Organics from inorganics: using experimental archaeology as a research tool for studying perishable material culture

Abstract

The value and diversity of experimental archaeology as a research tool are explored with reference to organic material culture, also termed ‘perishables’. Ethnographic and contemporary data clearly show that the majority of all material culture is composed of materials which do not survive well in temperate conditions. Perishable material culture is therefore the ‘missing majority’ of archaeological material culture. Yet no society isolates materials: material culture exists holistically. Thus the more prevalent archaeological finds of inorganic materials provide opportunities for considering issues of organic material culture. Experimental archaeology has proved a rich and diverse tool to explore a variety of different approaches to this research theme. The focus here is the plant-based craft spheres. An overview of four different research strands is presented: plant chaînes opératoires; stone-tool wear traces from processing plants for crafts; ceramic impressions of cordage, basketry and textiles; and the practical and conceptual study of skeuomorphs. Several of these approaches use reference collections provided by experiments, i.e. lithic wear traces which show the exploitation of organic materials for craft purposes, ceramic impressions analysis where items of perishable material culture have made impressions on the surface either during the production process or deliberately as part of the decoration process. Experimenting with perishable materials shows the constraints and variations possible in the chaînes opératoires and taskscapes while elucidating the physical properties of the finished products. Though ethnographic data provide many useful insights and often integrate well with the experiments, it is experimental archaeology which proves itself the most adaptable actualistic study to investigate the archaeological record. Finally, though experimental archaeology can be employed in a controlled scientific manner, it is also a tool for exploring concepts and playing with ideas. The latter is an under-rated aspect of experimental archaeology and its potential is exemplified by the skeuomorph experiments. The examples drawn from the ‘organics from inorganics’ research theme demonstrate the range and value of experimental archaeology as a methodological tool.