I am a retired veterinary pathologist with a long-standing interest in sustainable technology and historic agriculture. I have 30 years experience interpreting farming to the public (the picture is from the 1990s).
Past President ICOMOS-UK
Visiting Professor Historic Building Conservation
FSA, FRGS, MIfA, CGeog, BA
UNESCO Specialist in the science of in situ preservation of archaeological remains
I have been involved in Historic Building Conservation for 40 years including Experimental Archaeology. I am currently a conservation consultant and historic materials practitioner.
The ASTRA Open-Air Museum situated in the natural reservation of Dumbrava Sibiului, 4 kilometers away from the Sibiu city centre, spreads across 96 ha, of which more than 40 ha are covered by the permanent exhibition. It was opened in 1963 when the assumed mission was to present the traditional technical patrimony in rural Romania, mills for grinding, oil, grapes and fruit presses, sawmills and watermills, and some peasant industries.
After the 90's, the museum goes through an obvious transformation, the aspect of traditional culture being more present through the houses rebuilt in the museum, but also with emphasis on the immaterial patrimony. ASTRA Open-Air Museum currently holds over 400 monuments of folk architecture and technique, as well as an impressive collection of ethnographic heritage objects. Conceived as a living museum, it hosts many traditional events such as: traditional fairs, workshops, folk festivals and performances.
The open-air museum “de Locht” is an agricultural open-air museum, focusing on the life of farmers on the North-Limburg sandy soils. This includes the growing of asparagus and mushrooms. They collect, archive and present, also in person, about older ways of life, traditions, crafts and folk culture, looking back at the past, but also with a view on the future of North Limburg.
Archaeological research in 2009 led to the discovery of a farm on the grounds of the open-air museum, dating to about 1320 AD. It was decided to reconstruct this farm on site by placing new posts in the exact old postholes. Volunteers then constructed a fully furnished farm.
Frustration. Uncertainty. Anger. Heartache. 2020 has given us much. We’ve also been harshly reminded that climate change is upon us, that politicians equivocate, that people have opinions, and that murder hornets are a thing. Our industry has been hit particularly hard. Many of us have been let go.
More than 30 professional and amateur companies of historical spectacles take part, divided into several categories: music, dance and song; theater and street performance; animal training and show; crafts and demonstrations; military art; various activities and services; technique and accessories; living history sites.
Since the early '90s of the last century I've been a re-enactor of both the Viking period, and of WW2. In my Viking persona I show kids and their parents what kit a warrior would have, such as a mail shirt, helmet, shield and sword and what the cost of such equipement would be.
On November 14 and 15, 2020 the 5th edition of Fous d'Histoire Compiègne will take place at Le Tigre, Festival du Spectacle Historique et Marché de l'Histoire, which took over from Fous d'Histoire Pontoise which existed since 2006.
Since 2016, Sofia works on textile and clothing history research, recreating historical clothing, especially in the Iberian Peninsula and Europe, in experimental archaeology and living history, accepting costume commissions for reenactment or other events and making workshops about these subjects
Stichting Erfgoedpark Batavialand
att. EXARC
Postbus 119
8200 AC Lelystad
the Netherlands
Phone: +(31) 6 40263273
Website: EXARC.net
Email: info@exarc.net
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