Experimental Archaeology

We are contributing to current understandings of ancestral Arctic cooking technology and methods through experimental archaeology. Experimental archaeology links past materials (artifacts, processing areas, sites) to dynamic activities, helping archaeologists interpret the past, and allowing us to test hypotheses about the intended use of artifacts.

Using replicated ceramic vessels based on Paleo- and Neo-Inuit pottery traditions, we tested which heating method each vessel type is best suited for. We attempted to bring water to a boil in clay pots using direct, indirect (stone boiling), and suspended heat.