Experimental archaeology – what is that?

Archaeologists often do not know what excavation findings were used for in earlier times. With experimental archaeology, this is researched by rebuilding findings and thereby checking the validity of explanations. Experimental archaeology is therefore applied when conventional archaeological practices are no longer usefully applied.

Experimental archaeology in the Museum for Prehistory

For more than 20 years, the Museum for Prehistory has been known for conducting experimental archaeology.
Every summer scientists from the Vienna Institute for Prehistory and Early History are on the museum grounds for a few days and provide the Aha! effect to the students within experimental archaeology. Through the reconstruction of excavation findings, on these days students should experience and understand from real life practice what they have learned.
At the same time, the visitors are offered quite a bit: in the metal works, iron and copper alloys are removed from the ore. Afterwards bronze is cast and iron forged. Next door, pottery is made. In doing so, laymen, ceramists and archaeologists stand opposite each other, an animated discussion is expected.
Apart from the experimental archaeology that takes place yearly through the scientists of the University of Vienna, by now the Museum for Prehistory has several constructions in the open-air site which were formed in experimental archaeology as well.