February 28, 2007
Reception is a term (often) used in classics when discussing literature, but it is not common in archaeology, at least not in Denmark. As archaeologists we are familiar with the term “experimental archaeology”, but I do believe a small part of this particular field can be categorized as “reception” because we are trying to reconstruct a past out of whatever material we can find in the present and hereby, e.g. relive the world of the Romans.
In Germany, and elsewhere, a tradition for living as Romans and having “roman festivals” is widespread in areas with roman remains and reconstructed fortresses. Here focus is on communicating ideas to and entertaining visitors in a “historical way”. For these purposes reception or “use” of historical and archaeological material is valuable, but when it comes to research and knowledge of the roman world the experimental archaeology is exceptionally useful in questions of technology.
One area of interest in this field of research is the question of wagon-technology. Here researchers have the opportunities to reconstruct a piece of technology and to test the capabilities and different types of minor-technologies (the individual wagon parts) and thereby get an idea of the quality and durability of an area in roman technology. Unfortunately, in my opinion, this almost never happens. The reconstructions are often to expensive for the museums or research-institutions to “destroy” (use until some of the parts have to be renewed) and therefor the full-scale reconstructions is not much better, for a research purpose, than the much cheaper small-scale models. The reconstructions are valuable material in museum-communication, and therefor useful in the reception-part, but the full use of these wagons will not be determined until we start building wagons and use them as they where originally meant to. Then the experimental archaeology will help us answer the question of the usage and possibilities of wagon in the roman age.
Most wagon-reconstructions that I know of in Denmark and Europe, have never or in a small degree been driven as they where originally meant to, and therefor, I think, they are a part of the field here called “reception” in Roman Archaeology.
May 26, 2007 at 17:27
Dear Kristian
Do forgive me if I do this wrong, never having blogged before. A lovely and skilfully made site, thanks, and thanks for the information in it.
We have done quite a bit of ancient vehicle reconstruction [18 chariots so far, 13 of those using bentwood and rawhide techniques, another soon to be done] using, as far as practicable, original techniques. We have developed skills in using rawhide to fix vehicles together,and some of the ones made have done several tens of miles and furnished at least a little information about what wears and what bits need special attention in the manufacture.
By the way, you throw me a little by using the word ‘wagon’ for all vehicles, in Britain it refers exclusively to 4-wheeled vehicles, but I will admit that the more precise naming of all types is nightmarish in its variability.
I note that the reference material you use is from mainland Europe, and would draw your attention to Roman wheels in the National museum in Edinburgh, though I think the minute detail of construction of wheels, yokes and so on which I have needed to follow in oder to make the vehicles which I have is a something you don’t need to do. I am planning a book on the consruction of wooden wheels through the ages, and by gum it’ll be a rattling good read..they are so varied and pretty
Robert Hurford
October 26, 2007 at 23:36
Du må da rystede hele den dansk arkæologiske scene i deres kunsthistoriske grundvold, ved at foreslå at man skulle gøre noget så udfordrende, som at teste om lortet virker i praksis!!!
Man risikerer jo at få et indblik i den jævne mands(og ikke kvinde) liv.