One area where a lot of experimental archaeology is used is in Living History, and in Historical Trekking. Living history can cover any period of history, as can historical trekking. In both of these activities the participants wear the period clothing as well as using period equipment. The items used do not have to be original antiques; in fact most of the items used are copies of originals, made specifically for living history historians, historical re-enactors, and historical trekkers.
In historical trekking everything the participants use must be period correct, from the clothing, carry packs, water bottles, and tools, to the food and the skills. Mostly participants’ make there own period items, but if there is something that you can’t make, then the item can be traded for or purchased.
The New England Colonial Living History Group in Armidale is an early to mid 18th century living history group. Their main period of interest is from 1680-1760 in the New World. The reasons for choosing the New World are because it provides the participants with a larger variety of nationalities, clothing styles, period skills, trekking scenarios, personas, and of course an earlier period of history that is not available in Australian living history.

Before a participant can start to research clothing and equipment etc, they must choose a persona. A persona is a character, a type of person you wish to emulate. The choice may be influenced by your family background, or it may be a type of person you would like to have been had you been born about 300 years ago. In living history, you can literally be anyone you want to be.

There is no age limit in living history or historical trekking, providing you are fit enough to participate. Those not able to trek very far can attend drive-in historical camps. Not all activities involve trekking and camping, many activities can be accomplished in the comfort of your own home, or the group’s club house. There is no limit to the period skills you can learn, and 18th century skills also include many primitive native skills and crafts, such as finger weaving, cordage making, primitive bow construction and use, fire-bow fire lighting, primitive trap making, making and using primitive fishing tackle, shelter construction, and more.

Period living skills can include: flint & steel fire lighting, spinning, weaving, leather crafts, clothing construction, muzzleloading, tomahawk throwing, open fire cooking, period foods, equipment construction, tin smithing, hornsmithing, wild food identification, plant tinders, tinder preparation, and much more.

For those who might wish to participate in Living History via the web, there are forums you can join, the best of which is probably Living History Worldwide at
http://skirmishmagazine.ning.com/ Also information at my own site, http://woodsrunnersdiary.blogspot.com
I can be contacted at phone: 02 67 755 292. Email: historicaltrekker@gmail.com
Or Mail: Keith H. Burgess, Wychwood Forest, MSF 2007, Armidale 2350.
Regards, Keith H. Burgess.