Dear List members,
On behalf of the organisers of the Field Meeting below, please find an anouncement.
Firstly our apologies for the delay in notification regarding the Experimental Archaeology Field Meeting (Year II), which was initially proposed last summer. Due to various fieldwork complications the formal meeting has had to be delayed, however we are co-hosting, with West Stow Country Park and Anglo-Saxon Village, an informal field meeting on Wednesday 22nd July 2009. While we appreciate that the very short notice may make attendance difficult for some, we hope that you will be able to join us if possible.
Objectives:
This informal field meeting has been organised to (1) provide the opportunity to view work at West Stow and discuss it with some of those involved, (2) revise and develop best practice guidelines for experimental archaeology, and (3) identify priorities for enhancing the use of scientific approaches in experimental research on heritage sites.
The June 2008 Experimental Archaeology Field Meeting (Year I) at Butser Ancient Farm highlighted key best practice issues with reference to four discussion themes (the 2nd draft of the 'Experimental Archaeology Workshop Discussions Summary' document is attached, with thanks to all those who have contributed to the revisions): Buried soils & earthworks; Experimental agriculture; Human/hominin built structures and activity areas; and Material culture (e.g. artefact replication, use, modification).
This informal field meeting is therefore designed to develop the themes and issues addressed during the 2008 meeting. It will:
• Highlight current approaches to experimental archaeology on heritage sites, through case study field presentations on experimental structures, hut floors, and activity areas, based particularly on the ongoing experimental research at the West Stow site.
• Revise preliminary best practice guidelines (see the attached documents), with reference to experimental site recording mechanisms, student research guidelines, and on-line resources.
• Identify requirements and solutions for the implementation of scientific methodologies within experimental research projects.
Timetable:
10.00 Arrive and Coffee or Tea (West Stow Country Park and Anglo-Saxon Village)
10.30 West Stow Site Visit & Field Discussions (Structures, Hut Floors, Activity Areas and thatch)
13.00 Lunch
14.00 Best Practice Discussion
15.30 Coffee/tea
15.45 Developing Experiment & Science Discussion
17.00 Field Meeting Closes
Discussion Themes:
We propose that the Best Practice discussion session will highlight three themes, with a particular emphasis upon:
1. Developing best practice guidelines for experimental sites and research projects (please ask us for the file 'Experimental Archaeology Workshop Discussions 2nd Draft Summary.pdf'), with specific reference to developing recording mechanisms (e.g. experimental diaries).
2. Developing best practice guidelines for University students' research projects (please ask us for the file 'Best Practice in Experimental Archaeology_UK Students.pdf').
3. Developing on-line database resources (bibliographical, project-, and site-based)
The Developing Experiment & Science discussion session will highlight two themes:
1. How can the implementation of scientific approaches benefit from a network of experimental sites, heritage organisations and University Departments?
2. How can the implementation of scientific approaches benefit from the provision of on-line resources promoting best practice guidelines, bibliographies, and available resources (e.g. experimental centres, expertise, material resources)?
We welcome suggestions of other key topics for discussion.
Do please pass these details on to anybody who you think may be interested in attending and who would make a valued contribution to the discussion. Please let us know if you are coming by Friday 17th July and copy your reply to the following: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; and
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Thank you,
Martin Bell, Rob Hosfield, Wendy Matthews, Stephen Nortcliff, Alex Brown and Rowena Banerjea
Developing Experimental Approaches in Archaeology
School of Human and Environmental Sciences
University of Reading
Whiteknights
PO Box 227
Reading
RG6 6AB
http://www.reading.ac.uk/archaeology/research/Projects/arch-experimental.asp
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