Stefan Gridling

Archaeologist, Firefighter and Star Wars Fan

[Stefan Gridling @StefanGridling]

@ArchaeologyAnd @LWaldhart

[Stefan Gridling @StefanGridling]

@LWaldhart

[Stefan Gridling @StefanGridling]

#KurzSchluss

[Stefan Gridling @StefanGridling]

@living_archaeo

[Archaeology at NCL @ArchaeologyNCL]

These past few days we welcomed archaeologists from far and wide to a workshop on techniques to identify metal wear and traceology. Thanks to all who made it an excellent 2 days! Here’s Andrea demonstrating with a bronze sword replica!

[Living Archaeology @living_archaeo]

Since this is our last week on excavation, we‘re trying to get everything ready for the final documentation, which means finding groundlevels in all the rooms. @StefanGridling was able to do just that and found a brick floor. #archaeology #FollowMax500 #intirol #medievaltwitter

[Living Archaeology @living_archaeo]

(2/6) At first we had to separate the material between usable salt and impurities like clay and gypsum. Since the salt is very soft, the crushing process went along quickly. #experimentalarchaeology #stonetools #archaeology

[Living Archaeology @living_archaeo]

(1/6) A short project we had in mind for quite some time was the processing of rock #salt from the Hallstatt Region (Austria) using stone tools. People were #mining this salt since #prehistoric times. #experimentalarchaeology #stonetools #archaeology

[Living Archaeology @living_archaeo]

⚡️ “Prehistoric mining stone-tools (05/02 - 08/02)”

https://t.co/IZEjPmyFIR

[Living Archaeology @living_archaeo]

(5/6) On @sketchfab you can see 3D models of original #prehistoric #stonetools used for copper metallurgy: https://t.co/ZwuLozw5CK
#archaeology #experimentalarchaeology

[Living Archaeology @living_archaeo]

(6/6) Future projects of course include putting these tools to use. Also, the original finds will be presented in my master thesis. #archaeology #mining #stonetools #experimentalarchaeology

[Living Archaeology @living_archaeo]

(3/6) Now it was time to try picking the requested horizontal groove, that was utilized for mounting purposes. Sidenote: All my fingers are still intact… 👍 Also: Soundwarning! #archaeology #experimentalarchaeology #mining #stonetools

[Living Archaeology @living_archaeo]

(4/6) Picking the grooves took almost 4 hours and 15.000 strokes. At the end, the handstone looked just like the originals. Stay tuned for our progress and the final test results! #archaeology #experimentalarchaeology #mining #stonetools

[Living Archaeology @living_archaeo]

(2/6) Such materials are metamorphic rocks like gneiss, which can be found close to the Jochberger Ache (Kitzbühel, Tyrol). For the grinding assembly we needed to collect large and flat stone (1) for the lower part and well-rounded cobble for the mounted handstone. #archaeology

[Living Archaeology @living_archaeo]

⚡️ “Smelting (01/28 - 02/01)”

https://t.co/pbacnvnenO

[Living Archaeology @living_archaeo]

(7/8) The results of the casts can be described as promising. While each of them had errors, these weren't due to poor quality of the soil, but rather because of an incomplete drying process of it. #archaeology #experimentalarchaeology #smelting

[Living Archaeology @living_archaeo]

(5/8) Now it was time for the actual smelting process. We used a modern self-made furnace hooked up to a repurposed bubble bath mat (surely there is a scientific term for that...) to create a constant airflow #archaeology #experimentalarchaeology #smelting #hardlyprehistory

[Living Archaeology @living_archaeo]

(4/8) With the processing being done, the positive was pressed into the compressed soil. Since it didn't matter for the results of our experiment, a completely fictional arrowhead was used. #archaeology #experimentalarchaeology #smelting

[Living Archaeology @living_archaeo]

To round up our excursion into the medieval means of lighting in form of lamps, we have these impressions for you. #archaeology #experimentalarchaeology #pottery #intirol

[Living Archaeology @living_archaeo]

About 2 hours after covering up the firing we decided to open it up, expecting the worst. To our surprise, none of the seven lamps had been burst. #pottery #archaeology #experimentalarchaeology