Temaomtale ARK113

This course offers an introduction to experimental archaeology and use-wear studies and showcases their application in Neolithic archaeology. Drawing on recent international case studies, students will learn how these traces reveal details of everyday activities such as hunting, crafting, plant processing, food preparation, and tool making. The course also examines the use of tools in rituals and burial customs, providing insights into belief systems and social connections. We will discuss how use-wear studies can be used to create broader interpretations, for example, to tell a story of plant domestication and the Mesolithic-to-Neolithic transitions.  

Combining hands-on approaches with current research spanning from the Eastern Mediterranean to Scandinavia, the course encourages students to connect tangible material evidence with larger cultural and social changes. By examining how technology and society interacted during this era, students gain fresh perspectives on the human experience of living through the shift from hunter-gatherer to farming life.