Albion Experimental Archaeology Studio

United States

Albion Experimental Archaeology Studio
7 S King St
Danbury, CT 06811
United States

(+1) 646-924-870

Member since: 2019

Focus theme: Chalcolithic, Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman Era

The founder of AEAS, Dr Mara Horowitz of Purchase College, SUNY, used experience from archaeological fieldwork and experimental archaeology in Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Bronze and Iron Age Cyprus and Turkey to establish a venue for experimental work in pyrotechnical crafts in the United States located on a 4.5 acre former farm.

Based in Danbury, CT, (70km north of NYC and connected by train) the studio has both modern and traditional pottery technologies from a professional electric kiln and power wheel to a custom-made kick wheel, outdoor pit kiln and improvised updraft kilns. Facilities are suitable for a wide variety of work including experimental clay processing, controlled re-firing projects, and other pyrotechnical work. Space and materials are also available for traditional glass, stone, and metal craft experiments including abundant firewood and an outdoor area.

Current projects include replicating and testing the function of distinctive handle-making techniques from Early-Middle Bronze Cyprus, replicating and studying the forming techniques of ring kernoi and lentoid flasks from Late Bronze Anatolia, and replicating and studying the clay body and forming techniques of 30-cm plates from Tell Atchana, Turkey.

Projects in the publication s tage include replication and functional testing of serving and dining pottery forms from Tell Atchana. Previous published experimental work by Dr Horowitz focused on shell-tempered cookware from the Late Bronze Age Orontes Valley. The studio is open to collaborations from any area of study and warmly invites interested parties to contact us.