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The role of the Experimental Archaeology in the scientific spreading as

developper of Prehistoric empathy

Chapter · October 2017

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 TÍTULO DEL LIBRO

53 THE ROLE OF EXPERIMENTAL ARCHAEOLOGY

IN THE SCIENTIFIC SPREADING AS DEVELOPER
OF PREHISTORICAL EMPATHY
El papel de la arqueología experimental en la
divulgación científica como desarrolladora de
empatía prehistórica
M. Pilar López-Castilla*, Marcos Terradillos-Bernal*,
Rodrigo Alonso Alcalde**

*Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales,

Universidad Internacional Isabel I de Castilla, C/Fernán González, 76, 09003 Burgos.
mpilar.lopez@ui1.es
marcos.terradillos@ui1.es
**Área de Didáctica y Dinamización, Museo de la Evolución Humana.
Paseo Sierra de Atapuerca nº2, 09002, Burgos.
ralonso@museoevolucionhumana.com

Abstract
The new discoveries developed in Prehistory are increasing exponentially. The research on these subjects is
becoming more technical by leaps and bounds. The scientific disciplines involved in these researches mul-
tiply rapidly. To support a fluid relationship between society and those scientists who work on Prehistory we
have to socialize accurately the different knowledge obtained. In this way, population not only will know but
will take part in the decisions. On the other hand, they will enjoy cultural benefits of great discoveries.

To socialize these advances in Prehistory we must develop attractive methodologies which catch the atten-
tion of the society and make easier the understanding of contents. Among the different methodologies that
can be applied, experimental Archaeology makes easier the comprehension of the activities developed by
human being along Prehistory.

Dynamism, visual stimulation and playful factor are all features of experimental Archaeology which makes
this methodology perfect to bring prehistorical daily life to general public. On this paper we will address its
relationship with the prehistorical Empathy.

Keywords: experimental archaeology, Prehistory, scientific spreading, historical empathy.

Resumen
Los nuevos descubrimientos desarrollados en Prehistoria están creciendo exponencialmente. La investiga-
ción en estos campos esenciales se está tecnificando a pasos agigantados y se multiplican las disciplinas
científicas implicadas en estas investigaciones. Para mantener una relación fluida entre la sociedad y los
científicos que trabajan en la Prehistoria debemos socializar correctamente los diferentes conocimientos
obtenidos. De esta forma, la población no sólo conocerá sino que participará en las decisiones y, al mismo
tiempo, disfrutará de los beneficios culturales de los grandes descubrimientos.
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EXPERIMENTAL ARCHEOLOGY AND THE STUDY OF THE PAST

Para socializar estos avances desarrollados en la Prehistoria debemos disponer de metodologías atractivas
que atraigan la atención de la sociedad y faciliten la comprensión de los contenidos. Dentro de las diferentes
metodologías divulgativas que se pueden aplicar, la Arqueología experimental facilita la comprensión de las
diferentes actividades desarrolladas por el ser humano a lo largo de la Prehistoria.

El dinamismo, la visualidad y el factor lúdico de la Arqueología experimental hacen que esta metodología
acerque al público general la vida cotidiana en la Prehistoria. En este artículo trataremos su relación con la
Empatía prehistórica.

Palabras clave: arqueología experimental, Prehistoria, divulgación científica, empatía histórica.

INTRODUCTION
Scientific and technological advances increase every time faster. From the social
perspective there is no point in highlighting that the technological and scientific innovations
are changing the way of our daily life develops. In this way, all citizens must be provided
with adapted tools to take part in decisions related with scientific development and to
increase our personal growth. Among the different tools and instruments of Prehistory
spreading, experimental Archaeology stands out.

Experimental Archaeology is a scientific discipline that makes easier the spreading of

the activities developed by the hominids along the Prehistory. This methodology has been
revealed as an excellent tool to understand the different features of life in the past.

Using experimental Archaeology people are not just a passive subject who gets only
theoretical concepts, rather to be an active subject in their experimentations, putting in
the role of these human being, that is to say, developing empathy prehistory (Figure 1).

SCIENTIFIC SPREADING AND EXPERIMENTAL ARCHAEOLOGY

Scientific Spreading is one of the most important social disciplines due to the essential role
that represents as an intermediary between scientific advances and society. Generating
knowledge Society (Krüger, 2006) implies creating an effective and fluid communication
between the institutions which generate new scientific advances (in our case on Prehistory)
and general public.

Scientific spreading has to allow society to know the main advances of research, the ways
to which those go. It has a special duty on breaking the separation (partially at least)
between people who have had few opportunities on scientific training, politicians who
manage the society resources and the researchers. Scientific spreading has to establish
a bond of communication between these status and roles. This will allow us to live in a
closer, equal, respectful, formed, communicative, critical, demanding, participative, fair,
educated, social, democratic, humane society and to have a wider vision of our context.

That the population acknowledged of scientific advances allows them to take part in the
scientific and technological revolution. Knowledge means valuing, preserving, feeling consider
your own the development of knowledge, as well as to prevent certain groups from using and
manipulating different interpretive theories. When the societies have a basic knowledge they
can take part in the decisions that are made from scientific and political spheres.
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EXPERIMENTAL ARCHEOLOGY AND THE STUDY OF THE PAST

Figure 1.
Experimental
knapping process
and Homo habilis
knapping (copy
from Museo de la
Evolución Humana,
Junta de Castilla y
León).

The development of a communication setting between scientific world and the social fabric
must allow us to create a social confidence in the handling of scientist’s technical skills.

The role of the spreader is as important as the scientist who generates questions and
discoveries, or as those politicians who determines what research they support and
finance with public funds. As socializing agent of knowledge, spreaders must promote a
democratization of scientific advances and its benefits (Sanchez Ocaña, 2000; Rebolloso
Gallardo, 2011).

Those researchers involved in the investigation of Prehistory also should reach a training
as spreaders, because “researchers should ensure that their research activities are made
known to society at large in such a way that they can be understood by non-specialists,
thereby improving the public’s understanding of science “ (European Commission, 2005: 15).

Among the different tools and instruments to do so, one of the most effective on Prehistory
spreading is experimental Archaeology.

Experimental Archaeology is a scientific, didactic and spreading methodology which

allows to know technical past procedures. This methodology implies “try to put yourself in
somebody´s place “, in our case in the place of prehistorical women, men and children.
This methodology turns out to be more accessible to approach to understand activities
developed by the human beings of the past (Baena, 1998; Alonso et al., 2010; Gilding Alejos,
2014; Cuartero-Monteagudo et al., 2016).

Using experimental Archaeology give us a way to see and “to live”, in a practical and
participative form, the different activities of the prehistorical daily life. Doing so we achieve
a more complete, deep and personal knowledge of the prehistorical culture.

This essential feature of experimental Archaeology: the personal participation with the
experiences experience it is which implies the development of a Prehistorical Empathy
(Figure 2).
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PLAYING WITH THE TIME
EXPERIMENTAL ARCHEOLOGY AND THE STUDY OF THE PAST

Figure 2.
Prehistorical hunting
workshop (Centro
de Arqueología
Experimental de
Atapuerca, CAREX,
Junta de Castilla
y León).

PREHISTORICAL EMPATHY
In order to spread the prehistorical past is necessary to overcome, or at least to complete,
the memorization of stages and typologies. To that end, experimental Archaeology sets
out personal participative and attractive experiences which generate an empathy with the
human being of this period.

Prehistorical Empathy is known as the skill to put oneself in the place of historic people.
Using empathy develops a well contextualized historic imagination, which implies that the
subject is able to reconstruct in his mind historical facts and background. In the case of the
Prehistorical Empathy the subject does not have written text (as it happens with historical
empathy) but it is used the reproduction of cultural elements, mostly the technological
ones.

This way, Historical Empathy (prehistorical in our case) means a renovation of the
spreading and of the teaching of History. This perspective goes after people develop
cognitive skills, not only affective and emotional ones, but principally those which allow
them to put themselves in the place of groups and historical prominent figures (controlled
historical imagination). In case of the prehistorical empathy it would not be explored
ethical dilemmas faced by the protagonists (since we do not know them), but the technical
and cultural experiences.

This field has been developed from the 80s (Shemilt, 1984; Briant and Clark, 2006; Gonzalez
et al., 2010; Santiesteban et al., 2010). The analogies between facts of the past and our own
experience (without falling down in the presentism) promote historical empathy.

Prehistorical Empathy supposes the development of an active methodology that involves

general public in the development of technical features identified in the Prehistory.

Experimental Archaeology and Prehistorical Empathy are intimately related fields due to
henceforth the first one generates some kind of empathy and a projection into the past
which reconstructs different prehistorical contexts in a practical and imagined way. These
simulations of cultural activities of the prehistory make easier to people assuming some
roles of the hominids of the past in order to promote the prehistorical empathy and to
develop more significant knowledge.
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CONCLUSIONS
Experimental Archaeology, connected to scientific Spreading, is a dynamic, visual,
attractive, practical and participative methodology. This feature turns it into an excellent
tool to bring the knowledge generated in the Prehistory (the daily life of the human groups
of the past) closer to society.

When showing in a practical and participative way the methods, technologies, strategies
and raw materials used in the production of a tool or a structure we acquire prehistorical
empathy. This perspective generates a more complete, attractive and significant knowledge
on how human being were living in the most remote past.

Betting for the development of a prehistorical empathy through experimental Archaeology

contributes to an active participation of general public, to a semiautonomous learning
and to a personal satisfaction for the achievements accomplished on different practical
activities. This methodology has a figure which stands out: as it is a very practical and
visual activity it only requires a minimal adjustment of the spreader speech.

Using experimental Archaeology connected to empathy, general public happens to go

over from being a passive subject who assimilates concepts (principally memorization), to
being an active subject of his own experimentations and of the acquisition of knowledge.

This way of learning is more exciting, practical, entertaining and personal and it will help
us to acquire a major respect for the prehistorical heritage which belongs to all the society
members.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We thank Dr. Carlos Díez Fernández-Lomana (UBU), Felipe Cuartero Monteagudo (UAM)
and Miguel Ángel Pérez (MEH). M.T.B. has been a scholarship holder of Cátedra Atapuerca
(Fundación Atapuerca and Fundación Duques de Soria). The authors of this paper belong
to the Atapuerca Research Project, supported by MINECO/FEDER projects
CGL2015-65387-C3-1-P.

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WITH THE TIME.
EXPERIMENTAL
ARCHAEOLOGY
AND THE STUDY
OF THE PAST
Editors: Rodrigo Alonso, Javier Baena & David Canales
4th. International Experimental Archaeology Conference
8-11 may 2014, Museo de la Evolución Huma. Burgos, Spain.

Experimenta (the Spanish Experimental Archaeology Association) is a non-profit association created, among other proposes, to organize international
experimental archaeology conferences. Previous conferences were successively held in Santander (2005), Ronda (2008) and Banyoles (2011).

Organization Scientific committee

Experimenta (Asociación española de Arqueología Experimental) Carlos Díez (Universidad de Burgos)
Museo de la Evolución Humana, Junta de Castilla y León Marta Navazo(Universidad de Burgos)
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid Ángel Carrancho (Universidad de Burgos)
EXARC José A. Rodriguez Marcos (Universidad de Burgos)
Diego Arceredillo (Fundación Atapuerca)
Cooperación institutions Marcos Terradillos (Fundación Atapuerca)
Fundación Atapuerca Millán Mozota (Institut Milá i Fontanals, CSIC)
Universidad de Burgos Xavier Terradas (Institut Milá i Fontanals, CSIC)
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas - IMF, Barcelona Ignacio Clemente (Institut Milá i Fontanals, CSIC)
Asociación Española para el Estudio del Cuaternaro (AEQUA) Antonio Morgado (Universidad de Granada)
Gema Chacón (Institut de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social)
Organizing committee Josep Maria Verges (Institut de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social)
Alejandro Sarmiento (Museo de la Evolución Humana, Junta de Castilla y León) Isabel Caceres (Institut de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social)
Rodrigo Alonso (Museo de la Evolución Humana, Junta de Castilla y León) William Schindler (Washington College)
Javier Baena Preysler (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid) Aidan O’Sullivan (University College Dublin)
Felipe Cuartero (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid) Joseba Ríos (Centro Nacional Investigación sobre Evolución Humana)
David Canales (Fundación Atapuerca) Alfonso Benito (Centro Nacional Investigación sobre Evolución Humana)
Susana Sarmiento (Fundación Atapuerca) Antoni Palomo (Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona)
Roeland Paardekooper (EXARC)

Playing with the time. Experimental archaeology and the study of the past
Rodrigo Alonso, David Canales, Javier Baena (Eds.).
Servicio de Publicaciones de la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. 2017.

Coordinación editorial: Rodrigo Alonso, Javier Baena y David Canales.

Asesoramiento científico y revisores de la publicación: Diego Arceredillo (Universidad Isabel I), Javier Baena
(Universidad Autónoma de Madrid), Alfonso Benito (Centro Nacional Investigación sobre Evolución Humana),
Isabel Caceres (Institut de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social), Amalia Canales (Universidad de Cantabria),
Ángel Carrancho (Universidad de Burgos), Ignacio Clemente (Institut Milá i Fontanals, CSIC), Gema Chacón (Institut
de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social. UMR7194, MNHN, París), Felipe Cuartero (Fundación Atapuerca,
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid), Carlos Díez (Universidad de Burgos), Paola García Medrano (Institut de
Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social), Millán Mozota (Institut Milá i Fontanals, CSIC), Marta Navazo (Universidad
de Burgos), Roeland Paardekooper (EXARC), Francesca Romagnolli (Institut de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució
Social), Claudia Santamaría (Universidad de Burgos), Marta Santamaría (Universidad de Burgos), Marcos Terradillos
(Universidad Isabel I) y Josep Maria Verges (Institut de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social).

© De la edición: Rodrigo Alonso, Javier Baena y David Canales.

Primera edición: Octubre 2017.
Diseño y maquetación: M de Martola.
Edita: Servicio de Publicaciones de la UAM.
Imprime: Estugraf.
ISBN: 978-84-8344-594-5
Depósito legal: M-29873-2017

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