Over the last 170 years, experimental archaeology has played a critical role in nearly all of the major debates in our field and has led to new theories and methodologies in recent years. Through its initial use in the discovery of a deep human antiquity to the American mound builder debate, experimental approaches have continued to grow and develop. These approaches range in scope from the production, use, and consumption of tools and food to the ability of Polynesians to cross the Pacific.  In the last fifty years, however, experimental archaeology has taken on additional important functions in the discipline, largely under the influence of Processual archaeology. In Processualism, experimental approaches have helped to establish a middle range theory that links archaeological materials to inferences of past human behavior.  Experimental approaches therefore have not only contributed to some of the great debates of our time but equally to the development of new methods and theories within the discipline.

In the history and theory portion of this website, I touch on the highlights and developments of experimental archaeology. Key researchers are featured in the Biography and Mini-Bios section and important works are discussed in the Annotated Bibliography. The debate section provides a brief discussion of current trends in experimental archaeology.