Archaeological Open-Air Museum

Ertebølle is a famous Danish Mesolithic site. In the 19th century, a large so called ‘køkkenmødding’ (shell midden) was excavated. The diet in those days was mainly seafood. Other more recently excavated Ertebølle (ca 5,300 BC-3,950 BC) sites are Skateholm and Tybrind Vig.

The Schmidatal in Niederösterreich, not far from Vienna, is known for its wines and has a rich history. During excavations not far from Grosswetzdorf a Neolithic monument was discovered. It exists of a combination of circles of large piles and deep ditches. It might have been an (astronomical?) monument, possibly linked to burial rituals.

La Draga is a prehistoric lake settlement in Northern Catalonia like the ones in the Alpine area of the same period. This area of Catalonia at Lake Banyoles is a very densily used tourist area.

In the early 1970s, the Rheinisches Landesmuseum Trier excavated at the “Altburg” near Bundenbach. This was the site of a Iron Age defended settlement between 170 BC and 50 BC in the West Celtic area.

The settlement Birka, at the island Björkö was hugely important in the Viking Period, around 750 AD. It was a key site in the Viking trading network, the nearby island Adelsö was the royal residence (Hovgården). The amount of artefacts excavated since the 19th century, the density of population is striking and following the excavations, both islands are UNESCO world heritage since 1993. The area had massive influence on this part of Europe.

On the bank of the river Daugava, Lielvarde was the site of a 13th century castle. Its ruins are still visible. Near the city centre, a 12th century fortified wooden settlement is reconstructed, called Uldevena koka pils. Uldevens is the name of a 12th century Latvian king. It is a private initiative based on archaeological samples supplied by scientific journals published in Latvia.

Near the Dordogne valley, a Bronze Age settlement was found at the foot of the Beynac castle. Once excavated, this site was turned into an archaeological open air museum, run by the Museum Association of the Sarladais area.

At Treignes, there is an archaeological indoor museum, the Musée du Malgre-Tout, closely cooperating with an archaeological open air museum, the “Parc de la Préhistoire”. The indoor museum dates back to before World War I and is situated in the heating plant at Treignes.

The Archeopark Rochefort is dedicated to the excavated remains that were consolidated, restored and partly renewed, of one of the biggest Romanian farms in the north of Gaul. A good reason to open the territory for the wide public. The association administrating the territory enable visitors to taste the atmosphere of the live of our Gallic Romanian ancestors.

The Préhistosite at Ramioul consists of caves used in Palaeolithic, an archaeological open-air museum, indoor education areas and a traditional museum.