Question about experimental archaeology

[Archaeologist]

Hello

I would have a question about the Great War. I am very interested in the First World War and also in experimental archaeology, so I would like to ask if you know of any archaeological experiments or of anyone who could look into this. Thank you in advance for your answers .

[Moonraker]

Did you mean to write "experimental" and "experiment", which suggest trying out new methods of excavating, analysing, storing and curating?  Google "Great War Forum archaeology" and similar groups of words will lead to many, many threads about excavations here in the UK, on European battlefields and elsewhere.  You may wish to  be more specific.

[Dave66]

Welcome,

I’m sure forum member @trajan may well be able to help with all things archaeological.

Dave.

[trajan]

 

On 06/05/2023 at 13:21, Archaeologist said:

I would have a question about the Great War. I am very interested in the First World War and also in experimental archaeology, so I would like to ask if you know of any archaeological experiments or of anyone who could look into this. Thank you in advance for your answers .

Sorry for this belated reply... But welcome 'Archaeologist! Where are you based?

I am not aware of any experimental archaeology taking place in connection with the Great War, but you might write to the Glasgow University Centre for Battlefield Archaeology as they might know of something. There are re-enactment groups who might do some 'practice trench digging' so a form of experimental archaeology if properly directed and controlled.

As for actual exavations, you would probably need to contact one of the French or Belgium groups who specialise in this work as a form of salvage archaeology.

Trajan 

Edited 11 May , 2023 by trajan

[PhilB]

What exactly is experimental archaeology?

[trajan]

Basically it cvers a wide range of topics. One example is the Overton Down Earthwork, constructed back in the 1960's, to initally get an idea of the labour involved in creating an earthwork rampart defence but primarily to see how this weathers and deterioates over time, and how objects buried within the earthwork move around thanks to worms, etc. 

Another example is organised re-enactment drills of ancient armies. E.g., the Ermine Street Guard have done controleld marches to see if a legionary in full armour can do a 20 Roman mile treck, etc., and the waterproof value of their leather tents, Of course it is not exactly real soldiers doing this, but it does give a realistic idea of what a Roman legionary experienced. One notable discovery this way  was that legionaries had to wear a neck scarf over their tunics not as a weat scarf but as otherwise the shoulder plates of the armour seriously chafe the neck. Another one was that while legionaries are often shown with dangling metal straps over the genitalia this was not for protection but for show as a form of bling - try charging wearing these as one would not get very far but would be doubled over with agony.... 

One more would be trial smelting of iron or casting bronze using what we think the technology was in the Iron and Bronze Ages, also making, e.g., Neoltihic and other pottery, 

The success of these projects depends on many variables but generally speaking they do give an idea of what was possible in the past,

Can it be applied to WW1 archaeology? Yes! Think for example of digging those tunnels dug through chalk etc. for land mines. How silently could it be done with what rate of progress? 

Julian

[PhilB]

 Thanks, J.

[Moonraker]

16 minutes ago, trajan said:

Basically it cvers a wide range of topics. One example is the Overton Down Earthwork, constructed back in the 1960's, to initally get an idea of the labour involved in creating an earthwork rampart defence but primarily to see how this weathers and deterioates over time, and how objects buried within the earthwork move around thanks to worms, etc.

On the  Marlborough Downs,  about 1.75 miles NE of Avebury. I cycled out to watch it being constructed -  this would have been 1960-63. Stark white chalk then. I pass by most  summers  and stop  to  look at it (and to reflect on where the 60  years have gone), though now it's covered in grass and a little challenging to spot.