EXchange on Archaeological Research and Communication
EXARC is the international organisation of Archaeological Open Air Museums and Experimental Archaeology. It is our aim to establish a high standard of both scientific research and public presentation. The idea of international exchange of knowledge, human resources, publications
and facsimiles is to improve the quality of work for all associated members. It is not our intention to exclude anyone who does not meet our high standards concerning the quality of museums work. We rather want to encourage and incorporate other institutions conducting Experimental Archaeology and help them to a higher level.
EXARC is an affiliated organisation to ICOM,
the International Council of Museums.
We represent archaeological open air museums
and experimental archaeology in the international museum circles.
Archaeological open air museums are interactive and appeals to many different target groups, with
different levels of information and activities. Reason for EXARC to become an affiliated organisation
under ICOM is that the scene of archaeological open air museums is still orderly, but rapidly growing.
The development of the sector is very quick and it is important to give it a clear frame because
correcting is harder than starting right. There is the need for these museums to professionalise further,
both individually and in an international network.
2008, in the frame of the EU project liveARCH (read more)Hartmut Prasch (AT), member of the
Executive Council of ICOM took part in a conference at Fotevikens Museum, hosted by the then
chairman of EXARC, Björn Jakobsen. This conference was the turning point for setting a definition of archaeological open air museums
(read more). In the months to follow, members of the EXARC Board
met several members of the Executive Council. This led to our application to becoming an ICOM
affiliated organisation, status which was granted on 3 December 2009 for a trial period of 3 years.
From 2008 on, EXARC works on quality standards for archaeological open air museums, possibly
leading to an assessment strategy.
EXARC is counsellor to both professional museums and “newbie’s”. When they have specific
questions, they should find us. The advisory role is mainly concentrated at the secretariat. EXARC
intends to promote the concept of archaeological open air museums as well as introducing it to
countries where this idea does not yet exist.
In our overview of archaeological open air museums, we count about 250 in Europe, 200 in Northern
America and more elsewhere, maybe even 800 worldwide. We are actively searching for those,
among others by engaging our present members in the search, some of which have extensive
contacts in Africa and Asia.
