In this video, archaeologist Mara Kaktins demonstrates how Native Americans used plant fibers to make rope. See other experimental archaeology demonstrations during "ArchaeoFest: Exploring Ancient Technology" at George Washington's Ferry Farm on Saturday, October 26. For event details, visit here.
Experimental Archaeology
Making 18th Century Glass & Ceramic Reproductions: An Update
The replica Washington house at George Washington’s Ferry Farm has been open for tours for one year now but we still continue to add reproduction furniture and objects to the rooms inside. Since the house is a replica built using archaeology, historic research, and expert knowledge, we are using the same three foundations to create … Continue reading Making 18th Century Glass & Ceramic Reproductions: An Update
Good Clean Fun: An Experiment in Colonial Soap Making
George Washington’s Ferry Farm is busy reconstructing the Washington House and, behind the scenes, we are equally busy creating educational and interpretive activities to take place inside and outside the house. One common colonial chore you may eventually see being done outside the house is laundry. While doing laundry is still part of our routines, … Continue reading Good Clean Fun: An Experiment in Colonial Soap Making
Photos: Glue Through a Microscope
While living at Ferry Farm, Mary Washington, mother of George, owned a creamware punch bowl with beautiful hand-painted enamel depicting a floral motif and cherry accents. Archaeologists excavated pieces of this bowl from the cellar of the Washington home and subsequently discovered glue residue on the sherds. We've written about the importance of the bowl's discovery here … Continue reading Photos: Glue Through a Microscope
Glue: The Coolest Thing I’ve Ever Found
As an archaeologist, I am often asked “What is the coolest thing you’ve ever found?” The answer is complicated. Although I’ve unearthed 10,000 year old Paleoindian hearths, elaborate porcelains, coins, long lost jewelry, and ancient stone tools, I say that the coolest thing I’ve ever found is …. glue. This proclamation always elicits questioning looks … Continue reading Glue: The Coolest Thing I’ve Ever Found
Video – Experimental Archaeology: Stone Tool Making
Archaeologists at Ferry Farm regularly find evidence of 'expedient' tool making by Native Americans. These quickly-made tools were created for a single, immediate job and, once used, just discarded. In this video, we break off a flake of obsidian and use it to fillet a fish. See the other videos in our Experimental Archaeology series: glue-making, … Continue reading Video – Experimental Archaeology: Stone Tool Making
Video: The Science of History – Experimental Archaeology & Earth Oven Cooking
Archaeologists sometimes recreate technology from the past to understand how people lived. This is called experimental archaeology. In this video, we recreate an earth oven and cook catfish in it. Watch our other experimental archaeology videos: episode one and episode two.
Video: The Science of History – Experimental Archaeology & Stoneboiling
Archaeologists sometimes recreate technology from the past to understand how people lived. This is called experimental archaeology. Native American occupation of Ferry Farm left behind many artifacts including fire-cracked rocks. This video shows how those rock artifacts were made through a cooking technique known as stoneboiling. See the first video in our Science of History … Continue reading Video: The Science of History – Experimental Archaeology & Stoneboiling
The Science of History: Experimental Archaeology & Colonial Cheese Glue
Archaeologists sometimes recreate technology from the past to understand how people lived. This is called experimental archaeology. When archaeologists at George Washington's Ferry Farm found glue residue on sherds of Mary Washington's china, they developed ways to recreate this glue. This video explains the glue making process and what recreating the glues revealed about Mary. … Continue reading The Science of History: Experimental Archaeology & Colonial Cheese Glue
Lives & Legacies 