Nicholas Groat

My research primarily concerns technology and material composition in prehistory to early historic periods. I am particularly interested in how intangible aspects of the archaeological record are investigated and interpreted, most recently alcohol, other liquids, and technical choices surrounding their production. This body of work has covered several geographic areas, and I broadly have an interest in prehistoric to early historic archaeology of Central and Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, and West to South Central Asia.

My methodological and thematic focuses in these areas include:

• Metallurgy and ceramic production technology 
• Microwear, residue, and compositional analyses
• Craft processes, material culture, and sociocultural facets of alcohol production
• Experimental archaeology and technological reconstructions
• Issues pertaining to archaeology, heritage, and contemporary society

Thesis Abstract

As archaeological thought has become increasingly aware of the centrality of sensory perception and human experience in the creation of material culture, a growing interest in a post-humanist consideration of affect - the ability to act and be acted upon - has emerged.

Placing this inquiry at the heart of interpretation has fostered an interpretation of the archaeological record beyond essentialist perspectives and centred an approach to material culture that considers technological change and innovation as the result of social interactions, networks, and milieus. However, while this has been embraced in some contexts, others are yet to follow, particularly within artefact studies that frequently devolve to discussions on physical and chemical properties.

This project therefore uses the context of early distillation practices to scrutinise the nature and conviction of technology and develop a sensory and affective perspective on technological practices. As a process imbued with sensory and affective qualities, distillation marks a significant change in the treatment and understanding of materials, and is one widely used across several craft spheres.

One significant case for early distillation apparatus has been tied to technical developments in the proverbial “Hellenistic East” (broadly West and South-Central Asia), seen to substantially contrast those of prehistory. Yet a comprehensive craft-centric study on the proffered apparatus remains to be fully explored, aside from questioning its ability to distil. Allied to this, research in the area has rarely extended into a holistic discussion on craft processes, focussing instead on determining specific chronological stages and evidence of ‘Greekness’.      

By analysing production technology through a methodology that centralises exploratory experimental reconstruction, the project will examine ceramic apparatus proffered for distillation, versed in questions of material composition and manipulation. Conducted through an integrated analytical approach that employs an experimental campaign informed by material analysis, it will present a comprehensive discussion on the foundational principles of distillation compounded by a broader understanding of early complex material transformation practices.

Utilising the expertise of academic researchers and industry professionals, the performance, materials produced, and sensory affects of distillation craft practices will be evaluated. As a result, the project will enhance and critique established narratives on technological innovation in the region and period whilst contributing to our growing understanding of early distillation practices.