Experimental Archaeology at Caer Alyn
I have had an interest in experimental archaeology for many years. My first project concerned ceramics. I volunteered to help as part of an archaeometry project at Daresbury Laboratory, headed by Dr Manolis Pantos. At the time I was studying geology with the Open University.
Manolis asked me to help investigate mineralogical phase changes during the firing of clays. The idea was to try and fingerprint individual clay deposits from the phase changes that accrued during the firing process. If this could be done the identification of clay deposits used by our ancestors would be possible. Trading routes could then be followed.
XRD (X-Ray Diffraction) was used to identify the phase changes. Unfortunately, these phase changes were too complex to map. Trace element analysis would be more productive. I would suggest ICPMS (Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry), a technique that is very sensitive and can identify trace elements, as an excellent analytical tool for this research (if anyone would like to take it on).
During the above research, I became interested in pottery production. I reconstructed three Roman updraft kilns; the first two kilns were constructed during my time at the Poulton Research Project. Both were unsuccessful. Kiln 1 collapsed during condition firing and Kiln 2 was trampled down by cows (a case of curiosity killed the kiln). However, Kiln 3, which was constructed at Caer Alyn, was 90% successful and I will report on that in more detail in the future.
The purpose of experimental archaeology
What we see in the ground during an excavation can give us a clue as to how something was used or how it was built. We can take that interpretation a step further by trying to reconstruct the feature we uncover, thus adding to our knowledge of how our ancestors lived, worked, and developed technologies. Experimental archaeology plays a big part in what we do at Caer Alyn.
Future projects will be announced on this page. Any students interested in any of the projects would be welcome to join us. Contact us at: caeralyn7@gmail.com
Caer Alyn 