Archaeological open air museum
Encyclopedia
An archaeological open air museum is a non-profit
permanent institution with outdoor true to scale architectural
reconstructions primarily based on archaeological
sources. It holds collections of intangible heritage resources
and provides an interpretation of how people lived and acted in the past; this is accomplished according to sound scientific methods for the purposes of education
, study and enjoyment of its visitors.
research, demonstrations of ancient crafts and techniques, live interpretation and living history activities.
, Lake Dwelling Museum Unteruhldingen
, Saalburg
, Colonial Williamsburg
, Plimoth Plantation
, West Stow Anglo-Saxon village, Butser Ancient Farm
, the Scottish Crannog Centre and the Historisch Openluchtmuseum Eindhoven
.
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
permanent institution with outdoor true to scale architectural
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
reconstructions primarily based on archaeological
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
sources. It holds collections of intangible heritage resources
Intangible cultural heritage
The concept of intangible cultural heritage emerged in the 1990s, as a counterpart to the World Heritage that focuses mainly on tangible aspects of culture...
and provides an interpretation of how people lived and acted in the past; this is accomplished according to sound scientific methods for the purposes of education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, study and enjoyment of its visitors.
Definition
The above definition is proposed by EXARC, using ICOM's definition of museums. Further explanation of its elements:Museum
“A museum is a non-profit, permanent institution in the service of society and its development, open to the public, which acquires, conserves, researches, communicates and exhibits the tangible and intangible heritage of humanity and its environment for the purposes of education, study and enjoyment.” Professional practice and performance in archaeological open air museums should respect the ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums.True to scale architectural reconstructions in the open air
Archaeological open air museums deal with outdoor true to scale reconstructed buildings. These can be constructed and interpreted only under the condition that: “the original buildings of the type portrayed are no longer available (and) the copies or reconstructions are made according to the strictest scientific methods”. The authenticity of materials and techniques used should be clearly accounted for through written and accessible records, quoting the sources of information on which the reconstructions are based. An honest assessment of each reconstruction should be feasible.Collections of intangible heritage resources
The overall presentation of an archaeological open air museum can be regarded (classified/defined) as a collection of intangible heritage resources which provides an interpretation of how people lived and acted with reference to a specific context of time and place.Connected to scientific research
The connection between scientific research and any specific archaeological open air museum is provided by the active role of a trained archaeologist among the staff or an archaeological counsellor belonging to an affiliated organisation.Appropriate interpretation with organisation of activities for visitors
Depending on the nature and amount of visitors, different kinds of interpretation can be appropriate. These activities can involve (but are not limited to) guided tours, educational programmes, presentation of experimental archaeologyExperimental archaeology
Experimental archaeology employs a number of different methods, techniques, analyses, and approaches in order to generate and test hypotheses, based upon archaeological source material, like ancient structures or artifacts. It should not be confused with primitive technology which is not concerned...
research, demonstrations of ancient crafts and techniques, live interpretation and living history activities.
Examples
Examples of archaeological open air museums are BiskupinBiskupin
The archaeological open air museum Biskupin is an archaeological site and a life-size model of an Iron Age fortified settlement in north-central Poland . When first discovered it was thought to be early evidence of Slavic settlement but archaeologists later confirmed it belonged to the Biskupin...
, Lake Dwelling Museum Unteruhldingen
Pfahlbau Museum Unteruhldingen
Pfahlbaumuseum Unteruhldingen is an archaeological open air museum on Lake Constance in Unteruhldingen, Germany, consisting of reconstructions of stilt houses or lake dwellings from the Neolithic Stone Age and Bronze Age.-Museum:The museum consists of a number of exhibits displaying...
, Saalburg
Saalburg
The Saalburg is a Roman fort located on the Taunus ridge northwest of Bad Homburg, Hesse, Germany. It is a Cohort Fort belonging to the Limes Germanicus, the Roman linear border fortification of the German provinces. The Saalburg, located just off the main road roughly halfway between Bad Homburg...
, Colonial Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg is the private foundation representing the historic district of the city of Williamsburg, Virginia, USA. The district includes buildings dating from 1699 to 1780 which made colonial Virginia's capital. The capital straddled the boundary of the original shires of Virginia —...
, Plimoth Plantation
Plimoth Plantation
Plimoth Plantation is a living museum in Plymouth, Massachusetts that shows the original settlement of the Plymouth Colony established in the 17th century by English colonists, some of whom later became known as Pilgrims. They were among the first people who emigrated to America to avoid religious...
, West Stow Anglo-Saxon village, Butser Ancient Farm
Butser Ancient Farm
- External links :* * *...
, the Scottish Crannog Centre and the Historisch Openluchtmuseum Eindhoven
Historisch Openluchtmuseum Eindhoven
The Historisch Openluchtmuseum Eindhoven is an archaeological open air museum in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, focusing on the Iron Age and Middle Ages of the province of Noord-Brabant. The museum is situated in the Genneper Parken park area in the southern side of the city...
.