The history of SEPA

The Society was formed in 1998 at the Institute of Archeology, NCU. Its founders were Katarzyna Gielniak, Anna Perlińska, Robert Fabisiak, Grzegorz Osipowicz and Sławomir Gronek. The first scientific supervisor was Jolanta Małecka-Kukawka. Currently, this function belongs to Grzegorz Osipowicz. According to the Satute, members may be recruited from all the interested, particularly students of archeology and related fields, such as: geography, biology, history and chemistry, as well as persons with scientific degrees. 

Since the beginning of its operation SEPA conducts an extensive cooperation with institutions and people interested in the experimental method, primeval archeology and other related fields. Particularly noteworthy are here contacts established with student organizations of a similar profile, operating in university centers in Poznań, Lublin and Łódź. Their representatives participated in several experimental camps led by people from Toruń. In 2001 the Society has established contacts with the Etnographic Museum Maria Znamierowska-Prüfferowa, which provided students with the area of Etnographic Park in Kaszczorek. The cooperation continues until now. A major contribution to the development of SEPA comes also from Witold Migal from State Archeological Museum in Warsaw. Several times he took on production of half-raw material as well as replicas of primeval tools, later used in experiments. At students’ request he also took part in demonstrations of experimental treatment of flint and other fine-crystalline materials. Members of SEPA established contacts with District Museums in Toruń, Brodnica and Grudziądz. Besides organizing several joint educational events, the replicas of antiques made in the course of experimental works, were used as exhibits by these institutions. 

SEPA cooperates also with centers from outside our country. Mostly, attention should be paid to contacts with international organizations such as: Vereniging voor Archeologische Experimenten en Educatie (VAEE) and European Exchange on Archeological Research and Communication (EXARC). In 2003 after an invitation from the members of the Society, Roeland Paardekooper (secretary of EXARC) presented a special lecture on North European experimental archeology which took place at the Institute of Archeology NCU. With his help organized was also an exchange of literature between university libraries in Toruń and Leiden. Also, Erhardt Godehardt from Hellental is a friend of SEPA, cooperating with students in conducting archery experiments. 

Magdalena Wałaszewska