Principal Christine Shaw
The difference between the procedures and outcomes in this type of study compared, say, with cereal studies is fully explored in The Nature of Experiment in Archaeology.
The building of a construct brings graphically to light the difficulties in defining a structure starting, as is so often the case, with little more than an excavated "footprint" and a scattering of other constructional "litter" and artefacts hinting at occupational activities. The debates about drawing together information, from partial or more complete superstructures of a range of buildings in different places on several sites, to try to utilise the lessons 0f an artificially conceived "whole" are treated routinely in text books. Equally, lessons from structural calculations, known carpentry and joinery techniques (both current and historical) and those from ethnographic comparisons are all well discussed in the literature.
The emphasis in the work at Butser, while embracing all the above depends on close observation and recording during construction, use and later removal of the test constructs. There may also be some tests of the supposed processes carried on within the constructs.
Some of the observations have been published, while other material is still to be released. Work such as that on the Romano-British "Grain Dryer", while involving a construct based on a substantial survival, is dealt with elsewhere on this website, as it is considered more relevant to the treatment of grain post-harvest.
Lessons from the Pimperne House Construction Phase
Lessons from the Pimperne House Dismantling
Return to The Impacts of Experiment
Created 01 August 2001 - Updated 02 April 2002