Experimental archaeology is an important part of our research. Here, students and scientists can investigate their theses in archaeological experiments and gain new insights into a wide range of production methods from bygone times. Cooperation between all those who want to carry out experiments is essential.
Here you will find a selection of the possibilities that our workshop offers to become active in experimental archaeology. The diverse selection offers space to become creative in experimentation and to support your own research with meaningful results.
If you are interested in working in the teaching workshop, please contact our representative for the teaching workshop Mr. Tim Klingenberg M.A. and our tutor for experimental archaeology Ms. Hannah Zietsch B.A. beforehand.
Please note! The safety of the users is our top priority. Therefore, the wearing of appropriate protective clothing is mandatory depending on the experiment. As the workshop is intended to be a place of learning for a long time to come, tidying up and cleaning before leaving is mandatory.
Our workshop offers a variety of tools that are used for surface excavations (e.g. pickaxes, scoops, spades, etc.). Every semester, these tools are also used in the practical archaeology exercise to prepare students for their first excavation.
The workshop contains several hand-held measuring devices and material for the graphic documentation of small finds. The equipment is used at regular intervals as part of our courses to teach students the techniques of finds processing, in particular the drawing of finds.
In order to prepare the samples from our projects for examination and subsequent analysis, we have a drying cabinet and precise scales in the workshop. With Dr. Vilma Ruppienė, we also have now the opportunity to use several stone saws and polishing tools to prepare rock samples for analysis.
Our workshop has a pyrotechnics forge that allows you to easily reconstruct melting processes. The production of alloyed objects is also no obstacle. The casting and subsequent forging of objects are possible in the workshop. The necessary protective equipment, such as fireproof suits and protective masks, are available.
As ceramics are one of the most important types of finds in archaeology, the possibilities for producing ceramics in our house are manifold. Whether you want to use the coil method or our foot-operated or electric potter's wheels, the possibilities are endless. Various small tools that can be used for production are also available for you. Afterwards you can then use our chamber kiln with a volume of over 440 liters or our top-loading kiln with a volume of 60 liters to fire the ceramics.
Experiments with stone carving and its associated techniques can easily be carried out in larger groups thanks to the large number of tool sets provided by our Institute. Various materials such as plasticine, limestone or marble slabs can be used. Of course, the purchase of other materials can be arranged in advance.
In the workshop, you can make plaster copies of up to half a meter with the available impression materials and plasters. The appropriate tools are also available.
Large seminar groups can also experiment with different mosaic techniques in the workshop. These include techniques involving marble, glass and brick.
The workshop offers various types of clay, gypsum and lime to carry out experiments on the subject of plaster and mortar. The tools for this are sufficient for working in small groups.
The techniques of al fresco & al secco can be tried out in the workshop with the help of the various pigments and associated binders.
To try out different woodworking techniques, we have various vices, dremel and hand tools in the workshop. We have enough tools available for larger groups. Dr. Wolfgang Lobisser, who specializes in prehistoric woodworking and offers courses in this field, visits us from time to time. Weaving work can also be carried out here, such as the production of baskets.
The first experiments on glazes and glass frits have already been carried out in the workshop. In the future, even more experiments on glass as a raw material will be made possible in our workshop.
Various replicas of crucibles, rubbing stones and bellows offer the ideal opportunity to test old tools and reconstruct different techniques.
The opening of the training workshop in 2017 was dedicated to the processing of stone.
In February 2022, our scientists were braving the coronavirus pandemic and conduced experiments on the topic of glaze.
In January 2023, the students were able to try out the Wax Casting Technique under the direction of M. Usadel M.A. in the Experimental Archaeology seminar.
In line with the bachelor thesis, which dealt with Sardinian textile production in the Bronze Age, experiments were subsequently carried out to test the thesis.
In April 2024, Dr. Agelidis' seminar dealt with various manufacturing processes in ceramic production.
Junior Professor Dr. Vilma Ruppienė and D. Clarissa Blume-Jung conducted experiments on plaster painting as part of their course in April 2024.
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Last update: May 07, 2024
