Research

Experimental Archaeology is a discipline which uses contextual experiments to aid our interpretation of archaeological data.

Birch bark research experimental archaeology

Our research projects work mostly with materials and technologies that we can harvest and manufacture ourselves; for example, natural fibres for cordage or containers, stone tools, food procurement and processing. Our experiments are generally field-based: we believe that working in this way provides us with insights that a laboratory environment does not. However, where appropriate we include scientific equipment to supplement our work and to act as experimental controls.

 

 

Actualistic manufacture of a section of the Neolithic Purkajasuo fish weir

Palaeolithic birch bark tar production in mound structures

Following on from previous research into the prehistoric aceramic distillation and production of birch bark tar, this series of exploratory experiments investigated the use of raised structures within a fire.

These field-based experiments were conducted using sand, gravel, wood fuel, and bark from Betula pubescens (downy birch). The structures that were created were simple raised sand mounds, which reflected known Neanderthal combustion surfaces from the Middle Palaeolithic.

The full poster is available at Academia.

Actualistic manufacture of a section of the Neolithic Purkajasuo fish weir

The Construction of a replica section of the Middle Subneolithic Purkajasuo lath screen fish weir at Kierikki Stone Age Centre, Finland

In July 2018 the Mesolithic Resource Group attended the Kierikki Stone Age Centre, Pahkalantie, Finland. It provided us with the opportunity to practice experimental archaeology in a 'Stone Age' landscape enhanced by the many reconstructions at Kierikki. One of the projects undertaken was the actualistic reconstruction of a section of the Neolithic wooden fish weir discovered in 1995 at the nearby site of Purkajasuo.

The complete article is available at EXARC journal.

manufacture of a skin-on-frame canoe

The construction of a skin-on-frame canoe at Kierikki Stone Age Centre, Finland, as a medium for group training in ancient skills and experiential learning

In July 2018 a group from the UK participating in the Placements in Environmental, Archaeological and Traditional Skills (PEATS) Erasmus + Work Placement, attended Kierikki Stone Age Centre, Pahkalantie, Finland. The experimental programme was coordinated by Dr. Peter Groom of the MRG.

In order to involve as many students as possible, this week-long project built an elk skin-on-frame canoe. The complete article is available at EXARC journal.

manufacture of a skin-on-frame coracle

The construction of a skin-on-frame coracle at Kierikki Stone Age Centre, Finland

In July 2018 a group from the UK participating in the Placements in Environmental, Archaeological and Traditional Skills (PEATS) Erasmus + Work Placement, attended Kierikki Stone Age Centre, Pahkalantie, Finland. The experimental programme was coordinated by Dr. Peter Groom of the MRG.

In order to provide an alternative form of boat it was decided that a week-long project would be to build a skin-on-frame coracle. The complete article is available at EXARC journal.

Aceramic production of birch bark tar

Aceramic production of birch bark tar using simple raised structures (2013)

Building on the work from 2009, in 2013 we successfully produced birch bark tar without pottery using only sand, birch bark, and fire. These experiments focussed on the use of raised structures, which had showed promise in our previous experiments. Additionally, we were attempting to discover how Neanderthals might have made birch bark tar.

The online publication of the experiments can be found in Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences 2018 vol 10 issue 1 (available online).

Aceramic dry distillation of birch bark tar

Aceramic dry distillation of birch bark tar (2009)

The starting point for the experiments were the finds of ancient birch bark tar, from Königsaue in Germany, and tooth marks on several Scandinavian Mesolithic specimens.

A variety of structures were created to try and replicate the production of birch bark tar without pottery. None of the experiments resulted in useable tar, however, two showed evidence of the initial stages of tar production.

The experiments were undertaken in collaboration with public archaeologist Grethe Moéll Pedersen, and Sagnlandet, Lejre, Denmark, provided us with the facilities and necessary funding. The project is registered at Sagnlandet under reference no J.W. 12/09.

The online publication of the experiments can be found in Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences 2015 vol 7 issue 1 (available online).

Experiments with a finger drill

Experiments with a finger drill at Schela Cladovei, Iron Gates, Drobeta Turnu-Severin, Romania

In partnership with the University of Edinburgh, this research sought how stone and bone beads might have been made at this famous Mesolithic-Neolithic transition site. Using tiny flint drills and reed stems Peter Groom was able to replicate the artefacts. Published in the Bulletin of Primitive Technology (see below).

Neolithic Funnel Beaker Culture lithic halberd

Hafting and testing a TRB (Neolithic Funnel Beaker Culture) lithic halberd

In the project Dimensions of Functionality in Prehistoric Societies, Tine worked with Christian Horn at the University of Gothenburg, to haft, test, and analyse usewear on a TRB halberd.

The pilot project video is available online.

Mesolithic fishing practices in western Scotland

This research involved the creation of a range of fishing gear that might have been used by Mesolithic coastal dwellers associated with some of the west coast middens of Scotland.

Using middens as the evidence, gear such as fishing lines and portable traps were created incorporating locally found materials. The gear was then tested in a range of marine situations.

The online publication of the experiments can be found in The Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology 2018 vol 13 issue 3 (available online).


Books by Dr Peter Groom

Based on the latest archaeological research, these novels are packed full of Natural History, Bushcraft and Primitive Skills. The stories are set during the Mesolithic, some 8000 years ago in the area that now comprises North Staffordshire, Cheshire, Merseyside, the Wirral and the edge of the Clwydian Range.

The Hunter, the Dog Men and the House by the Shore book cover

The Hunter, the Dog Men and the House by the Shore

The Hunter series, book one.

A lone Mesolithic hunter works his way through a diverse and changing landscape, encountering a range of characters; from traders to killers and ultimately meeting his new mate. The landscape of what is now Staffordshire and the Trent valley provide the backdrop against which this story unfolds. Join him as he travels through this vivid landscape where aurochs, elk, wolf, lynx and wild boar roam.

The Hunter, the Anger and the Green Man book cover

The Hunter, the Anger and the Green Man

The Hunter series, book two.

The novel builds on the first book in the series, by continuing the story of the Hunter and Golden Woman. Living through a changing climate in a changing landscape while coping with external and internal conflicts. With an emphasis on seasonality and spirituality The Hunter, the Anger and the Green Man takes the reader into a time when the people were a part of nature, rather than apart from nature.

Golden Woman, the Island and the House by the Shore book cover

Golden Woman, the Island and the House by the Shore

The Hunter series, book three.

Influenced by our existing archaeological knowledge, personal research and experimental archaeology, this, the third novel in the Hunter series, continues the story of the Prehistoric communities, which are set some 8000 years ago. A lone Mesolithic traveller seeks and creates her own place in a changing environment. A fluid landscape full of wildlife and a range of characters.


Publications

Dr Peter Groom and Dr Tine Schenck have authored a number of research papers in the field of experimental archaeology.

Schenck, T. & Groom, P. (2022). Palaeolithic birch bark tar production in mound structures. (available online).

Groom, P. (2021). Golden Woman, the Island and the House by the Shore (The Hunter series, book three). Amazon books. (order online).

Groom, P. (2019). The Hunter, the Anger and the Green Man (The Hunter series, book two). Amazon books. (order online).

Groom, P., McDermott, I., & Kirby, E. (2019). The Construction of a Skin-on-Frame Coracle at Kierikki Stone Age Centre. (available online).

Groom, P., Sweeney, P., & Findlay, J. (2019). The Construction of a Skin-on-Frame Canoe at Kierikki Stone Age Centre, Finland, as a Medium for Group Training in Ancient Skills and Experiential Learning. (available online).

Groom, P., Pickard, C., & Bonsall, C. (2019). Early Holocene Sea Fishing in Western Scotland: An Experimental Study. Journal of Island & Coastal Archaeology. Vol 13(3). (available online).

Groom, P., Kirby, E., & Findlay, J. (2018). The Construction of a Replica Section of the Middle Subneolithic Purkajasuo Lath Screen Fish Weir at Kierikki Stone Age Centre, Finland. (available online).

Schenck, T. & Groom, P. (2018). The aceramic production of Betula pubescens (downy birch) bark tar using simple raised structures. A viable Neanderthal technique? Journal of Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences. Vol 10(1). (available online).

Groom, P. (2016). The Hunter, the Dog Men and the House by the Shore (The Hunter series, book one). Amazon books. (order online).

Bonsall, C., Pickard, C., & Groom, P. (2015). Intensification of Aquatic Resource Exploitation at the Terminal Pleistocene/ Early Holocene Boundary? Presented at The 80th Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, San Francisco, California. 2015 (tDAR id: 394966)

Groom, P., Schenck, T., & Pedersen G. (2015). Experimental explorations into the aceramic dry distillation of Betula pubescens (downy birch) bark tar. Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences. Vol 7(1). (available online).

Groom, P. (2013). Experiments with a finger drill. Bulletin of Primitive Technology 46, 10-16.

Bonsall, C., Pickard, C., & Groom, P. (2013). Boats and Pioneer Settlement: The Scottish Dimension, Norwegian Archaeological Review, 46/1.

Schenck, T. (2011). Experimenting with the unknown. In Experimental archaeology: between enlightenment and experience. Edited by B Petersson, and L E Narmo, Acta Archaeologica Lundensia, no.62. (available online).

Groom, P. (2010). Yarns in Ancient Times. Yarnmaker. Vol 2:3.

Schenck, T. (2010). Why were they pots? : an experimental perspective on the introduction of ceramics in Early Neolithic South Norway. Lambert Academic Press. (available online).

Groom, P. (2009). Experimental archaeology: How can it help us to understand our links with nature and the past? Nicolay 107:45-50.

Schenck, T. (2009). Can we involve the public in experimental research? EXAR Bilanz.