12-05-2007, 01:24 AM
Interesting debate here. I hope you don't mind me wading in :?
Speaking as an archaeologist based at university and also as a reenactor of 20 odd years I have noticed the change in the last 5 in the attitude of academics towards reenactors getting better and better. But back in 1996 I remember having a stand-up argument with a Professor who thought all reenactors should be banned for 'destroying the context of history'. Today its more of a muttered 'reenactors destroy a sense of place but they are vital to many sites'.
One interesting point I always mention to those who poo pooh reenactment is that teachers find it a superb way of engaging their otherwise bored children into the past and distracts them from their Nintendo DS!
As for academics reenacting - I know several archaeologists who spend the weekend in kit, and I helped found one group (of a much later period) of which the membership solely consists of academics including 3 Doctorate holders because we all share a love of bringing the past to life and experimenting with archaeology. Together we are working towards getting academia to accept reenactment as a vital tool towards understanding what we might dig up one afternoon in the pouring rain in a muddy field in Yorkshire :lol:
In the meantime I am working on a Scythian assemblage. I shall be experimenting and reconstructing clothing etc using the evidence presented to me to see what works and how it worked. I don't think I would have even considered doing that if I wasnt a reenactor.
As a final pointer, did anyone see the Experimental Archaeology conference held at Exeter University recently:
http://www.sogaer.ex.ac.uk/archaeology/ ... amme.shtml
Speaking as an archaeologist based at university and also as a reenactor of 20 odd years I have noticed the change in the last 5 in the attitude of academics towards reenactors getting better and better. But back in 1996 I remember having a stand-up argument with a Professor who thought all reenactors should be banned for 'destroying the context of history'. Today its more of a muttered 'reenactors destroy a sense of place but they are vital to many sites'.
One interesting point I always mention to those who poo pooh reenactment is that teachers find it a superb way of engaging their otherwise bored children into the past and distracts them from their Nintendo DS!
As for academics reenacting - I know several archaeologists who spend the weekend in kit, and I helped found one group (of a much later period) of which the membership solely consists of academics including 3 Doctorate holders because we all share a love of bringing the past to life and experimenting with archaeology. Together we are working towards getting academia to accept reenactment as a vital tool towards understanding what we might dig up one afternoon in the pouring rain in a muddy field in Yorkshire :lol:
In the meantime I am working on a Scythian assemblage. I shall be experimenting and reconstructing clothing etc using the evidence presented to me to see what works and how it worked. I don't think I would have even considered doing that if I wasnt a reenactor.
As a final pointer, did anyone see the Experimental Archaeology conference held at Exeter University recently:
http://www.sogaer.ex.ac.uk/archaeology/ ... amme.shtml
Regards,
Syr Ateas/Marika
Bronze and Iron Age Archaeology covering Scythians (Center for the Study of Eurasian Nomads):
[url:2wfjs7br]http://www.csen.org/[/url]
Syr Ateas/Marika
Bronze and Iron Age Archaeology covering Scythians (Center for the Study of Eurasian Nomads):
[url:2wfjs7br]http://www.csen.org/[/url]
