Welcome to the Laboratory for EXperimental Archaeology (LEXA)

At LEXA, our vision is to advance the understanding of ancient technologies and behaviours through scientific experiments to generate and test archaeological hypotheses. Our work spans both open-air and controlled laboratory conditions to generate reference collections for archaeological comparative studies.

Our mission

At LEXA, we strive to:

  • Develop experiments to test and refine archaeological hypotheses.
  • Perform experiments in a wide range of ancient behaviours, centred on the prehistoric material culture, anthropogenic actions, as well as biogenic and geogenic site formation processes.
  • Produce, increase, and enrich reference collections for comparative studies.
  • Publish detailed reports on experimental protocols to ensure variable control, reproducibility, and replicability.
  • Embrace open science and FAIR principles of scientific research.
  • Develop new experimental archaeological outreach initiatives that reach a wide audience./impact of fire across several archaeological contexts and materials.

Our Expertise

As a laboratory within ICArEHB, LEXA is well-positioned to support collaborations with the broader scientific community. This enables us to leverage the extensive subject-specific expertise of the ICArEHB scientific community. In addition to this, members of LEXA have expertise in the following areas:

  • Lithic and bone technology
  • Use-wear analysis
  • Raw materials performance
  • Geoarchaeology
  • Use/impact of fire across various archaeological contexts and materials
  • Fracture mechanics
  • Taphonomy and Neo-Taphonomy
  • Use of robotics in experimental archaeology

Facilities and equipment

Currently LEXA takes advantage of the wide range of laboratories associated with ICArEHB including outdoor space for larger experiments.

LEXA draws on equipment and expertise from the other ICArEHB labs which include:

  • Photography equipment
  • 3D modelling equipment including Structured light 3D scanners and Photogrammetry equipment.
  • Microscopy facilities
  • Lithic analysis facilities
  • Controlled industrial heater
  • GIS software (ArcMap and QGIS)
  • Climatic chamber
  • Muffle

Teaching

LEXA offers facilities for interactive teaching activities covering experimental archaeology and prehistoric and palaeolithic technologies.  of robotics in experimental archaeology

Meet the Team

Our team of researchers undertake and collaborate on a wide range of experimental projects focused on palaeolithic technologies and prehistoric behaviour. Meet some of our key members:

Current External Collaborators

Dr João Marreiros – TraCEr, MONREPOS, Leibniz Zentrum für Archaeologie.

Collaboration and Funding

We welcome researchers and institutions interested in collaborating with us or applying for research funding. Please get in touch with us to discuss potential projects and funding opportunities. We particularly welcome discussion with those interested in applying for FCT fellowships or Marie Currie Fellowship funding.

For further inquiries, contact Tomos Proffitt at tsproffitt@ualg.pt

LEXA Seminar Series

The Laboratory for Experimental Archaeology (LEXA) is pleased to announce a new seminar series, Advances in Experimental Archaeology. This monthly seminar will showcase cutting-edge research in experimental archaeology from both within ICArEHB and the broader field. The topics will cover a wide range of experimental approaches, focusing on the technologies and processes that have shaped human evolution and the archaeological record. We aim to offer something of interest to everyone. Each seminar will take place on the first Tuesday of every month at 14:00 and will be streamed online via Zoom. The series is open to everyone and is held online.

Please click here to register for the LEXA Advances in Experimental Archaeology Seminar Series:
https://videoconf-colibri.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYqcOGprjMsHd2vce_MdLA-OZuA_PdQ20FB

You can catch up on the LEXA Seminar Series on YouTube.

Next Event
Tuesday, May 6, 2025, 14:00 WEST (Western European Summer Time), Online via Zoom
Speaker: Dr. Carolina Mallol (Universidad de La Laguna)
Talk Title: The Neandertal Fire Technology Project – All Its Burning Questions

Publications

LEXA members have a wide range of research interests, we have included a bibliography of selected experimental archaeological research undertaken by LEXA team members over the years both at ICArEHB and at previous affiliations:

  • Abdolahzadeh, A., Leader, G.M., Li, L., Olszewski, D.I., Schurr, T.G., 2023. Heat exposed lithics: An experimental approach to quantifying potlids by temperature. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports. 48, 103894.
  • Aldeias, V., 2017. Experimental Approaches to Archaeological Fire Features and Their Behavioral Relevance. Current Anthropology. 58, S191–S205.
  • Aldeias, V., Dibble, H.L., Sandgathe, D., Goldberg, P., McPherron, S.J., 2016. How heat alters underlying deposits and implications for archaeological fire features: a controlled experiment. Journal of Archaeological Science. 67, 64–79.
  • Aldeias, V., Gur-Arieh, S., Maria, R., Monteiro, P., Cura, P., 2019. Shell we cook it? An experimental approach to the microarchaeological record of shellfish roasting. Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences. 11, 389–407.
  • Alonso, G., Rufà, A., Blasco, R., 2024. Cooked or discarded? Experimental distinction of rabbit burnt bones and its application to the archaeological record. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports. 56, 104541.
  • Byrne, F., Proffitt, T., Arroyo, A., de la Torre, I., 2016. A comparative analysis of bipolar and freehand experimental knapping products from Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Quaternary International. 424, 58–68.
  • de La Torre, I., Vanwezer, N., Benito-Calvo, A., Proffitt, T., Mora, R., 2019. Spatial and orientation patterns of experimental stone tool refits. Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences. 11, 4569–4584.
  • Dogandžić, T., Abdolazadeh, A., Leader, G., Li, L., McPherron, S.P., Tennie, C., Dibble, H.L., 2020. The results of lithic experiments performed on glass cores are applicable to other raw materials. Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences. 12, 44.
  • Gallo, G., Aldeias, V. & Stahlschmidt, M. 2025. Revisiting the thermal alteration of buried bone. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 63, 105080.
  • Key, A., Proffitt, T., De La Torre, I., 2020. Raw material optimization and stone tool engineering in the Early Stone Age of Olduvai Gorge (Tanzania). Journal of The Royal Society Interface. 17, 20190377.
  • Li, L., Lin, S.C., McPherron, S.P., Abdolahzadeh, A., Chan, A., Dogandžić, T., Iovita, R., Leader, G.M., Magnani, M., Rezek, Z., Dibble, H.L., 2023a. A Synthesis of the Dibble et al. Controlled Experiments into the Mechanics of Lithic Production. Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory. 30, 1284–1325.
  • Li, L., Reeves, J.S., Lin, S.C., Braun, D.R., McPherron, S.P., 2023b. Did Early Pleistocene hominins control hammer strike angles when making stone tools? Journal of Human Evolution. 183, 103427.
  • Li, L., Reeves, J.S., Lin, S.C., Tennie, C., McPherron, S.P., 2022. Quantifying knapping actions: a method for measuring the angle of blow on flakes. Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences. 14, 156.
  • Lin, S.C., Rezek, Z., Abdolahzadeh, A., Braun, D.R., Dogandžić, T., Leader, G.M., Li, L., McPherron, S.P., 2022. The mediating effect of platform width on the size and shape of stone flakes. Plos one. 17, e0262920.
  • Marreiros, J., Calandra, I., Gneisinger, W., Paixão, E., Pedergnana, A., Schunk, L., 2020. Rethinking Use-Wear Analysis and Experimentation as Applied to the Study of Past Hominin Tool Use. Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology. 3, 475–502.
  • McPherron, S.P., Abdolahzadeh, A., Archer, W., Chan, A., Djakovic, I., Dogandžić, T., Leader, G.M., Li, L., Lin, S., Magnani, M., 2020. Introducing platform surface interior angle (PSIA) and its role in flake formation, size and shape. PLoS One. 15, e0241714.
  • Nabais, M., Rufà, A., Igreja, M., 2024. Experimental replication of early human behaviour in bird preparation: a pilot-study focusing on bone surface modification and breakage patterns. Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology. 3, 1411853.
  • Paixão, E., Marreiros, J., Gibaja, J.F., Pereira, T., Cascalheira, J., Bicho, N.F., 2016. Testing raw-material suitability for Ground stones: Experimental program in Quartzite and Greywacke.
  • Paixão, E., Pedergnana, A., Marreiros, J., Dubreuil, L., Prevost, M., Zaidner, Y., Carver, G., Gneisinger, W., 2021. Using mechanical experiments to study ground stone tool use: Exploring the formation of percussive and grinding wear traces on limestone tools. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports. 37, 102971.
  • Pedergnana, A., Calandra, I., Bob, K., Gneisinger, W., Paixão, E., Schunk, L., Hildebrandt, A., Marreiros, J., 2020. Evaluating the microscopic effect of brushing stone tools as a cleaning procedure. Quaternary International. 569, 263–276.
  • Pereira, T., Marreiros, J., Paixão, E., Martins, R., 2017. Mechanical experiments to test quartzite vs chert edge reduction. In: The Exploitation of Raw Materials in Prehistory: Sourcing, Processing and Distribution. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, p. 613.
  • Proffitt, T., Bargalló, A., De La Torre, I., 2022. The Effect of Raw Material on the Identification of Knapping Skill: a Case Study from Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory. 29, 50–82.
  • Proffitt, T., Reeves, J.S., Falótico, T., Arroyo, A., de la Torre, I., Ottoni, E.B., Luncz, L.V., 2023. Identifying intentional flake production at the dawn of technology: A technological and 3D geometric morphometric study. Journal of Archaeological Science. 152, 105740.
  • Rufà, A., Martin, C., Laroulandie, V., 2023. Searching for raptor feathers and talons: Results of an experimental approach. Hiatus, lacunes et absences: identifier et interpréter les vides archéologiques, Actes du 29e Congrès préhistorique de France, 31 mai-4 juin 2021, Toulouse.
  • Watson, S., Li, L., Mackay, A., 2024. Quantifying the effect of heating temperature on silcrete blank production. Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences. 16, 201.

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