Archaeological Open-Air Museum

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.

Author(s)

Roeland Paardekooper ¹ ✉

Publication Date

2012-05-15

EXARC Journal Issue 2012/2

This article is a result of my interest in, and experience with, archaeological open-air museums. With the start of HOME Eindhoven in 1982, I became actively involved in these museums and I was one of the people involved from the first moment in EXARC. From 2005 onward, I have been conducting postgraduate research at the University of Exeter into archaeological open-air museums...

Read more about Archaeological Open-Air Museums in the Netherlands, a Bit of History

Butser Ancient Farm

Author(s)

Maureen Page ¹ ✉

Publication Date

2012-01-15

EXARC Journal Issue 2012/1

Nestled among the rolling hills of the South Downs National Park, Butser Ancient Farm in Chalton has been an archaeological research site since 1972. The farm was originally set up on Little Butser, a spur of Butser Hill. It was established with support from the Council for British Archaeology...

Read more about Butser Ancient Farm

Roseldorf Rekonstruiert

Author(s)

Jan Olofsson ¹ ✉

Publication Date

2012-01-15

EXARC Journal Issue 2012/1

This review concerns the article "Roseldorf rekonstruiert – Ein keltischen Heiligtums entsteht in Asparn an der Zaya" published in EuroREA 6/2009.
Left - a photo of the idol of Cernunnos placed inside the temple... But does he recognise his surroundings?

Read more about Roseldorf Rekonstruiert

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

Museum Practice in Archaeological Open-Air Museums

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