Archeos, Chelyabinsk Center of Historical Projects at South Ural State University has won a federal grant of one million roubles within the frameworks of Times and Epochs festival of reconstruction.
The archaeometallurgy project of the SUSU Laboratory of Experimental Archaeology became one of the nine winners of the historical projects contest under Times and Epochs festival. 108 applications had been filed to the contest.
Archeos Center of Historical Projects is the organizer of Flame of Arkaim historical festival, and it participated in creation of The Dawn of Humanity platform reconstructing material culture of the Stone Age and the Bronze Age. The Center’s employees are also developing paleo-tourism and are organizing “live classes” for children. School kids are taught cave painting, making of arrow heads, writing in Slavic runes on wax plates, and cooking the Paleolithic-age food. In the future Archeos is planning on creating a national-level archeopark at South Urals.
It is planned to spend the Moscow grant’s money on developing a unique-for-Russia Experimental Laboratory of Archaeometallurgy. A space of 60 square meters has already been allotted for it at SUSU. The complex will include six working zones. Archaeometallurgy and metal working – a zone where researchers will be able to re-create the processes of metal melting, casting and forging. Ceramic items will be dried in a zone for ceramics working. A muffle furnace will allow to bake items and melt metal at controlled temperature. A zone for item working is a working site equipped with the required hand tools. A zone for team work is a place where lectures, seminars and practical classes will be held.
According to the Head of Archeos Center of Historical Projects Ivan Semyan, the consultant of this project was the Head of the Department of Experimental Archaeology at the Autonomous University of Madrid PhD Javier Baena. In the laboratory students will be able to live re-create ancient technologies of metal and ceramics producing and working, and make quality replicas of artefacts. It is planned to spend the grant’s money on arranging an innovative educational-and-production complex of facilities, purchasing the required raw materials, tools, as well as high-technology equipment, including a 3D scanner.