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

From Celtic Village to Iron Age Farmstead: Lessons Learnt from Twenty Years of Building, Maintaining and Presenting Iron Age Roundhouses at St Fagans National History Museum

Author(s)

Steve Burrow ¹ ✉

Publication Date

2015-11-30

EXARC Journal Issue 2015/4

OpenArch Special Digest 2015 Issue 2
***This article summarises the main issues that were faced in running a group of reconstructed Iron Age roundhouses as an educational and visitor resource at St Fagans National History Museum from 1992 until 2013. Plans to build a new Iron Age farmstead at St Fagans are then outlined along with the steps...

Read more about From Celtic Village to Iron Age Farmstead: Lessons Learnt from Twenty Years of Building, Maintaining and Presenting Iron Age Roundhouses at St Fagans National History Museum

Tangible and Intangible Knowledge: the Unique Contribution of Archaeological Open-Air Museums

Author(s)

Linda Hurcombe ¹ ✉

Publication Date

2015-11-30

EXARC Journal Issue 2015/4

OpenArch Special Digest 2015 Issue 2
***Over the years my personal research interests have focussed on the less tangible elements of the past, such as gender issues, perishable material culture, and the sensory worlds of the past, but all of these have been underpinned by a longstanding appreciation of the role experimental archaeology can play as...

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Montale, the Terramara Lives

Author(s)

Andrea Cardarelli ¹,

Ilaria Pulini ¹,

Cristiana Zanasi ¹ ✉

Publication Date

2015-11-30

EXARC Journal Issue 2015/4

OpenArch Special Digest 2015 Issue 2
***Ten years ago, the results of investigations from one of the most important protohistoric settlements of the Po Plain in Italy lead to the construction of a large archaeological park. A project which, today, represents a core reality in the dissemination of experimentations...

Read more about Montale, the Terramara Lives

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

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Featured EXARC Members Archaeological Open-Air Museums

Featured in the EXARC Journal

Archaeological Open-Air Museum

From Celtic Village to Iron Age Farmstead: Lessons Learnt from Twenty Years of Building, Maintaining and Presenting Iron Age Roundhouses at St Fagans National History Museum

Tangible and Intangible Knowledge: the Unique Contribution of Archaeological Open-Air Museums

Montale, the Terramara Lives

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

From Celtic Village to Iron Age Farmstead: Lessons Learnt from Twenty Years of Building, Maintaining and Presenting Iron Age Roundhouses at St Fagans National History Museum

Tangible and Intangible Knowledge: the Unique Contribution of Archaeological Open-Air Museums

Montale, the Terramara Lives

Worldwide Map of Archaeological Open-Air Museums

EXARC

Social Media

Creative Commons Licence

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