Klein Köris is situated in a lovely landscape with widespread forests, chains of lakes, bordering with a nature park & reserve. Between the mid 1970s and mid 1990s a Germanic settlement dating to the 100 - 500 AD was excavated “Klein Köris number 3".
At this moment 1/4th of the settlement of about 25,000 square metres has remained untouched. Soon after the excavations ended, a group of young archaeologists, who participated in the excavation of the site, together with local inhabitants decided to start an association for setting up and running an archaeological open air museum. The group started with 10 founders in 1995 and counted by 2006 23 members.
Goal of the Germanische Siedlung (Germanic Settlement) is to enrich the educational and cultural profile of the region, to open the view into the past for local people and guests and to sensitize them for the high value of all kinds of archaeological monuments. Klein Köris gives an image of (and impart knowledge about) life of Germanic settlers in the region southeast of Berlin by means of reconstructions (buildings, wells, heaths et cetera) strictly bound to the spots of the excavated structures at the site.
On a cultivated area of ca. 170 square metres they present crops (rye, barley, oats, millet; pea, broad bean; flax) and some herbs (most of them surely gathered, not cultivated) used to dye tissues, to season/spice the meals, for tea or medicinal purpose.
Interested groups are school children, local and regional inhabitants, tourists & holidaymakers. There is a high amount of school children mostly coming from holiday camps or youth hostels. The museum is kept open by voluneteers at the first Sunday every month from April to October, twice for special events (Summer Celebration & the day of open monuments) and by telephone appointment.
Local members and local companies donate for example wood or stones or help paying the thatch for the roofs.
