Research Group in Experimental Archaeology

Objectives of the Subdivision

The Experimental Archaeology Group at the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, NAS RA, was established in January 2026. The research activities of the group members, however, began as early as September 2023 within the framework of the MESCS SCF grant project coded 23RL-6A041, titled “Armenia and the Bronze Age World-System: Ancient Technologies in the Light of Experimental Archaeology.” During this period, a stable collaborative research team and the group’s main research directions were formed.

The Bronze Age was a period in human history marked by fundamental changes in material culture, technology, and social organization. The reconstruction of warfare practices, construction technologies, and exchange and trade networks of this era is essential to understanding the socio-economic structure of ancient communities, interregional connections, and ideological systems.

The main goal of the group is to study and reconstruct the ancient societies of Armenia and the region and their technologies, including metallurgy and metalworking, pottery production, the working of stone, obsidian, bone, and other materials, textile production, and related crafts—from the Stone Age through the Bronze and Iron Ages to the Classical and Medieval periods. The primary sources for the group’s research are archaeological sites in the Republic of Armenia, and the material remains recovered through excavations (fortresses, settlements, burials, and other monuments), as well as ancient and medieval iconographic and ethnographic data, museum collections, and archival materials (photographs, drawings, descriptions, etc.). These activities also aim to ensure the public dissemination of research results, the training of relevant specialists, and a natural generational continuity in the field. The group's methodological basis includes world-systems analysis, experimental and use-wear (traceological) analyses, and historical-comparative methods.

The main tasks of the group are:

• world-systems research on the Bronze Age of Armenia,
• the study of primary sources through field archaeological investigations,
• 3D modeling of archaeological monuments (landscapes, structures, artifacts, etc.),
• research on ancient technologies through experimental archaeology,
• publication and public dissemination of scientific results,
• development of international scientific cooperation.

Experimental Archaeology Laboratory is, by its nature, the first of its kind in the region. The objectives set before it can serve not only to address key research questions about Armenia’s Bronze Age, but also to serve as a platform for discussing regional archaeological issues and for collaborative research.

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Fields and Directions of Research

The group’s research areas include:

• the study of cultural landscapes (fortresses, settlements, cemeteries) and the reconstruction of their socio-economic and ideological contexts,
• reconstruction and modeling of material culture using experimental-traceological approaches and the 3D/SfM–UAV–DEM/ORTHO toolkit,
• experimental study of ancient technologies—metallurgy/metalworking, pottery, stone/obsidian/bone and other material processing, textiles, etc.—based on archaeological sources, iconography, ethnographic and museum data.

Research Conducted by the Group

Within the framework of the MESCS SCF project coded 23RL-6A041 (“Armenia and the Bronze Age World-System: Ancient Technologies in the Light of Experimental Archaeology”) during 2023–2025, both infrastructure development and research activities were conducted. These included organizing laboratory space, renovating facilities, installing and operating testing equipment, and engaging in scientific work such as experiments and reconstructions, summer schools, publications, and conference participation. The following examples can be highlighted:

• Reconstruction of Bronze Age weaponry and analysis of manufacturing technology (e.g., experimental reconstruction of an axe and a sword from Lchashen; identification of technological features; preparation of an article based on experimental tests).
• 3D reconstructions of elite Bronze Age burial complexes and wheeled vehicles, based on data from Lchashen, Shirakavan, Keti, and other sites, serving both scientific analysis and the technical design of future full-scale reconstructions.
• Functional testing involving a professional Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) environment, including data recording and scientific interpretation.
• Experimental assessment of fortress-building technology, including labor-cost calculations through field reconstruction (e.g., testing a section of the wall masonry at Jradzor fortress and calculating man-hour norms).
• Public outreach activities: a regular program series, public lectures, and internal capacity-building within the team (PhD dissertation defense).

International Cooperation

The group consistently develops an international network of partners for joint experiments, lectures, exchange of expertise, and co-authored publications.

Examples of key collaborations include:

• NYU Abu Dhabi / Heritage Center: joint experiments and metal casting within the cooperation framework.
• Institute for the History of Material Culture, Russian Academy of Sciences (St Petersburg): agreements and arrangements for further collaboration.
• International conference presence: EAA (Rome) and ICAANE (Lyon), presenting the laboratory’s experimental results and regional comparative perspectives.
• EXARC and international experimental projects: the “Oikoumene” maritime experiment (Israel) with international partners and a planned publication of results.
• Central Asia (Almaty, Kazakhstan): a new cooperation direction, including preparation of a memorandum of understanding, especially in the field of reconstructing Bronze Age chariots/wagons.

 

Scientific and Educational Events Organized by the Group

The group combines research with educational programs and public outreach, ensuring the involvement of new specialists and generational continuity.

During this period, the following activities organized by the group may be highlighted:

• Summer schools and masterclasses on obsidian working, bronze casting, and the production and use of ancient weaponry, with participation of international students.
• Public science communication: hosting the “Corridors of Time” program and delivering regular lectures across various platforms.
• Professional seminars and experiments: a HEMA seminar (with participation of international branches of the club) and field tests with documented experimental data.