INQ-277 | Experimental Archaeology

Crosslisted As: ARTH277

Topic Description:

How did ancient people make tools? How did they cook their food or brew their beer? How skilled were ancient cooks and ancient artisans? Experimental archaeology allows us to find answers for these, and other, questions through recreating food and artifacts using materials and technologies actually available to ancient peoples. Through experimentation, we can learn how such tools work—or if our interpretations of material culture are even correct! We will make beer, recreate the first Chinese noodles, knapping flint, and experiment with faience in the hopes of answering questions about ancient peoples and showing the role and importance of human (not alien!) ingenuity and skill in the past.

Course Types Offered: On-Campus

Topic Approved: April 2017