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Experimental Archaeology – A Journey in Time from Enlightenment to Experience

Petersson, Bodil LU and Narmo, Lars Erik (2011) 62. p.27-48
Abstract
The research history and conditions in experimental archaeology up until today show a heavy emphasis on technological studies within a hypothetical-deductive theoretical paradigm. How is it possible to enhance the conditions for experimental archaeology so that it can also develop as a humanistic area of research, more closely related to existential perspectives of human life? We argue for the integration of technical, sensory and emotional understandings of the past, so that the notion of being a human in a long-term perspective can be included in the concept of experimental archaeology. A humanistic experimental archaeology is achieved by the development of new methods such as conscious use of anachronisms, renewal of techniques for... (More)
The research history and conditions in experimental archaeology up until today show a heavy emphasis on technological studies within a hypothetical-deductive theoretical paradigm. How is it possible to enhance the conditions for experimental archaeology so that it can also develop as a humanistic area of research, more closely related to existential perspectives of human life? We argue for the integration of technical, sensory and emotional understandings of the past, so that the notion of being a human in a long-term perspective can be included in the concept of experimental archaeology. A humanistic experimental archaeology is achieved by the development of new methods such as conscious use of anachronisms, renewal of techniques for document- ing and communicating experiments, and use of the human body and senses as an experimental field. The success of this approach is dependent upon cooperation between archaeological open-air muse- ums and sites conducting experimental archaeology, and archaeologi- cal departments at universities that are willing to maintain, develop and renew research and education in the direction of a humanistic experimental archaeology. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
archaeology, experimental archaeology, experiential archaeology
host publication
Experimental Archaeology – Between Enlightenment and Experience
editor
Petersson, Bodil and Narmo, Lars Erik
volume
62
pages
27 - 48
publisher
Department of Archaeology and Ancient History, Lund University
ISBN
978-91-89578-42-5
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
f9307518-cb03-4bf9-be97-00035ef03049 (old id 1962548)
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 11:56:52
date last changed
2018-11-21 21:08:07
@inbook{f9307518-cb03-4bf9-be97-00035ef03049,
  abstract     = {{The research history and conditions in experimental archaeology up until today show a heavy emphasis on technological studies within a hypothetical-deductive theoretical paradigm. How is it possible to enhance the conditions for experimental archaeology so that it can also develop as a humanistic area of research, more closely related to existential perspectives of human life? We argue for the integration of technical, sensory and emotional understandings of the past, so that the notion of being a human in a long-term perspective can be included in the concept of experimental archaeology. A humanistic experimental archaeology is achieved by the development of new methods such as conscious use of anachronisms, renewal of techniques for document- ing and communicating experiments, and use of the human body and senses as an experimental field. The success of this approach is dependent upon cooperation between archaeological open-air muse- ums and sites conducting experimental archaeology, and archaeologi- cal departments at universities that are willing to maintain, develop and renew research and education in the direction of a humanistic experimental archaeology.}},
  author       = {{Petersson, Bodil and Narmo, Lars Erik}},
  booktitle    = {{Experimental Archaeology – Between Enlightenment and Experience}},
  editor       = {{Petersson, Bodil and Narmo, Lars Erik}},
  isbn         = {{978-91-89578-42-5}},
  keywords     = {{archaeology; experimental archaeology; experiential archaeology}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{27--48}},
  publisher    = {{Department of Archaeology and Ancient History, Lund University}},
  title        = {{Experimental Archaeology – A Journey in Time from Enlightenment to Experience}},
  volume       = {{62}},
  year         = {{2011}},
}