Archaeological Open-Air Museum

Plantage Bakkie (SR)

Member of EXARC
No

Plantage Reynsdorp (Bakkie) is a former coffee plantation (1744) with old locks and buildings. The plantation was divided around 1900 under old, mainly Javanese, contracts. Bakkie is the last inhabited plantation on the right bank of the Commewijne River.

The Bakkie Museum has one of the most unique collections in Suriname with many original books, prints and objects, like the original journals of J.G. Stedman 1799, the picture book of Benoit 1823, a Blaeu map of 1630, payments for abolition of slavery in 1863, a branding iron, crooked buoy, a West Indian Company (WIC) chocolate mold, a referral from Dr. Sophie Redmond and a coloured picture by Maria Sibylla Merian 1719. The garden at Bakkie is particularly special.

Rõuge Ancient Farm Project (EE)

Member of EXARC
No

The Rõuge ancient farm project (Rõuge Muinastalu) was initiated in 2010 by Viire Kobrusepp and managed by her until 2016. In her Master’s thesis, Viire concentrated her research on an archaeological Iron Age building experiment that saw the construction of a Viking era dwelling house using ancient building techniques.

This was followed by a living experiment. Other buildings followed the construction of the dwelling: a granary, a smithy, a summer kitchen and a barn. When building the reconstructions, archaeological examples were used for the building layouts and ethnographical sources for the different roof designs. The hillfort and settlement site of Rõuge, located only 100 m away from the site, serves as a major source of information as it has been thoroughly excavated.

Posyolok Predkov (RU)

Member of EXARC
No

The complex of historical reconstructions “Ancestors Village” (Посёлок предков) in the Khakassky State Nature Reserve is unique for Khakassia in its concept and forms of work with visitors. On its territory, right under the open sky, the dwellings of the ancient peoples who once inhabited the territory of modern Khakassia are located.

The copies of dwellings recreated with scientific accuracy belong to different archaeological cultures (Okunevskoj, taštykskoj, tagarskoj, kyrgyz) and, thanks to the realism of their exterior and interior, they literally reflect the traces of ancient civilizations.

Kroma Kolna Bruoliste (LV)

Member of EXARC
No

Kroma Kolna is an association of historical activists and reconstructors working with the popularization and imitation of the events and the cultural environment of Latgale’s ancient history, mainly the 9th-13th century AD, before the arrival of Christianity. Latgale is the easternmost region of Latvia, north of the Daugava River. Kroma Kolns’ members study Latgale's ancient history and culture, organise living history events and demonstrations. They also produce jewellery and gadgets, fighting equipment and tools for everyday life of the Latgalians of that time. There are about 30 members from different regions of Latgale operating in the batch of Kroma Kolna.

Under the leadership of Aleksandra Lubāna, the Kroma Kolna bruoliste has begun work on the reconstruction of the Latgalian tribal wooden castle in Puši Zundas on the Prince Mountain in the Dagda district. It is the place where bruolsters meet at least once a month to share current information, both in terms of historical research and the activities that are being implemented and planned.

From Gastonia to Gotha: My Thoughts and Impressions on doing Museum Work

Doug Meyer (US)
EXARC Journal Issue 2018/4
Archaeological Open-Air Museum
What I consider my first real museum work came from a message on my phone on January 9th from Ann Tippitt, the Director of the Schiele Museum in Gastonia, North Carolina. Ann asked if I was interested in outfitting a Catawba Indian mannequin for the exhibit. Ann wanted a complete set of clothes, weapons and gear...

Zemeraj Nature Adventure Park (CZ)

Member of EXARC
Yes

The Nature Adventure Park Zeměráj was founded in 2011 by a private company, funded from private sources without any public subsidies. The Park is situated between Central and Southern Bohemia, near Kovářov village at Orlík nad Vltavou castle.

The Nature Adventure Park Zeměráj was founded in 2011 by a private company, funded from private sources without any public subsidies. The Park is situated between Central and Southern Bohemia, near Kovářov village at Orlík nad Vltavou castle. The Zeměráj Park covers an area of 9 hectares and surrounds a former farmhouse with a preserved timbered house dating back to 1640, standing at the site of a defunct water mill founded at the very latest at the beginning of the 16th century...

Cyprus Perfumery Theme Park (CY)

Member of EXARC
Yes

Κυπριακό Θεματικό Πάρκο Αρωματοποιίας - The Cyprus Perfumery Theme Park is a very large scale project that aims to create a space, in which, aside from showcasing the various ancient methods of producing perfume the visitor will be able to experience them first-hand as well. The idea for the park came with the discovery of the most ancient perfume in Pyrgos by the Italian archaeologist Maria Rosaria Belgiorno and the park is based, in big part, on this.

It is divided into four main sub-projects, the first one being a faithful reconstruction of the ancient site of Pyrgos as it was found by the archaeologists. The second is another reconstruction, this time of the ancient perfumery lab as it is believed to have looked and operated by the archaeologists. The third offers the visitor a glimpse into the past as well as the present by showcasing the various ways in which perfume has been produced throughout the ages.

Skansen Archeologiczny Karpacka Troja (PL)

Member of EXARC
Yes

The Carpathian Troy Archaeological Open-Air Museum in Trzcinica, a branch of Podkarpackie Museum in Krosno, has been created to protect and promote one of the most important archaeological sites in Poland – the hillfort in Trzcinica. The museum is located in the area of West Carpathian Mountains, just near one of the most easily accessible passes in the whole Carpathian massif. 

The archaeological open-air museum the Carpathian Troy, a branch of Podkarpackie Museum in Krosno, has been created to protect and promote one of the most important archaeological sites in Poland – the hillfort in Trzcinica. The museum is located in the area of West Carpathian Mountains, just near one of the most easily accessible passes in the whole Carpathian massif...

Archéosite de Pont Croix 1358 (FR)

Member of EXARC
No

The Archéosite de Pont Croix 1358 presents everyday life in Brittany in the middle of the 14th century. The site is managed by an association for historical reconstruction. For 10 years, we are interested in the period 1340-1360 and in addition to our military company, we decided in 2015 to embark on the adventure of building a Breton village.

We recreate homes, crafts houses and military structures, to create a complete visit to a village reconstructed from this time. We build the buildings with materials from nearby, the wood comes from the trees of the nearby forest and the clay for the mud walls is extracted at the village. We only use reconstructed tools for our constructions in order to better understand the problems encountered then.

The site opens every day in July and August from 14:00h until 18:30h. 

IJzertijdboerderij Dongen (NL)

Member of EXARC
Yes

The Iron Age Farm Dongen is a project in which a group of enthusiastic volunteers since 2005 visitors want to show, feel, hear, smell, in short experience the life in the Iron Age in the South Netherlands (800 to 50 BC). On a site of about 1 hectare, this settlement is located just outside the built-up area of ​​Dongen. The people in the Iron Age were farmers. They kept cattle and were farming on fields.

The Iron Age Farm Dongen is a project in which a group of enthusiastic volunteers since 2005 visitors want to show, feel, hear, smell, in short experience the life in the Iron Age in the South Netherlands (800 to 50 BC). On a site of about 1 hectare, this settlement is located just outside the built-up area of ​​Dongen. The people in the Iron Age were farmers. They kept cattle and were farming on fields...