Preludium for our researcher from the Institute of Archaeology
Dominika Tokarz combines her interest in sound and the past with her practical knowledge of playing a wind instrument. She received a grant for her research – PLN 187,019 in the Prelude competition from the NCN. She is a doctoral student at the Doctoral School of the University of Wrocław, in the Doctoral College of Archaeology, Art and Culture (discipline: archaeology). She carries out her research at the Institute of Archaeology within the Faculty of Historical and Pedagogical Sciences under the supervision of prof. Andrzej Wiśniewski.
As our doctoral student says: – The title of my project is „Czy to aerofony? Interdyscyplinarne badania kościanych rurek datowanych na eneolit i epokę brązu, z terenów środkowej Europy”. My research is concerned with the interpretation of artefacts with a simple tubular form, which are discovered at archaeological sites associated with the Laced Ceramics culture and the Mierzanowice culture. I am investigating whether these types of finds could have functioned as musical instruments or sound tools.
Among other things, the research intends to carry out macro and microscopic analyses of the surfaces of the artefacts, which are helpful in assessing their method of production and use. By means of photogrammetry and microtomography, she will obtain 3D digital models of historic bone tubes. She will test the sound capabilities of such models in two ways: on the basis of digital sound reconstruction and physical testing of printed copies.
Experiments involving the making of aerophones using tools available in the Stone Age and Bronze Age will also be an important element of the research. The resulting objects will be subjected to, among other things, microscopic analysis of manufacturing traces (which will provide comparative material for the traseological analyses that the historic aerophones will undergo) and analysis of acoustic potential.
Before taking up and completing my bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the Institute of Archaeology at the University of Wrocław, I attended the General Music School of the first and second degree in Bytom, which gave me the professional title of musician-instrumentalist. In my research, I combine my interest in sound and the past with a practical knowledge of playing a wind instrument.
Prelude is a unique NCN competition that enables researchers at a very early stage of their careers – even before their doctoral studies – to gain first-hand experience of research projects lasting up to three years.
Congratulations and we wish further success!
Who from UWr has received Preludium and Opus NCN grants read here.
