Bacoup, V. Bernard, E. Guerton, P. Guillonnet, J. Meslin, M. Philippe, B. Poissonnier
Approach to the Prehistoric Production of Arsenic-Containing Copper: Experimental Results
A. Lackinger, M. Murillo-Barroso, I. Montero-Ruiz, S. Rovira Llorens
Maya Late Postclassic Technical Ceramics from Mayapan: An Experimental Approach to their Technological Features
S. Mercier, E. Caron
The Replication of Iberian Stelae and the Oldest Iron Chisel from the Iberian Peninsula
R. Araque Gonzalez, B.Asmus, G. Vintrici, A. Richter, V. Clamote, M. Osorio, P. Paniego, P. Baptista, R. Ferreiro Maehlmann
Experimental casting of Iberian Late Bronze Age high-leaded palstaves: first results
A. Lackinger, B. Comendador, M. G. Faro, X.-L. Armada
De Sardes a Castel-Minier : experiences autour de 2000 ans d'affinage de l'argent
F. Tereygeol, F. Maqueda, J. Gauthier
Drillong tools used in ship carpentry from the 5th c. BCE to the 11th c. A.D.: An experimental approach
M. Berenguel
PART 3: Cultural behaviours
?Tekne or Telos? Chaine operatoire of Upper Palaeolithic hand stencils
V. Fernandez Navarro, O. Spaey, A. J. Torres Riesgo, D. Garate
Opening an underground silo while grain is stored! Some results of archaeological experiments performed from 2016 to 2019 in Mediterranean France
C. Dominguez, E. Yebdri, J.-M. Savoie, F. Fleurat-Lessard, T. Wibaut, J. Ros
<< Patina in patinam - 2018 >> : vers une approche sensible de la cuisine romaine
C. Batigne, N. Garnier
Ancient Roman cheese-making: the challenge of experimental archaeology
D. Frere
Breaking objects like Pompeians. The FragEx project and the Porta Nocera necropolis
F. Fouriaux, A. Malignas
Tasting Iberian wine: an interdisciplinary experimental archaeology project
J. Diloli Fons, F. Zamora Marin, P. Cabanillas Amboades, I. Cots Serret, C. Portillo Guisado, S. Sarda Seuma, L. Bricio Segura, J. M. Canals Bosch
Sound as a means of communication and protection, an application in limes from the Ibero-Roman period
M. Genera i Monells, J. Ballester Gibert, F. Lavega Serra, M. Garcia Barbera
PART 4: Utilisation
Y a-t-il un lien entre la performance d'un tranchant et sa matiere premiere ? Presentation d'un protocole experimental
C. Viallet, M. Blin, L. De Weyer, C. Mathias, T. Minet, L. Bourguignon, R. Capdevila, P. Fernandes, J. Ivorra, J.-C. Sangleboeuf
Modes de fonctionnement des pieces bifaciales du Paleolithique inferieur : constitution d'un referentiel experimental de macrotraces
J. Guibert-Cardin, E. Nicoud, S. Beyries
Underestimated witnesses: A new experimental reference collection for understanding the use of pebbles during Middle Paleolithic
T. Burcet
Gesture variation and expertise in the use of Palaeolithic bulb-retouchers. Application to the late Acheulean site of Jaljulia (Israel)
C. Mathias, S. Sanchez-Dehesa Galan, C. Lemorini, F. Marinelli, M. Shemer, R. Barkai
Searching for the function of the manuports carried by Neanderthals in the Middle Palaeolithic site of Jarama VI (Guadalajara, Spain)
M. Terradillos-Bernal, I. Clemente-Conte, C. Diez Fernandez-Lomana, J. Molina Salido, J.-F. Jorda Pardo
Des experimentations a la croisee de l'ethnohistoire, de l'ethnographie et de l'iconographie. L'analyse fonctionnelle des outils lithiques du site maya de Cancuen (Guatemala, 652-800 d.n.e.)
N. Cadalen, S. Vassilieff, C. Andrieu, S. Beyries
An experimental protocol to trace woodworking activities by aboriginal populations of the Canary Islands (2nd - 15th century CE)
P. Vidal-Matutano, A. Palomo, D. Wojtczak, A. Rodriguez, S. Pardo-Gordo, J. Carballo-Perez, I. Brito-Abrante, K. Ortega
PART 5: Scientific dissemination
Birchbark tar in the Paleolithic: how to do it? Or how archaeology questions our society?
J. Robbe
J. Baena Preysler
Introduction
C. Mathias, L. Bourguignon, J. Ivorra, C. Viallet
PART 1: Taphonomy
Deplacement et enfouissement des vestiges lithiques en contexte tempere de plein air : premiers resultats apres 5 ans d'experimentation a Villard-de-Lans (massif du Vercors)
M. Rue, L. Chesnaux, P. Fernandes, B. Kaufmann, R. Marciau, J. Robbe, A. Taylor
Trampling experimentation: impact on the breakage of small mammals' skeletal elements
L. Lebreton
Silex y fuego en cueva Prado Vargas: Programa experimental para determinar alteraciones macroscopicas y cambios de coloracion
R. Alonso-Alcalde, C. Gonzalez Sacristan, M. Navazo Ruiz, A. Benito-Calvo
Analisis termico experimental de las rocas que fueron utilizadas para la combustion en la Prehistoria de las cuevas del Reclau (Serinya, Girona)
J. Fernandez-Ruiz, J. Maroto
PART 2: Techniques
Savez-vous casser des os ? Approche de l'efficacite de la fracturation en fonction des percuteurs et de l'experience des operateurs
L. Justiniany, P. Magniez, C. Viallet, D. Vettese, C. Mathias, L. De Weyer, L. Bourguignon, J. Ivorra, A.-M. Moigne, J.-Ph. Brugal
Realization of a reference system dedicated to bifacial manufacture with tangential percussion on Senonian flint (Upper Cretaceous)
L. Vanuxem, F. Le Mene, A. Lamotte
Traces et morphologies : que reste-t-il d'un cycle de reaffutage sur un racloir Quina ?
A. Vincent-Pennec, L. Bourguignon, M. Massoulie, S. Soriano
?Intencionalidad o accidente? Aproximacion experimental a la produccion de retocadores oseos en el nivel 4 de Prado Vargas (Burgos, Espana)
H. De la Fuente Ruez, P. Alonso-Garcia, M. Navazo Ruiz
The role of bipolar technology on quartz in the Robberg of Umhlatuzana Rock Shelter (South Africa)
V. C. Schmid, M. Roussel, T. Abruzzese, I. Sifogeorgaki, G. L. Dusseldorp
Variabilite des techniques de retouches abruptes sur les pointes et les lamelles a dos : etat d'avancement d'un protocole experimental
E. Cormareche, G. Ricci
Different paths for a common destination: Experimental comparative study between direct and indirect percussion techniques in bifacial production
M. J. Garcia Natale, J. Baena Preysler
Looking for the perfect tree? Selecting and felling a Neolithic logboat tree
P. Bacoup, V. Bernard, E. Guerton, P. Guillonnet, J. Meslin, M. Philippe, B. Poissonnier
Approach to the Prehistoric Production of Arsenic-Containing Copper: Experimental Results
A. Lackinger, M. Murillo-Barroso, I. Montero-Ruiz, S. Rovira Llorens
Maya Late Postclassic Technical Ceramics from Mayapan: An Experimental Approach to their Technological Features
S. Mercier, E. Caron
The Replication of Iberian Stelae and the Oldest Iron Chisel from the Iberian Peninsula
R. Araque Gonzalez, B.Asmus, G. Vintrici, A. Richter, V. Clamote, M. Osorio, P. Paniego, P. Baptista, R. Ferreiro Maehlmann
Experimental casting of Iberian Late Bronze Age high-leaded palstaves: first results
A. Lackinger, B. Comendador, M. G. Faro, X.-L. Armada
De Sardes a Castel-Minier : experiences autour de 2000 ans d'affinage de l'argent
F. Tereygeol, F. Maqueda, J. Gauthier
Drillong tools used in ship carpentry from the 5th c. BCE to the 11th c. A.D.: An experimental approach
M. Berenguel
PART 3: Cultural behaviours
?Tekne or Telos? Chaine operatoire of Upper Palaeolithic hand stencils
V. Fernandez Navarro, O. Spaey, A. J. Torres Riesgo, D. Garate
Opening an underground silo while grain is stored! Some results of archaeological experiments performed from 2016 to 2019 in Mediterranean France
C. Dominguez, E. Yebdri, J.-M. Savoie, F. Fleurat-Lessard, T. Wibaut, J. Ros
<< Patina in patinam - 2018 >> : vers une approche sensible de la cuisine romaine
C. Batigne, N. Garnier
Ancient Roman cheese-making: the challenge of experimental archaeology
D. Frere
Breaking objects like Pompeians. The FragEx project and the Porta Nocera necropolis
F. Fouriaux, A. Malignas
Tasting Iberian wine: an interdisciplinary experimental archaeology project
J. Diloli Fons, F. Zamora Marin, P. Cabanillas Amboades, I. Cots Serret, C. Portillo Guisado, S. Sarda Seuma, L. Bricio Segura, J. M. Canals Bosch
Sound as a means of communication and protection, an application in limes from the Ibero-Roman period
M. Genera i Monells, J. Ballester Gibert, F. Lavega Serra, M. Garcia Barbera
PART 4: Utilisation
Y a-t-il un lien entre la performance d'un tranchant et sa matiere premiere ? Presentation d'un protocole experimental
C. Viallet, M. Blin, L. De Weyer, C. Mathias, T. Minet, L. Bourguignon, R. Capdevila, P. Fernandes, J. Ivorra, J.-C. Sangleboeuf
Modes de fonctionnement des pieces bifaciales du Paleolithique inferieur : constitution d'un referentiel experimental de macrotraces
J. Guibert-Cardin, E. Nicoud, S. Beyries
Underestimated witnesses: A new experimental reference collection for understanding the use of pebbles during Middle Paleolithic
T. Burcet
Gesture variation and expertise in the use of Palaeolithic bulb-retouchers. Application to the late Acheulean site of Jaljulia (Israel)
C. Mathias, S. Sanchez-Dehesa Galan, C. Lemorini, F. Marinelli, M. Shemer, R. Barkai
Searching for the function of the manuports carried by Neanderthals in the Middle Palaeolithic site of Jarama VI (Guadalajara, Spain)
M. Terradillos-Bernal, I. Clemente-Conte, C. Diez Fernandez-Lomana, J. Molina Salido, J.-F. Jorda Pardo
Des experimentations a la croisee de l'ethnohistoire, de l'ethnographie et de l'iconographie. L'analyse fonctionnelle des outils lithiques du site maya de Cancuen (Guatemala, 652-800 d.n.e.)
N. Cadalen, S. Vassilieff, C. Andrieu, S. Beyries
An experimental protocol to trace woodworking activities by aboriginal populations of the Canary Islands (2nd - 15th century CE)
P. Vidal-Matutano, A. Palomo, D. Wojtczak, A. Rodriguez, S. Pardo-Gordo, J. Carballo-Perez, I. Brito-Abrante, K. Ortega
PART 5: Scientific dissemination
Birchbark tar in the Paleolithic: how to do it? Or how archaeology questions our society?
J. Robbe