Living Archaeology

Unveiling the Past through Experimental Archaeology

Mathias, Cyrielle (ed.) (...)

Despite the wealth of material remains uncovered by archaeology, our understanding of how people in the past lived, worked, and thought remains fragmentary, especially fort he most ancient times. Many aspects of ancient technologies and daily practicesare poorly documented in the archaeological record. Experimental archaeology connects theory with practice by recreating past techniques and technologies. By reconstructing ancient techniques, tools, and lifeways under controlled and replicable conditions, it allows researchers to test hypotheses, evaluate functional assumptions, and build data reference collections.
This volume presents the proceedings of the 6th International Congress of Experimental Archaeology (CONEXP), held in Pézenas, France in 2022, hosted in collaboration with EXARC and leading European institutions. The book brings together over 33 contributions from different resarchers using experimental archaeology to interpret the archaeological record and past human behaviors.
The contributions reflect the remarkable diversity within the experimental archaeology community, showcasing its vibrancy and interdisciplinary reach. From taphonomy to technology, ceramics to lithics and bone work, and from metallurgy to traceology, ritual practices, art, and subsistence strategies—this volume spans an impressive range of themes. Readers will find case-studies stretching from the Lower Palaeolithic to modern times, with examples drawn from across the globe.