Reconstruction of the Ancient Egypt Stone Vase EXARC 2021-03-30 | Olga Vdovina - Kemerovo, Antropogenez.ru / Archaeos: experimental archaeology association (Russia)With a huge variety of experiments on the reconstruction of ancient technologies, the method of making stone vases of the pre-dynastic period of Ancient Egypt has not yet been reproduced. Of particular interest are details of the process of making vessels of complex shapes under the conditions of the Copper Stone Age.In a 2019 experiment in Kemerovo, Russia, a successful attempt was made to create a bird-shaped stone vase without the use of metal tools. A well-known vessel made of limestone breccia from the Nakada culture, 3100 BC, was chosen as a sample (British Museum, BM35306). The total operating time was 7 and a half months. Working hours: 5 days a week for 6-8 hours (with breaks). Manufacturing and sharpening of tools, soaking / drying of leather and other preparatory work took about 50% of the time. The main stages of work are recorded on video. Making a vase from solid stone (diorite) using tools.Product material: Marble breccia, 20 x 20 x 20 cm.Production region - Krasnoyarsk.Consumable material:• River sand: 10 l• Gravel fraction 5-7 mm: 10 handfuls.• Cow thigh and tibia = 2 saws + drill + 20 needles.• Sandstone: 7 pieces of different sizes (from 15x9x7 cm to 5x3x0.5 cm).• Quartzite + flint: 70 stones of different sizes.• Leather: 1 cow hide.• Wood: 2 Maplewood.#EXARC #ExperimentalArchaeology #EAC12
FinallyFriday Episode 38: Perils of Preservation EXARC 2024-10-07 | When we talk about documentation, digitalisation and restoration we usually assume that the sites where this takes place are accessible and safe, like in an open-air museum. However, there is a category of conservation specialists who, on a daily basis, are dealing with a range of challenges when they work in remote and/or dangerous areas. In this episode two heritage preservation experts talk about what drives them and how they address the perils their teams face in places like Iraq, Mozambique or Angola.Stefano Campana is Professor of Landscape Archaeology at the University of Siena, specialising in documentation and remote sensing. Giovanni Fontana Antonelli is an architect and landscape planner who devoted two decades of his work to the safeguarding of cultural heritage in the Arab world.#EXARC #ExperimentalArchaeology #FinallyFriday
RETOLD System: Where we stand now EXARC 2024-09-25 | by Magdalena ZielińskaEXARC (The Netherlands)The RETOLD system focusses on documenting crafts, the people behind them, and the buildings they are associated with, to help museums preserve and share their cultural heritage. It involves digitizing collected information using available techniques to ensure it is archived for future use and accessible for sharing through various media such as images, audio, video, and 3D models. The documentation process includes storytelling from a craftsperson’s perspective - highlighting the tools, installations, and activities involved, even when there isn’t a tangible product. Additionally, buildings, whether historical or reconstructed, play a significant role in these narratives, having their own stories tied to past usage, their current role within museums, and their architectural features. To streamline the documentation of crafts and buildings we have restructured existing forms (using experience from working on the first two versions of app) so that:1.) Crafts, whether traditional, historical, or archaeological, can be documented uniformly. The system allows certain repetitive items (documenter, craftsperson, tool, installation) to be pre-filled and enables flexible submission of documentation, including video footage. This ensures that museums can choose the level of detail they wish to record and share, tailoring it to their target audience. 2.) For building documentation, the system uses forms for both historical and reconstructed houses, focusing on original construction, reconstruction processes, and detailed architectural descriptions. Next to it we collect information about every detail of the new building, like doors, windows, fire places, stairs etc. The integration of 3D models enhances the documentation process, allowing users to explore buildings through virtual walkthroughs. This approach is intended for both maintenance and storytelling purposes, adding interactive elements like text, video, and images. Efforts have been made to refine the documentation system by minimizing open-ended responses, encouraging users to select predefined options, which streamlines data collection and allows for easy filtering in the future. Though still a work in progress, this system is designed to evolve through user feedback.#exarc #RETOLD #conference2024 #digitalisation #documentation #openairmuseums #archaeology #reconstruction #techinmuseums #culturalheritage #historicalbuildings #ancienttechnology #crafts #experimentalarchaeology #3dtechnology
The Tustan Case, Leadership in Digitalisation of Museums in Ukraine EXARC 2024-09-12 | From 3D Reconstruction of a medieval cliffside Fortress to Leadership in Digitalisation of Museums in Ukraineby Vasyl Rozhko HeMo (Ukraine)In 1970-80, Mykhailo Rozhko carried out a graphic reconstruction of the medieval Tustan fortress thanks to the preserved cliffside traces. After 2007, the Tustan Archaeological Site Museum carried out detailed laser scanning and photogrammetry of the track rocks and recreated the lost architecture of the medieval skyscraper in 3D. The team is also experimenting with technologies for the virtual presentation of the fortress and the whole Tustan destination heritage to visitors, including AR/VR, and a mobile guide application.With the start of the war, the Tustan team led the HeMo:Ukrainian Heritage Monitoring Lab. We carry out expeditions to document the objects of cultural heritage of Ukraine damaged by the Russians in the war and create a database for their stabilisation and restoration. The second direction of Hemo is the digitisation of museums. We have created a Museum Digitisation Centre in Lviv to digitise collections of various types according to international standards. We also developed a program for electronic accounting of museum objects and automation of processes.https://www.heritage.in.ua/en https://www.heritage.in.ua/digitization-en#ukraine #EXARC #conference2024 #digitalisation #documentation #openairmuseums #archaeology #reconstruction #techinmuseums #culturalheritage #historicalbuildings #ancienttechnology #crafts #3d
Vlogging, Podcasts and Outreach through Digital Platforms EXARC 2024-09-12 | by Dr. Matilda Siebrecht, EXARC & Eva Götting-Martin, DAI (Germany)The topic of digitalisation in archaeology encompasses a wide range of applications. From the documentation and preservation of cultural heritage, to experimental modelling and testing of research theories. In this presentation, we will be exploring how digital platforms can be used for the dissemination of archaeological knowledge by heritage professionals and institutions. We focus specifically on podcasting and vlogging. Both media forms are ever-increasing in their popularity, and provide an accessible, discoverable, and versatile way for archaeology and heritage professionals to showcase their current projects. We will provide some case studies and examples of successful podcasts and vlogs, and discuss the practicalities of both.#exarc #RETOLD #conference2024 #digitalisation #documentation #openairmuseums #archaeology #reconstruction #techinmuseums #culturalheritage #historicalbuildings #ancienttechnology #crafts #experimentalarchaeology #3dtechnology
Museum Theatre, the digital transition and future of first-person narrative history EXARC 2024-09-12 | by Dr Foteini Venieri & Rebecca Shelley, Heterotopia Museum Theatre, Athens (Greece) Museums and heritage sites have long been essential resources for history education, providing interactive, multisensory learning experiences that foster critical thinking and cultural literacy. The pandemic-driven digital transition of live, person-led museum learning has opened up significant opportunities for innovative educational approaches while also presenting challenges for museums and their audiences. Within this digital realm, museum theatre emerges as a dynamic method for historical interpretation. The evolution of museum theatre, rooted in early European open-air and eco museums, has advanced alongside social history and new museology movements, now incorporating interdisciplinary and participatory practices. The advent of immersive and interactive technologies offers novel ways to present first-person narratives, reaching new audiences in engaging ways. The digital transition of first-person interpretation highlights the potential for enriched online learning experiences. Online museum theatre mirrors its physical counterpart by featuring performers who embody historical personas to guide virtual tours, deliver interpretative content, or participate in scripted scenarios. These performances, often supported by primary materials, can take place in museum spaces, heritage sites, or specially designed digital settings. This immersive approach deepens visitor understanding and appreciation of historical narratives, with first-person interpretation being a foundational format. Recent research and practice-based initiatives have focused on the digital transition of museum theatre, examining how it enhances online and virtual museum engagement. This presentation will provide an overview of these findings, showcasing the impact of museum theatre on virtual learning. The discussion will highlight emerging trends, propose future research directions, and suggest innovative strategies for content development and dissemination in the digital realm, promising valuable insights into the future of museum learning. #exarc #RETOLD #conference2024 #digitalisation #documentation #openairmuseums #archaeology #reconstruction #techinmuseums #culturalheritage #historicalbuildings #ancienttechnology #crafts #experimentalarchaeology #3dtechnology
Digital Applications for Archaeological Open-Air Museums EXARC 2024-09-12 | by Bangcheng TangSichuan University, Chengdu (China)In this presentation, I will suggest three types of digital applications for archaeological open-air museums.In terms of external publicity and attracting visitors, we can film selected living history actors in and around the reconstructed buildings. The resulting short videos can be shared online at the museum’s website, other websites and through various network platforms to attract people to come and visit the museum in real life.We can include scene virtual reality equipment into several of the museum’s reconstructed buildings to present the digital living history footage. This way, visitors can have a more vivid experience with virtual reality when watching the reconstructed environment. The virtual and convenient digital display is combined with the real living history display, giving the public a unique experience of visiting the archaeological open-air museum. The hybrid presentation options can save some staff costs for the museum in the off-season. In that part of the year, a real living history show is performed in a fixed place in the museum while in the peak season, a real living history show is performed in the museum continuously.In the aspect of ancient technology display, digitalisation plays a more similar role in optimizing technology learning manuals or equipment instructions, which can effectively help the audience understand the reconstructed ancient technology based on experimental archaeological research, as well as the possible effects of each step of these ancient technologies.After digital learning, visitors are likely to gain pleasure from the reality of digital knowledge from previous self-learning in the process of experiencing the operation of ancient technology, and effectively improve the satisfaction of visitors.#exarc #RETOLD #conference2024 #digitalisation #documentation #openairmuseums #archaeology #reconstruction #techinmuseums #culturalheritage #historicalbuildings #ancienttechnology #crafts #experimentalarchaeology #3dtechnology
The Role of Digital Asset Management in Skill Training and Preservation EXARC 2024-09-12 | An ALHFAM Project Case Studyby Peter Watson Howell Living History Farm & Pleasant Valley Historical Park, ALHFAM (USA)This presentation presents ALHFAM and its use of digital tools and technology to share information and training materials with those who preserve historical skills and methods; crafts, trades and traditions; and working systems, lifeways, and other forms of non material or intangible culture.Digital Asset Management tools have been around for decades, and thanks to continuingimprovements, give us new ways to acquire and share information valuable to newgenerations of practicioners. RETOLD is an amazing, inspiring example that is unfoldingbefore our eyes at this conference. Other DAM apps are being developed that read andtime-stamp video and audio footage, enabling us to pinpoint information that mightotherwise take hours to find. ALHFAM's relatively new - but already being upgraded - Skill and Knowledgebase (ASK) is creating access to training materials outside the borders of live, hands-on workshops. The database now holds skillclips and other materials generated through the organization’s Skills Training and Preservation committee, and it is currently undergoing an upgrade to a new platform that will allow the addition of oral histories, technical videos, a sound library and more.#exarc #RETOLD #conference2024 #digitalisation #documentation #openairmuseums #archaeology #reconstruction #techinmuseums #culturalheritage #historicalbuildings #ancienttechnology #crafts #experimentalarchaeology #3dtechnology
Düppel:3D - VO:CALS EXARC 2024-09-12 | by Prof. Thomas Bremer and David Witzgall(HTW Berlin, DE:HIVE), (Germany)The project centres on the development of an advanced chat system seamlessly integrated into Unreal Engine, leveraging a customized Large Language Model (LLM) to deliver context-aware interactions within virtual environments. This system addresses the challenge of dynamically adapting responses based on player positions, thereby facilitating realistic and immersive interactions. A novel prompt system underpins this capability, mapping dependencies between Non-Player Characters (NPCs) and their surroundings using a graph database. The artistic-technical endeavour aims to pioneer innovative narrative game concepts, enhancing the realism and engagement of virtual environments. A key application of this project is demonstrated through the "Düppel: 3D" project, which digitally reconstructs a medieval village excavated in the 1960s, now part of the Berlin City Museum. By integrating the chat system, the reconstructed 12th-century village is brought to life, offering interactive, historically accurate experiences within the open-air museum setting. This project not only advances the technological frontiers of virtual interaction but also enriches cultural heritage presentations, providing a robust framework for narrative-driven content across various digital platforms.#exarc #RETOLD #conference2024 #digitalisation #documentation #openairmuseums #archaeology #reconstruction #techinmuseums #culturalheritage #historicalbuildings #ancienttechnology #crafts #experimentalarchaeology #3dtechnology
Ship happens, now what? EXARC 2024-09-12 | On the Experiences of 3D-scanning maritime archaeological Objects at Batavialand and possible Applicationsby Joran Smale MA, Batavialand (the Netherlands)Spring 2024, Batavialand was graciously allowed a week of access to the Artec Leo 3D scanning device, as well as an accompanying laptop, by the Dutch Cultural Heritage Agency. Goal was to become familiar with its operation, while digitising several objects from the maritime archaeological collection stored at Batavialand. In this presentation I will talk about our experiences and show some of the results, as well as examine the limitations that we encountered. I will then discuss some of the possible applications of 3D models of maritime archaeological objects, both for research purposes and for museums.#exarc #RETOLD #conference2024 #digitalisation #documentation #openairmuseums #archaeology #reconstruction #techinmuseums #culturalheritage #historicalbuildings #ancienttechnology #crafts #experimentalarchaeology #3dtechnology
Digital Innovation inside and outside the Drents Museum EXARC 2024-09-12 | by Suzanne RusDrents Museum (the Netherlands)October 2024, the Drents Museum in Assen, the Netherlands, opens a completely new presentation of its collection. In Labyrinthia visitors will take a magical journey of discovery through fifteen rooms of the museum. Each room has a completely immersive experience, as if you were really in the middle of the story. The journey takes visitors past all our masterpieces, such as the Yde girl, the Pesse canoe and Van Gogh’s paintings. In Labyrinthia archaeology, art and history come together in a surprising mix. We create the setting for interaction and experiences for all, but specifically for families with children. Visitors can listen to iconic stories, go on a mammoth hunt, look through the eyes of Van Gogh or paddle in a canoe through the ancient bog landscape. The combination of the object, the story and a multimedia experience aim at giving visitors an insight into previous centuries in an entertaining and surprising way. But the journey doesn’t stop at the museum. Labyrinthia – and its dedicated web app – encourages visitors to also discover Drenthe. It is a unique experience to first see the object and hear the story in the museum, and then visit the location where the object has been found or created. The app also encourages visitors to visit other museums in Drenthe to learn more about a specific period or historical event. Together with several museums and partners, we are developing AR-experiences at different locations in Drenthe. This way, we can tell another part of the story, combined with the landscape setting. In our presentation we will explain more about the digital innovation inside and outside the Drents Museum, including different examples and lessons learned in the progress of making this new collection presentation.#exarc #RETOLD #conference2024 #digitalisation #documentation #openairmuseums #archaeology #reconstruction #techinmuseums #culturalheritage #historicalbuildings #ancienttechnology #crafts #experimentalarchaeology #3dtechnology
Enriching Technologies for a die-hard hands on Presentation EXARC 2024-09-12 | by Annenies KeurArcheon (the Netherlands)Museumpark Archeon in the Netherlands offers visitors a real 'hands on' experience. Visitors get to experience for themselves what life was like in prehistory, Roman times, and the Middle Ages in our country. And they get to physically participate in many things themselves. Yet digital technologies offer a rich source of additional depth to this experience. Through different media and technologies, we can offer visitors more depth, matching the experience we already give them.For Archeon, approachability and accessibility are hugely important. We do not achieve our goal with long texts and dry tours. Digital solutions have already been realised at some locations in the museum park and are experienced as enriching. The Triclinium, a rich Roman dining hall, offers a VR experience of a cena, so you imagine yourself amid a real Roman 'cena' (Roman official meal).In the Roman section, children can open an app that allows them to do an exciting scavenger hunt. Our online collection features 360o photos, so all objects can be admired all around, just at home behind your computer.We will talk about these, and other digital solutions already realised, and talk about our plans.#exarc #RETOLD #conference2024 #digitalisation #documentation #openairmuseums #archaeology #reconstruction #techinmuseums #culturalheritage #historicalbuildings #ancienttechnology #crafts #experimentalarchaeology #3dtechnology
Not just Storytelling EXARC 2024-09-11 | Documentation traditional Crafts in a Museum Settingby Dr. George TomegeaComplexul National Muzeal ASTRA (Romania)In open-air museums the presentation of crafts is a basic component in communicating heritage to the public. This usually takes the form either of demonstrations or participatory craft workshops performed by craftspeople or museum educators, or classical presentations.The importance of documenting crafts is increasing day by day because these crafts are slowly disappearing. Several factors contribute to this. For example, craftspeople are getting older, and less young people interested in taking over, there is a lack of demand for their products, and people want to pay less and less, authorities are hardly involved.Unfortunately, there is currently no international standard for documenting crafts that meets the needs of both researchers and the interested public. Based on our experience over the years, we have developed a user-friendly tool that can be used to store and pass on relevant information on crafts. Of course, this form is a proposal, to which additions, improvements or modifications may be made in the future as it is tested on a larger scale. However, we believe that it will be of real use in day-to-day work, both in terms of the information it contains and in terms of efficiency for those who will use it, as the database created will be of a uniform nature and can be used in future research.Integrating this form into a digital tool offers multiple advantages like the opportunity to create a global database, the possibility to be used with any inexpensive device such as a smartphone, tablet or laptop, easy access to and use of information, mobility offered by such an alternative, short completion time, and instant updating with new information.#exarc #RETOLD #conference2024 #digitalisation #documentation #openairmuseums #archaeology #reconstruction #techinmuseums #culturalheritage #historicalbuildings #ancienttechnology #crafts #experimentalarchaeology #3dtechnology
Local Craftspeople from Romania EXARC 2024-09-11 | A valuable Resource for reconstructing Monuments in Open-Air Museumsby Dr. Ioan-Cosmin IgnatComplexul National Muzeal ASTRA (Romania)In recent years, the curators of ASTRA Museum from Sibiu, Romania, have carried out an extensive campaign to identify local craftspeople from some Romanian historical regions. There has been created a database that serves everyone involved in the identification, transfer and reconstruction of a new monument in the open-air museum. Depending on their specialization, whether they are blacksmiths, carpenters etc., the craftspeople are contacted to offer their support, paid, in the reconstruction of the old monuments. It is an activity that brings benefits to both parties: the ASTRA Museum benefits from the knowledge and experience of the craftspeople, and they work in a favorable environment, the financial aspect not being neglected either, as they are materially rewarded.Many times the reconstruction of monuments in the open-air museum of Dumbrava Sibilui turns into interactive workshops. Visitors have the opportunity to see how the monuments are reconstructed. Also, visitors and craftspeople can interact, creating future connections that implicitly lead to the completion of contracts between these parties.In our presentation, we will refer both to the Romanian craftspeople who still practice old trades, disappeared in some parts of Europe, but also to their valuable contribution to the reconstruction of the monuments in the ASTRA Museum from Sibiu.#exarc #RETOLD #conference2024 #digitalisation #documentation #openairmuseums #archaeology #reconstruction #techinmuseums #culturalheritage #historicalbuildings #ancienttechnology #crafts #experimentalarchaeology #3dtechnology
When Digital hits the Museum EXARC 2024-09-11 | Experiences in our Museum with 3D Rüdiger Kelm, Steinzeitpark Albersdorf, GermanyThe Stone Age Park Dithmarschen in Albersdorf (Germany) is an archaeological open-air museum focussing on the Stone Age. It consists of an outdoor park area of about 40 hectares. This includes archaeological monuments, reconstructed Mesolithic, and Neolithic buildings and a recently opened museum building with an exhibition of original artifacts. Like in any other museum our challenge is to save and document information, especially practical work techniques and craft skills, in a sustainable way for future museum generations. Because of the evolving questions of this perspective the Stone Age Park joined Retold in 2020.In our day-to-day business, we have no time to document, digitise and share the stories of our buildings, crafts, and such. Every step in this process was new for us, starting with the communication and data storage until the advanced creation of 3D-models of our buildings.Especially the 3D-models work as a perfect stage for sharing information about a building, whether you are standing inside it or if you are anywhere else in the world. For example, if our maintenance staff has this model on their tablet, they can walk through the house and make notes in the 3D model about repairs needed. In the presentation it will be shown all the steps we had to solve as a smaller museum for the possibility to create 3D-models of our House reconstructions, from getting the hardware, learning to work with the software, creating 3D-models in real, use and publish them and spread this knowledge to other museums.#exarc #RETOLD #conference2024 #digitalisation #documentation #openairmuseums #archaeology #reconstruction #techinmuseums #culturalheritage #historicalbuildings #ancienttechnology #crafts #experimentalarchaeology #3dtechnology
Our House - The Importance of documenting reconstructed buildings EXARC 2024-09-11 | A case study from the Museumsdorf Düppel in Berlinby Dr. Julia HeebStadtmuseum Berlin (Germany)Archaeological house reconstructions in open-air museums have increased dramatically over the last twenty years. Their construction is mostly based on below ground archaeological features like postholes and fire pits. In other words, the above ground structures are interpretations of a possible outcome. Although often a lot of discussions precede the construction process, this process is rarely documented. The same goes for the construction process itself. The sense of achievement in building a house is immense and quite often the emotional aspects supersede the need to document the entire process transparently. It is understandable; however, the future uses of an archaeological house reconstruction can go way beyond creating a possible version of the past for our visitors and volunteers alike.There is a wealth of knowledge locked in the wooden posts and wattle and daub walls. This knowledge can only be harnessed, if the entire process of planning, building, and using the house is documented. If there is a wish to use this knowledge for research purposes, large datasets are necessary. These large datasets could be achieved, if different open-air museums were to document in a standardised and comparable workflow.This paper will explore the problems and potential of starting to implement standardised documentation practices in the Museumsdorf Düppel in Berlin, Germany.#exarc #RETOLD #conference2024 #digitalisation #documentation #openairmuseums #archaeology #reconstruction #techinmuseums #culturalheritage #historicalbuildings #ancienttechnology #crafts #experimentalarchaeology #3dtechnology
The Role of Research Institutions in Digital Cultural Heritage EXARC 2024-09-11 | by Prof. Dr. Clara Masriera EsquerraUniversitat Autónoma de Barcelona (Spain)This presentation addresses the role of research institutions in digital cultural heritage, specifically the projects developed in the Prehistory department of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) network of digital humanities and heritage.This network, established in 2016, has the aim to promote research, teaching and innovation in the field of digital humanities and heritage. The presentation discusses the various components of the network's infrastructure as well as the objectives of digitalisation of cultural heritage.#exarc #RETOLD #conference2024 #digitalisation #documentation #openairmuseums #archaeology #reconstruction #techinmuseums #culturalheritage #historicalbuildings #ancienttechnology #crafts #experimentalarchaeology #3dtechnology
Going Digital, Issues, Challenges, and Results EXARC 2024-09-11 | by Dr. Roeland Paardekooper, Friedenstein Stiftung Gotha, EXARC (Germany)We designed the RETOLD Project to professionalise open-air museums. Little did we know what challenges we were waking up. What we want to capture are the stories of our museums and the people involved. We do not show a 3D model of “just a longhouse”, we show a specific house. The video and its documentation are not about “just a craft”, it shows a unique event. These are different steps of interpretation (cf Hurcombe 2015).Going digital helped us in structuring the information, also for colleagues in other museums, for those speaking other languages and for the public around the world. An important result is that we broke the code of how to document crafts (as example of activities) and buildings (as example of physical things). The other important outcome is the interface which makes it easier to use these long questionnaires, plus a way of extracting the information in an attractive way.Our biggest challenge was the dialogue. We all had to lean out of our comfort zone, and it was hard. We have partners in several countries, we have archaeological open-air museums as well as a historical open-air museum, a university, technical developers, and people “in between”. It took the museums three years to explain what they needed in a language the developers could understand. It took the developers three years to get it done, and yes, much of this overlapped within the four years we had.We are not ready! We have a very solid base, and what we have to offer is not just a product, we offer a journey. With little effort, your content can be much more valuable. Will you join us?#exarc #RETOLD #conference2024 #digitalisation #documentation #openairmuseums #archaeology #reconstruction #techinmuseums #culturalheritage #historicalbuildings #ancienttechnology #crafts #experimentalarchaeology #3dtechnology
Digitisation and 3D Visualisation EXARC 2024-09-11 | The State-of-The-Art vs Technological Appropriateness for Cultural Heritage Sitesby Dr. Cordula HansenXYZ Technical Art Services (Germany)As part of the RETOLD project, we planned an extensive phase of user research, where we listened to staff and volunteers in open-air museums to learn more about their experience of using digital technology, before, during and after the Covid pandemic. This presentation summarises the results and explores the barriers of adoption of digital tools and methods in open-air museums and other cultural institutions. We discuss the organisational and cultural factors contributing to the issue and offer an overview of approaches from the RETOLD project to lowering the barrier of entry for museums with regard to using digital technologies and 3D visualisation.#exarc #RETOLD #conference2024 #digitalisation #documentation #openairmuseums #archaeology #reconstruction #techinmuseums #culturalheritage #historicalbuildings #ancienttechnology #crafts #experimentalarchaeology #3dtechnology
Japan’s forgotten Pithouses EXARC 2024-09-11 | Documenting the dismantling of Reconstructed Prehistoric Architectureby John Ertl (Keio University), Yasuyuki Yoshida (Morioka University), Corey Noxon (Ritsumeikan University), Yoko Ikari (Meiji University) (Japan)In our database of reconstructed prehistoric buildings in Japan (tateana.org), we have identified nearly 1,000 buildings at 350 locations, all built after 1949. Despite the public investment in these buildings, records about them are surprisingly inconsistent. We find that this sporadic documentation causes several problems ranging from: the repetition of certain designs, a narrow specialization that discourages experimentation, and the loss of local historical narratives (ancient and contemporary). Today, many of these sites have faded from public view and their buildings have been abandoned or demolished. Unfortunately, in Japan there are even fewer records at the end of a reconstructed building’s life, and only a few attempts to learn from them (e.g., about the process of decay). In this presentation, we introduce our current work at Umenoki site (Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture) where we have created three-dimensional photogrammetry models of pit dwellings at different stages ranging from their initial completion to before being dismantled. We are considering the potential of digital documentation for understanding changes over the life history of cultural artifacts.#exarc #RETOLD #conference2024 #digitalisation #documentation #openairmuseums #archaeology #reconstruction #techinmuseums #culturalheritage #historicalbuildings #ancienttechnology #crafts #experimentalarchaeology #3dtechnology
Experiencing the Lower German Limes in a game-based Way EXARC 2024-09-11 | by Stephan EngelhardLVR-Archaeological Park Xanten, Xanten (Germany)The Lower Rhine area is currently one of the most interesting parts of the Lower German Limes. Archaeologists have discovered various remains of military sites in recent years that bear witness to the efforts made by the Roman Empire to secure its northwestern frontier. A new exhibition tells that the river Rhine was not an impassable border. On the contrary, the ancient landscape evolved into a zone of mutual contacts, for example Roman soldiers venerated a Germanic goddess. Designed to appeal to children and young visitors, a digital experience raises curiosity to explore the new exhibition. With this self-led activity, children take on the role of a trader, learn about the life of Roman legionaries and discover everyday life in a Germanic settlement. Interactive riddles and in-game activities thus contribute to a new educational offer in a playful way. #exarc #RETOLD #conference2024 #digitalisation #documentation #openairmuseums #archaeology #reconstruction #techinmuseums #culturalheritage #historicalbuildings #ancienttechnology #crafts #experimentalarchaeology #3dtechnology
Digitally Restoring Museum Objects to their Original Context EXARC 2024-09-11 | by Elin Tinuviel Torbergsen Museum Nord and University of Oslo (Norway)The objective is to create a digital relationship between the original finds in the cultural landscape and the objects inside the stand exhibition at the Lofotr Viking Museum at Borg in Lofoten, Norway. Here, the context of the find and the objects are separated. Visitors have problems understanding the historical significance of the cultural landscape at the museums and its relationship to the objects in the exhibitions. This is a general challenge that applies to many archaeological and cultural history museums, and this article will provide examples that can help solve the challenges.This is done by creating a situated AR-simulated prototype which test candidates can download on smartphones and tablets. The purpose of the test run is to find out whether the situated AR simulation appears real and contributes to a greater understanding between the original context and the objects. Since the article is in production, I can only point out the desired results. Through a questionnaire and observations, I want the test candidates to express themselves of their digital experience. That they understand the connection between objects and the site of discovery, by seeing them transferred digitally to the original site through a 3D constructed environment. In this way, they will be able to physically experience by looking for the objects in a 3D constructed landscape with Viking houses, people, and animals. But also, visually see the objects from a fragmented state to a reconstructed whole, and its entire context as an object of use in the Viking Age.#EXARC #RETOLD #conference2024 #digitalisation #documentation #openairmuseums #archaeology #reconstruction #techinmuseums #culturalheritage #historicalbuildings #ancienttechnology #crafts #experimentalarchaeology #3dtechnology See also: podcast 'Future-proofing the Past' (exarc.net/podcast/future-proofing-past)
“Augmenting” an Open-Air Museum EXARC 2024-09-11 | The Experience at Parco Archeologico didattico del Livelet, Italyby Maura StefaniParco Archeologico didattico del Livelet (Italy)Parco Archeologico didattico del Livelet is an open-air museum located in North-Eastern Italy, in the Veneto Region, Province of Treviso. Three pile-dwelling structures were built at Livelet to present the everyday life on a lake shore during Neolithic, Copper Age and Bronze Age, taking inspiration from the nearby archaeological site of Colmaggiore di Tarzo.We have long wanted to test the potential of Virtual and Augmented Reality in open-air museums. The possibility arrived in 2023, when we participated in the selections for a funded project. We had many ideas, that partly clashed with the actual budget and the possibilities of the technologies to which we had access. We have arrived at a project that satisfies us thanks to an open dialogue with the company to which the work was entrusted, which had already collaborated with colleagues from another open-air museum in Veneto. At the moment we are ready to launch a new educational activity, using virtual reality, and a path that the public can follow independently, with augmented reality. AR and VR will not replace any of the activities usually carried out at the open-air museum, but will complement some of them. In fact, the project was born from a long analysis of what we currently offer and what we would like to offer to the public, but do not yet do. It does not want to replace, but actually increase what is our reality.#exarc #RETOLD #conference2024 #digitalisation #documentation #openairmuseums #archaeology #reconstruction #techinmuseums #culturalheritage #historicalbuildings #ancienttechnology #crafts #experimentalarchaeology #3dtechnology
Unlocking (3D) digital Heritage EXARC 2024-09-11 | by Kate Fernie and Henk Alkemade, Carare (Ireland)This presentation and extended discussion will offer you the opportunity to find out about using standards and metadata for 3D cultural heritage to make it FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable). We will present some inspiring examples from across Europe, of the creation and use/ re-use of 3D content that are relevant to open-air Museums and reconstructions and we will discuss with you some lessons learned in the process.#EXARC #RETOLD #conference2024 #digitalisation #documentation #openairmuseums #archaeology #reconstruction #techinmuseums #culturalheritage #historicalbuildings #ancienttechnology #crafts #experimentalarchaeology #3dtechnology
Know your Needles, podcast July 2024 EXARC 2024-07-10 | Reel promoting the EXARC show released on July 5th 2024, a podcast about nalbinding.
FinallyFriday Episode 37: Know your Needles EXARC 2024-07-04 | In this month's episode of Finally Friday, Matilda chats with two specialists in nalbinding to find out all the details of the development, origins, and variety of this unique craft. Niina-Hannele Nuutinen (Nele) is the co-ordinator of the EXARC textiles working group and a masters student in Crafting Science at the University of Eastern Finland, where she looks at identifying structure vs technique in different kinds of non-woven textiles. Emma Boast is an archaeological small finds specialist with the University of York Department of Archaeology, specialising in early medieval and Viking Age material culture, and is also registered with the UK Guild of Master Craftsmen as a professional nalbinder with her business Nidavellnir.#EXARC #ExperimentalArchaeology #FinallyFriday
FinallyFriday Episode 36: Future-proofing the Past EXARC 2024-06-20 | Like many things in the modern world, digitalisation has transformed the way we interact with the past and opened opportunities for visualisation, curation and sharing. But how do we actually use these digital tools? How do we use them to engage the public? And how do we ensure our digital data is a fair representation of the past? Henk Alkemade was originally trained as a physical geographer but went into a career in IT following his studies. Elin Tinuviel Torbergsen currently works for the Museum Nord as a curator for the West Lofoten Department.#EXARC #ExperimentalArchaeology #FinallyFriday
Future-proofing the Past, podcast June 2024 EXARC 2024-06-19 | Reel promoting the EXARC show released on June 7th 2024, a podcast about digitalisation.
FinallyFriday Episode 35: The Past in Mind EXARC 2024-05-03 | In this month's episode of #FinallyFriday, we're discussing how experimental archaeology projects can help in developing well-being! Megan Russell is a PhD student leading the Experimental Health Project. After working in commercial archaeology, Megan saw the potential of experimental archaeology being used as a tool to increase mental health. She is exploring how other aspects of archaeology such as craft can contribute to mental health as a more accessible option. Dr Hayden Scott-Pratt is curator at the Hengistbury Head Visitor Centre. He is currently running the ‘Living in the Round’ experimental archaeology Wellbeing project, which aims to bring together local people through the medium of community-focused, experimental archaeology. Between them, the guests present their experiences running different experimental archaeology projects that explore issues related to mental health. They deal with questions of what actually is "well-being"? How can we create more longevity for projects dealing with well-being? What impact does physical setting have on the project? Tune in to find out the answers, and discover some great examples of the positive societal impact of experimental archaeology.#EXARC #ExperimentalArchaeology #FinallyFriday
RETOLD: Interview with Rüdiger Kelm, Steinzeitpark Dithmarschen (Germany) EXARC 2024-04-22 | The RETOLD project aims to ensure that open-air museums can continue telling important cultural heritage stories to a diverse public by developing a standardised workflow to collect, digitise, and share data on buildings, crafts, and traditions. These data will be stored in an open access format so that museum professionals, researchers, and the public can access and use them freely. This will ensure better quality research through more comparable data, the preservation of tacit cultural heritage knowledge, and opportunities for more engaging and impactful story-telling about cultural heritage to the general public.Within RETOLD projects we work with different specialists. We have asked all of them a few questions to better understand their role and what they want to achieve with the project. In this video Rüdiger Kelm from Steinzeitpark Dithmarschen explains their part in the project.#EXARC #ExperimentalArchaeology #RETOLD
FinallyFriday Episode 34: A Ring of Re-enactors EXARC 2024-04-05 | This episode we're having a bit of fun and looking at an alternative kind of living history with two guests from the Middle Earth Re-enactment society. Join us to hear all about how the society started and what exactly they do in terms of living history, but also to listen in to discussions on the authenticity of re-enactment, maintaining a social group that's scattered around the world, and why the setting of a fantasy world enables a more diverse re-enactment experience. So pop the kettle on, and let's settle down for a listen along with second breakfast!#EXARC #ExperimentalArchaeology #FinallyFriday
Nordic Walkabout with Markus Klek: Follow-up Discussion EXARC 2024-04-04 | How did human beings experience winter travel towards the end of the last ice age?In the context of a living history experiment he explored trekking and camping conditions in a Nordic winter landscape using only stone age equipment. Clothing and gear based on ethnographic and archaeological examples were put to a prolonged test in the field during two weeks of hiking in the Fjell of Jämtland in February and March 2024. Bundling almost thirty years of experience in ancient skills and traditional crafts, the endeavor was be well documented, and all results will be shared through various channels and are open for discussion.Please join the crowd funding campaign for this exciting undertaking, so we can all benefit from the results and experiences: startnext.com/en/nordic-walkaboutPhotos: MK©DanielGeiger1#Nordicwalkabout
FinallyFriday Episode 33: Magnifying the Past EXARC 2024-03-11 | So you’ve dug up an object… but how do you know what it was used for? Microwear and use-wear analysis is a growing sub-field within archaeology looking for microscopic traces on artefacts which might give us clues on how they were used in the past – or what might have happened to them once they were abandoned. Join us on this month’s episode of #FinallyFriday for a deep dive into the world of microscopes and experimental reference collections.Our guests: Matilda Siebrecht's (DE) master's research focussed on amber and ground stone analysis and her PhD research at the University of Groningen examined use-wear on ivory and bone tools from the Arctic Historic Populations of Canada. Éva Halbrucker (BE) is a use-wear specialist and postdoctoral researcher at the University of Ghent. As part of her PhD, Éva used use-wear and microwear analysis on flint to examine the Neolithic-Mesolithic transition of northwest Belgium.#EXARC #ExperimentalArchaeology #FinallyFriday
FinallyFriday Episode 32: The Meaning of Cleaning EXARC 2024-03-05 | Lather, rinse, and repeat – an insight into early chemistry. In this month’s episode of #FinallyFriday we dive into the history of soap, debunking soap origin myths and breaking down the science of making soap. From sourcing specific wood ash to hunting down ancient recipes, our two experts explore all the factors that are needed to create a good bar of soap. Sally Pointer is an archaeologist and freelance heritage educator with a background in museum education and teaching traditional skills. Dr Sara Robb began making honey soaps and beeswax creams after leaving academic research in 2003.#EXARC #ExperimentalArchaeology #FinallyFriday
Nordic Walkabout with Markus Klek: Q&A beforehand EXARC 2024-01-17 | How did human beings experience winter travel towards the end of the last ice age?In the context of a living history experiment he will set out to explore trekking and camping conditions in a Nordic winter landscape using only stone age equipment. Clothing and gear based on ethnographic and archaeological examples will be put to a prolonged test in the field during two weeks of hiking in the Fjell of Jämtland in February and March 2024. Bundling almost thirty years of experience in ancient skills and traditional crafts, the endeavor will be well documented, and all results be shared through various channels and are open for discussion.Please join the crowd funding campaign for this exciting undertaking, so we can all benefit from the results and experiences: startnext.com/en/nordic-walkaboutPhotos: MK©DanielGeiger1
EXARC Show end of 2023 episode EXARC 2023-12-02 | Stay tuned, on December 15th a new EXARC show episode will be released! We will discuss what 2023 has meant for EXARC and what will be our future projects.#EXARC #Experimental #Archaeology #show #podcast #video #watch #reel #new #Episode #future #plan #savethedate #mirror #windows
RETOLD: Interview with Julia Heeb, Museumsdorf Düppel (Germany) EXARC 2023-11-14 | The RETOLD project aims to ensure that open-air museums can continue telling important cultural heritage stories to a diverse public by developing a standardised workflow to collect, digitise, and share data on buildings, crafts, and traditions. These data will be stored in an open access format so that museum professionals, researchers, and the public can access and use them freely. This will ensure better quality research through more comparable data, the preservation of tacit cultural heritage knowledge, and opportunities for more engaging and impactful story-telling about cultural heritage to the general public.Within RETOLD projects we work with different specialists. We have asked all of them a few questions to better understand their role and what they want to achieve with the project. In this video Julia Heeb explains her part in the project.#EXARC #ExperimentalArchaeology #RETOLD
Mastering Metals, podcast November 2023 EXARC 2023-11-10 | The use of #metal has transformed almost every aspect of life, helping us to clothe ourselves, create cars, trains and planes, get to the bottom of the ocean and out into space. On this month’s episode of Finally Friday, we take a look at how experimental archaeology helps us to understand metal in the past, with guests Fergus Milton and Giovanna Fregni. Fergus Milton is a long-standing prehistoric metalworking demonstrator at #Butser #Ancient #Farm in the #UK. He works closely with the public, giving frequent demonstrations of his work. Giovanna Fregni is an experienced jeweler and archaeologist with particular interests in non-ferrous metals and replicating ancient metalworking techniques from the Bronze Age to #Medieval period. Similarly to Fergus, she now offers #demonstration and teaching on these ancient techniques.exarc.net/podcast/mastering-metals#EXARC #Experimental #Archaeology #Reel #watch #shorts #video #podcast
FinallyFriday Episode 31: Mastering Metals EXARC 2023-11-05 | The use of metal has transformed almost every aspect of life, helping us to clothe ourselves, create cars, trains and planes, get to the bottom of the ocean and out into space. On this month’s episode of #FinallyFriday, we take a look at how experimental archaeology helps us to understand metal in the past, with guests Fergus Milton and Giovanna Fregni. Fergus Milton is a long-standing prehistoric metalworking demonstrator at Butser Ancient Farm in the UK. He works closely with the public, giving frequent demonstrations of his work. Giovanna Fregni is an experienced jeweller and archaeologist with particular interests in non-ferrous metals and replicating ancient metalworking techniques from the Bronze Age to Medieval period. Similarly to Fergus, she now offers demonstration and teaching on these ancient techniques.#EXARC #ExperimentalArchaeology #FinallyFriday
Introducing Jess Shaw, New Host of The EXARC Show EXARC 2023-10-30 | We're very happy to announce that Jess Shaw, #archaeologist, self-professed jack-of-all trades and #Tutor at the #Ancient Technology Center joins Matilda Siebrecht and Phoebe Baker as hosts of #FinallyFriday/The #EXARC Show. Meanwhile, congratulations to Matilda who has just earned a PhD for her research into Arctic organic tools and good luck to Phoebe who has just embarked on PhD research into clothing and shelter of the Upper Palaeolithic.Three hosts meaning three takes on a wide variety of topics related to experimental archaeology, ancient technology, open-air museums and interpretation. Join us for another great season of EXARC podcasts!www.exarc.net/podcast
FinallyFriday Episode 30: Sustain Ability on Show EXARC 2023-10-06 | This month we consider open-air museums and cultural heritage sites from the perspective of the Sustainable Development Goals, as Matilda chats with guests Amy Stewart and Silje Evjenth Bentsen. Amy Stewart is the curator at the Crannog Centre Open Air Museum in Scotland, and Dr Silje Evjenth Bentsen is the project manager of “Fotefar mot nord” (“Traces towards the North”) in Norway. Together, they discuss issues of social, material, and environmental sustainability when rebuilding cultural heritage sites.#EXARC #ExperimentalArchaeology #FinallyFriday
RETOLD Meeting Dithmarschen 2023 EXARC 2023-09-26 | For the semi final meeting of the RETOLD Project, we go to Albersdorf in Northern Germany. Again this is mainly an internal project meeting. We will be testing the RETOLD app which is meant for documentation of houses and crafts.The Steinzeitpark Dithmarschen is an excellent place to try this out as we do not just want to capture data, but see how the existing analog and digital data of an open-air museum can be fed into the system of RETOLD. We aim to discuss the relevance of this app and the RETOLD project in general with other museum professionals. After this meeting, we will be tweaking our products, some more testing over the winter, and then we should be good to go and share the results with other museums.The RETOLD project aims to ensure that open-air museums can continue telling important cultural heritage stories to a diverse public by developing a standardised workflow to collect, digitise, and share data on buildings, crafts, and traditions. These data will be stored in an open access format so that museum professionals, researchers, and the public can access and use them freely. exarc.net/eu-projects/retold/meetings/september-2023#exarc #experimentalarchaeology #experimental #archaeology #shorts #retold #watch #read #Steinzeitpark #Dithmarschen #EU
RETOLD: Interview with Roeland Paardekooper, EXARC (the Netherlands) EXARC 2023-09-26 | The RETOLD project aims to ensure that open-air museums can continue telling important cultural heritage stories to a diverse public by developing a standardised workflow to collect, digitise, and share data on buildings, crafts, and traditions. These data will be stored in an open access format so that museum professionals, researchers, and the public can access and use them freely. This will ensure better quality research through more comparable data, the preservation of tacit cultural heritage knowledge, and opportunities for more engaging and impactful story-telling about cultural heritage to the general public.Within RETOLD projects we work with different specialists. We have asked all of them a few questions to better understand their role and what they want to achieve with the project. In this video Roeland Paardekooper explains his part in the project.#EXARC #ExperimentalArchaeology #RETOLD
Casting a Copper Age Axe Using a Replica of the Marl Mould Found in Baffoni Cave (AN) EXARC 2023-09-22 | exarc.net/issue-2023-2/ea/casting-copper-age-axe-using-replica-marl-mouldThe Baffoni Cave is a cavern that lies in the Genga territory, in the province of Ancona, Italy. It is part of a complex of caves, the most famous of which are the Frasassi Caves. The whole territory is rich in archaeological features, with the most ancient specimen found within the Genga territory being a flint biface dating to the Lower Palaeolithic (Montanari and Pignocchi, 2022, p. 125). In 1952-1954, an archaeological expedition led by Dr Antonio Mario Radmilli searched the Baffoni Cave. Among the other specimens, three objects caught the attention of the scholar: a sandstone with signs of use, a bronze dagger and what initially appeared to be a clay mould for making unidentified metal objects.
2023 Interview with Annelou van Gijn, project manager of Putting life into Late Neolithic houses EXARC 2023-09-18 | In this video Annelou van Gijn, Emeritus Professor in Material Culture Studies at Leiden University, introduces herself and speaks about her role in the project.#EXARC #ExperimentalArchaeology #puttinglife
Conference Day: Ancient Shipping and Shipbuilding EXARC 2023-09-16 | This is the live stream for the International scientific and practical seminar entitled "Ancient shipping and shipbuilding: issues of research, reconstruction and the possibility of use for the development of tourism", which will be held in the Park of historical reconstruction "Ostvytsia/Оствиця" (Rivne).Topics of the seminar:• Ancient shipbuilding• Ancient shipping• Problems of the methodology of archaeological research of ancient water vehicles• Experimental archaeology in the study of ancient shipping• Issues of reconstruction and restoration of ancient water vehiclesOrganized with the assistance of the EXARC association (Netherlands) and with the support of the Department of Culture and Tourism of the Rivne State Regional Government.
Expedition: Markus Klek EXARC 2023-09-13 | hear all about an exciting upcoming expedition from EXARC member Markus Klek.How did human beings experience winter travel towards the end of the last ice age?In the context of a living history experiment he will set out to explore trekking and camping conditions in a Nordic winter landscape using only stone age equipment. Clothing and gear based on ethnographic and archaeological examples will be put to a prolonged test in the field during two weeks of hiking in the Fjell of Jämtland in February and March 2024. Bundling almost thirty years of experience in ancient skills and traditional crafts, the endeavor will be well documented, and all results be shared through various channels and are open for discussion.Please join the crowd funding campaign for this exciting undertaking, so we canall benefit from the results and experiences.Photos: MK©DanielGeiger1
RETOLD: Interview with George Tomegea, ASTRA Museum (Romania) EXARC 2023-08-24 | The RETOLD project aims to ensure that open-air museums can continue telling important cultural heritage stories to a diverse public by developing a standardised workflow to collect, digitise, and share data on buildings, crafts, and traditions. These data will be stored in an open access format so that museum professionals, researchers, and the public can access and use them freely. This will ensure better quality research through more comparable data, the preservation of tacit cultural heritage knowledge, and opportunities for more engaging and impactful story-telling about cultural heritage to the general public.Within RETOLD projects we work with different specialists. We have asked all of them a few questions to better understand their role and what they want to achieve with the project. In this video George Tomegea explains his part in the project.#EXARC #ExperimentalArchaeology #RETOLD
FinallyFriday Episode 28: Have Beans, Will Travel EXARC 2023-07-25 | Beans, beans! They’re good for the heart! In this month’s episode we are joined by two specialists from the EXARC Experimental Archaeology Award winning project Investigating the Origin of the Common Bean in the New World. We hear about the difficulties identifying beans in the archaeological record and how using organic residue analysis might begin to spill the beans… on beans. Timothy Baumann is the lead investigator on the project. His research interests in experimental archaeology focus mainly on prehistoric and historic foodways, pottery and tools from the south-eastern United States, which is where the idea for the project came from. Eleanora Reber is a Professor of Archaeology at the University of North Carolina Wilmington and Interim Chair of the International Studies Department.#EXARC #ExperimentalArchaeology #FinallyFriday
FinallyFriday Episode 29: Mud Matters EXARC 2023-07-25 | In this month’s episode of Finally Friday we are talking sustainable and natural buildings! Most of us live in and around buildings every day, but could going back to historic or natural building techniques add new dimension to our architecture? This month Phoebe is joined by two experts from our EXARC community, Caroline Nicolay and Daniel Postma. Caroline Nicolay is an archaeologist and heritage specialist who focusses on the public’s interaction, interpretation and experience of archaeology. Daniel Postma is a natural builder and archaeologist based in Scotland. His first involvement in experimental archaeology began in the research and eventual reconstruction of an early medieval turf building located in the north of the Netherlands and he is now a specialist in this material.#EXARC #ExperimentalArchaeology #FinallyFriday
EAC13 Support Ukraine Network (SUN) session EXARC 2023-07-11 | During this session:- Aimée Little of the YEAR Centre introduces the background of the SUN initiative; - Yarema Ivantsiv gives an overview of the origins and development of experimental archaeology in Ukraine;- Roeland Paardekooper discusses EXARC perspectives and participation;- Aimée presents activities so far and plans for the future; - There is a question and answer session with the audience.This session offers a lot of practical information about the SUN as well details on contributions that are sought. Moreover, it makes poignantly clear what is motivating experimental archaeologists in Ukraine to carry on their work during these difficult times.#EXARC #ExperimentalArchaeology #EAC13
