Despite the worldwide isolation and crises around the globe caused by the COVID-19 epidemic, the Laboratory of Experimental Archaeology of the SUSU Eurasian Studies Research and Education Centre headed by Ivan Semyan continues to actively work on the local and international projects of archaeological reconstruction. Modern online formats allow to keep up fruitful activity remotely.
In the middle of February a big-scale project on reconstruction of an authentic model of the Sintashta chariot of the Bronze Age was launched, which was supported by the Governor of the Chelyabinsk Region Alexey Texler. Experts from different Russian cities, as well as their European colleagues take part in this project. At present, in an online mode, specialists from the Eurasian Studies Research and Education Centre and the Laboratory of Experimental Archaeology are working on creating computer models of the future full-size reconstruction.
Collaboration with the Greek colleagues from the University of Athens regarding the reconstruction of the Sintashta bows of the Bronze Age continues within the grant project under EXARC Twinning program. Consultations are being taken via video conferencing. The project is in its final stage.
The laboratory staff members, jointly with the Archeos Experimental Archaeology Association, following the order by the Government of the Kurgan Region, and in collaboration with the Trans-Ural Society of History, Archaeology and Culture (ZODIAC), as well as through attracting the interested organisations (Tyumen Scientific Centre of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Scientific and Production Centre for Using the Cultural Heritage Sites of the Kurgan Region) have completed graphical and archaeological reconstruction of Savin-1 sanctuary of the Neolithic Age, which is located in the Kurgan Region. A full-size reconstruction of this site is planned in the future. Jointly with their colleagues from Kurgan, the laboratory specialists have carried out big distance online work on data synchronization and modelling.
Some problems make the mankind evolve and find original solutions. That was what the organisers of the International Conference on Documentation Strategies in (Archaeological) Open-Air Museums did. It should have been held in Berlin on March 26-27, but it was held online via the Discord platform. The Head of the SUSU Laboratory of Experimental Archaeology Ivan Semyan delivered a presentation on the project of the Sintashta bow reconstruction at this conference.
Distance format allows to not only continue studying and working, but also makes projects more productive and of a bigger scale.
