Performative Archaeology

Ritual reproduction requires restricted repetition. Tradition involves constrained improvisation according to agreed upon rules of conduct. By trying out cooking a turkey in a hole in the ground a group of anthropologists from PSU decided to challenge the culinary conventions of the National Ritual of Giving Thanks. The aim was not necessarily contrarian, but rather a reflexive desire to explore other options. No variables were isolated or measured at any point in these experiments. The project was done purely for fun and experience of pit oven cooking. Photos by Margaret Brown Vega.