Archaeology
Illustration of two archaeologists, one using a wheelchair, holding a map and pointing, and another holding a trowel and wearing a rucksack and boots

 

Making history: how to rebuild the past using experimental archaeology

By testing out methods to build, make and even cook and eat things, archaeologists can try to work out how people lived in the past. They come up with ideas of how they think things were done using evidence from archaeological excavations and historical documents.

By testing out these ideas, archaeologists can discover whether they work and how close they might be to the real thing. 

Here's how experimental archaeology helps us to learn about the past:

Time travellers
Archaeologists aren't just diggers: some are like time-travelling scientists! They try to do things the way people did in the past to understand how they lived.

Testing ideas
Sometimes, we think we know how ancient people made something, but experimental archaeology helps us to test those ideas to see if they really work.

Making mistakes the ancient way
By trying to build or make things using only the tools and materials available back in the past, archaeologists often discover mistakes in how we thought things were done!

These Bronze Age copper-alloy axe-heads were discovered during excavations of the earthwork bank at Beeston Castle, Cheshire. They seem to have been buried deliberately, suggesting that they had a ritual purpose.
These Bronze Age copper-alloy axe-heads were discovered during excavations of the earthwork bank at Beeston Castle, Cheshire. They seem to have been buried deliberately, suggesting that they had a ritual purpose.

Metal moulding

Imagine making a shiny metal axe for the first time! Experimental archaeologists have recreated Bronze Age foundries to understand how they melted metal and cast these amazing tools.

Roman recipes

Trying out ancient Roman recipes helps us understand their food, cooking methods and even what their kitchens might have been like! (And sometimes, the food is surprisingly tasty!)

Learn how to make a Roman burger

Building prehistory

Reconstructing a prehistoric roundhouse (a circular house made of wood and thatch) shows how skilled those builders were and how strong and cosy those houses could be. They even discovered that a roundhouse with a hole in the roof catches fire, so now we know the houses were designed so that smoke would filter through the thatched roof.

Make your own roundhouse

From flint to fire

Things that sound simple, such as making a stone tool or starting a fire using only flint, can be tricky! Mastering these skills can teach us a lot about early human ingenuity.

Ancient craft secrets

Experimental archaeology helps us uncover the secrets of ancient crafts, from weaving cloth to making pottery. It's like unlocking a puzzle of the past!

A 2nd-century oil lamp
A 2nd-century oil lamp discovered at Richborough Roman Fort, Kent. Excavations have revealed a series of shops in this Roman town, one of which appears to have sold lamps like this one.

Over to you!

Long before the invention of the electric lightbulb, Romans lit up the darkness using simple oil lamps made from clay. These are often found in archaeological excavations and come in a range of shapes and designs. Oil was poured into the lamp and a wick made of plant fibres was coiled inside, with the end poking out of a hole on the ‘spout’. This end was lit with a flame and the oil kept it alight, creating a small portable lamp.

Have a look online to see how many different examples you can find, then have a go at sketching your own lamp. Make sure to think about how it would be used, and what sort of room it might be in.

We would love to see your designs!

E-mail us your designs

More to explore

  • Layer by layer

    Look inside an archaeological dig to find out how strata reveal a story of history hidden underground. Then, follow our recipe to bake a delicious layered chocolate, vanilla and caramel cake!

  • Archaeology mix-up!

    Three archaeologists have been excavating a Roman site, but their finds trays have been mixed up! Can you solve our tricky logic puzzle to sort out the mess? Plus: discover what happens at a real archaeological dig.

  • Spotter’s guide to: hidden heritage

    Ever wondered what all the wobbly, bumpy bits in fields are? Or why there are sometimes walls in the middle of nowhere? Download your guide to hidden heritage to discover and decode history hiding in plain sight!