Investigating past environments through experimental archaeology

Viking house under construction at UCD (Image: Prof. Aidan O'Sullivan)

In environmental archaeology, lots of our work is indoors in laboratories or libraries, but we do sometimes get outside! It is a lovely, sunny day in Ireland today, and many of us are hankering to work outdoors. One lucky group of colleagues is doing just that at the UCD Centre for Experimental Archaeology and Material Culture at University College Dublin.

This week, they are busy building a Viking-style house, using traditional tools, techniques and materials. EAI member, Dr Eileen Reilly, is one of the project leaders. Her expertise in environmental archaeology, particularly insects, will help the team understand the living conditions in Viking houses and materials used in construction of the houses. Later this summer, we hope Dr Reilly will write for this blog about her work on the project.

In the meantime, you can visit the Centre and see the house at the UCD Alumni Festival on Saturday 18th June 2016, where UCD archaeologists will be leading tours.

If you can't get to Dublin, you can find regular updates on the project at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/UCDExperimentalArchaeology/.