Museum Practice in Archaeological Open-Air Museums

Around the world, there are hundreds of museums in the open-air, with reconstructed houses, based on archaeological sources. These are so-called archaeological open-air museums. They tell the story of people like you and me, how they struggled with daily life, made inventions or witnessed important moments in (pre)history. These museums explain what the world was like before our times and what we can learn from the past.

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In 2008, EXARC defined what an archaeological open-air museum is. This definition has become widely accepted, the phrase commonly used:

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.

Archaeological Open-Air Museum

RETOLD: On the Way for a Digital Future of Documentation in Open-air Museums – User Requirements for Data Entry and a Management Product for the RETOLD-Project

Author(s)

Cordula Hansen

Rüdiger Kelm

Publication Date

2022-09-15

EXARC Journal Issue 2022/3

As part of the RETOLD project, which runs from 2020 until 2024 and is funded by the Creative Europe Programme, Nüwa Digital Media Production Studios (Ireland) in collaboration with the Archaeological-Ecological Centre Albersdorf (AÖZA, Germany) have carried out a year-long user research project for a future digital tool, that will enable open-air museums to collect and manage data...

Read more about RETOLD: On the Way for a Digital Future of Documentation in Open-air Museums – User Requirements for Data Entry and a Management Product for the RETOLD-Project

RETOLD: Open-air Museum Mobile Applications UX Report - Looking for Inspiration

Author(s)

Pau Sanchis Rota

Publication Date

2022-09-15

EXARC Journal Issue 2022/3

This article presents the methodology and results of the report on Open-air Museums Mobile Apps, developed by the RETOLD Project in October 2021. From the analysis of a sample composed by 15 Open-air Museums mobile applications, three models for Open-air museums mobile apps are proposed according to different visit experiences...

Read more about RETOLD: Open-air Museum Mobile Applications UX Report - Looking for Inspiration

Facilitated Dialogue: An Emerging Field of Museum Practice

Author(s)

Foteini Venieri

Publication Date

2022-02-25

EXARC Journal Issue 2022/1

The notion of dialogue is considered essential in contemporary museology. Since the 1970’s, when Cameron (1971) put forward the idea of museums as forums rather than temples, dialogue is linked to the process of democratization of museum functions and narratives and the inclusion of local communities (Sandell, 2002). Nowadays, “the idea of museum as a forum is widespread” (Kirschenblatt-Giblett, 2020)...

Read more about Facilitated Dialogue: An Emerging Field of Museum Practice

Recommended Literature

AHRENS, C., 1990. Wiederaufgebaute Vorzeit. Archäologische Freilichtmuseen in Europa. Neumünster: Wachholz Verlag.

BLOCK, S.R., 2004. Why Nonprofits fail. Overcoming Founder’s Syndrome, Fundphobia and other Obstacles to Success. San Francisco: Jossey Bass.

DIAMOND., J., LUKE, J.J. & UTTAL, D.H., 2009. Practical Evaluation Guide, Tools for Museums and other Informal Educational Settings, Lanham: Altamira.

FALK, J.H. & DIERKING, L.D., 2000. Learning from Museums, Visitor Experiences and the Making of Meaning, Lanham: Altamira Press.

GOODACRE, B. & BALDWIN, G., 2002. Living the Past: Reconstruction, Recreation, Re-enactment and Education at Museums and Historical Sites, London: Middlesex University Press.

HART, J. & MERRIT, E.E., 2005. Accreditation Resource Kit, Washington DC: American Association of Museums.

HOLTORF, C., 2005. From Stonehenge to Las Vegas. Archaeology as Popular Culture, Walnut Creek: AltaMira Press.

MANNEBY, H., PRASCH, H. & HOFMANN, R. (eds), 2002. Guidelines to Improve Museum Quality and Standards: Proceedings of an ICR Project 1999-2002, Bayreuth: International Committee for Regional Museums (ICR).

MASON, T. & WEEKS, J., 2002. From Australia to Zanzibar, Museum Standards Schemes Overseas. A council for museums, archives and libraries, London: Resource.

McKERCHER, B. & du CROS, H., 2002. Cultural tourism. The Partnership between Tourism and Cultural Heritage Management, New York: The Haworth Hospitality Press.

PAARDEKOOPER, R.P., 2012. The Value of an Archaeological Open-Air Museum is in its Use, Leiden: Sidestone.

RUNYARD, S. & FRENCH, Y., 1999. Marketing & Public Relations Handbook for Museums, Galleries & Heritage Attractions, London: The Stationary Office.

STONE, P.G. & PLANEL, P.G. (eds), 1999. The Constructed Past. Experimental Archaeology, Education and the Public, Oxford: Routledge.

House of Questions

Delphi House of Questions was an EU Culture 2000 project by three EXARC members. Under this umbrella, other EXARC members as well collected and answered the most frequently asked questions by visitors to archaeological open-air museums. The largest part of this collection of questions you can find here – as many of them still carry importance. In most cases we offer the questions both in the original language and in English.

See all Questions

Contact With Archaeological Open-Air Museums Worldwide

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Museum Practice in Archaeological Open-Air Museums

Promoting AOAM in just 7 minutes

Featured EXARC Members Archaeological Open-Air Museums

Featured in the EXARC Journal

Archaeological Open-Air Museum

RETOLD: On the Way for a Digital Future of Documentation in Open-air Museums – User Requirements for Data Entry and a Management Product for the RETOLD-Project

RETOLD: Open-air Museum Mobile Applications UX Report - Looking for Inspiration

Facilitated Dialogue: An Emerging Field of Museum Practice

Worldwide Map of Archaeological Open-Air Museums

EXARC

Social Media

Creative Commons Licence

Museum Practice in Archaeological Open-Air Museums

Promoting AOAM in just 7 minutes

Featured EXARC Members Archaeological Open-Air Museums

Featured in the EXARC Journal

Archaeological Open-Air Museum

RETOLD: On the Way for a Digital Future of Documentation in Open-air Museums – User Requirements for Data Entry and a Management Product for the RETOLD-Project

RETOLD: Open-air Museum Mobile Applications UX Report - Looking for Inspiration

Facilitated Dialogue: An Emerging Field of Museum Practice

Worldwide Map of Archaeological Open-Air Museums

EXARC

Social Media

Creative Commons Licence

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