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Unreviewed Mixed Matters Article:
Book Review: Experimental Archaeology: Reconstruction of Material Heritage of Lithuania, Volume III by Daiva Luchtaniene (ed)
As a craft specialist with little experience in experimental archeology (EA), I found that with the first reading of this volume the editor and article authors gave me a masterclass in not only understanding Lithuania's craft reconstruction, but also how to write EA articles or papers.
Within the first paragraphs of the article the fine detail of archeological finds, exact grave references and the focus on Lithuanian period-specific material culture, highlighting specific regions, and specific reasons for reconstruction followed by experimentation, is a masterclass useful for any level of EA practitioner.
Each article, as well as each introduction, is written in both Lithuanian and English. Most of the figures are in Lithuanian with an additional caption in English; meaning that understanding the figures is straightforward.
Each chapter is finely detailed, referencing different crafts and complete with figures. The crafts in the chapters cover several eras, carefully noting whether there are whole extant objects in existence and detailing differences in those objects.
Whether the reader is interested in one of the listed crafts (Roman pin, flint drills, and two different but complementary historical bookbinding articles) or fine-tuning their EA writing techniques, this volume can be useful for any student or enthusiast in archeology, record-keeping, item reconstruction, or tangible heritage.
I found the final chapter, The codex book of the 8th to 12th centuries Carolingian era (author: Sigitas Tamulis), exceptional due to the many detailed figures. As stated in the article introduction (Tamulis, 138), "The production of replicas of book bindings as a method for the improvement of theoretical and practical skills of restorers is just beginning to take its first steps in Lithuania.” (ibid). This article, therefore, helps improve the restoration of books in Lithuania, as well as across the world, for libraries, museums, rare book training centers, collections, historical societies and independent book specialists, working through their own programs and challenges and for incoming new or improving conservators.
Overall, this volume is useful for learning about Lithuania's reconstructions or working on your own methods of reconstruction.
Book information:
Daiva Luchtanienė (editor), 2019. Experimental Archaeology: Reconstruction of Material Heritage of Lithuania, Volume III , Eksperimentinė archeologija. Lietuvos materialaus paveldo rekonstrukcija, II Tomas, Vilnius: Eksperimentinės Archeologijos Klubas “Pajauta”, Akademinė Leidyba, 180pp
ISBN 978-609-96071-3-9 (volume)
Keywords
Country
- Lithuania