Q: What is Experimental Archeology?

The following are all examples of what Experimental Archeology is:

Experimental archaeology is a branch of archaeological study (in most of our cases, a hobby) that replicates or attempts to replicate, past processes in order to better understand how the people from that time period did things. This includes everything from flint-knapping to blacksmithing, weaving to period cooking. Period encampments, marches and trekking are activities that greatly enhance our understanding of the time period we study. Sometimes Experimental Archeology can even take the form of studies in past farming techniques up to building entire villages (Colonial Williamsburg comes to mind).

Experimental Archeology is a way in which we, as 21st century people, attempt a task someone in our chosen time-period would have done, wearing the clothing and using only the tools and equipment they would have used, or the knowledge we have gleaned from research. Whether you are interested in the Roman Legionnaire, a British “Redcoat,” a WWI “Doughboy” or perhaps a WWII German Landser, Experimental Archeology can help to give a better understanding of the period, the people and how they did things. Perhaps your interest in cooking, and so you might limit yourself to the cookware and foods of your chosen period with a bed of coals for heat, yet even if you never leave your house, you are involved in Experimental Archeology. Experimental Archeology gives us a great insight into the daily lives of the people in our chosen time period, and helps to make us all better historians.

Experimental Archeology is a subfield of archeology that actually performs activities that try to duplicate the exact environment originally occurring (i.e. exact reproduction clothing, tools, equipment, food, etc.), in order to recreate the relationship between past human behavior and the artifacts excavated by archeologists. Put simply, experimental archeologists ask the question, “How’d they do that?”, and then they set up “experiments” to answer the question. The goal is to recreate the process that produced the artifacts.