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 Delphi (Culture 2000)
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What it is about
Under the patronage of EXARC, three members: Pfahlbaumuseum Unteruhldingen (DE),
Archeon (NL), Araisi Archaeological Museum Park at the Latvian National History
Museum (LV), joined in a 1 year Culture 2000 project called "Delphi".
www.delphi.exarc.net
Three pilots have been developed, each in its own environment:
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House of Questions
Related to Internet. We will collect and answer the most frequently asked questions which can be answered by archaeology; see also www.delphi.exarc.net |
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Info points
Within the landscape, outside the museums. Info points will be set up by which the environment is involved in archaeology. |
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Time islands
Within the museums, new ‘time islands’ will be constructed. In Archeon, this is for example an early medieval (re)construction. |
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This project took place from July 1st 2004 to June 31st 2005.
We will try to give it a follow up with more EXARC members. |
| “Delphi” in Archeon: work barn and Grubenhaus from the Carolingian Period
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2005.09.01
by R. Paardekooper |
Just 45 minutes south of Amsterdam, at Archeon, on September 1st the last part of “Delphi – house of Questions” was inaugurated by the 3 mayors of respectively Alphen, Valkenburg (ZH) and Rijnsburg. Archeon collected the most important questions in an earlier stage and by the end of June 2005, the construction of two houses was officially given a start.
Within 3 months, one constructed a half open work barn from Valkenburg (ZH), dating back to about 700 AD, locally known as the house of the Woerd. Besides this, a Grubenhaus from Rijnsburg was planned.
In the city centre of Alphen, images of Roman coins are part of the project, as well as a contribution to the website on the Roman Times of Alphen aan den Rijn.
After welcoming all the guests, director Jack Veldman, presented the constructions with a slide show and thanked the constructors who did most of the work in old fashioned way.
The Mayor of Alphen, mr. Schoof opened the exposition of the ten most frequently asked questions, written down on plates with original cartoon drawings to make things clear.
An iron poke was heated up and the mayors Van der Lee and Van der Reij set a burn mark on the posts of the grubenhaus which at that time was not ready yet. |
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| “Delphi” in Araisi: cross European relations – then, now and in the future |
2005.06.30
by G. Schöbel/R. Paardekooper |
90 km north of Riga in Latvia, at Araisi Lake Fortress near Cesis, by the end of June 2005, the Latvian delegation could crown their work for “Delphi”. Their ceremony was frequented by many politicians, scientists and members of the population.
It was not just the Bronze Age architecture which aroused attention, built of logs and thatched with reed, it was especially the installation of the “House of Questions” and the time road which in a very personal way invite to look for traces into ones own history. The message of this “Delphi” partner in Latvia was clear: to emphasise within the framework of Culture 2000 the relations between the Baltic countries and the countries southwards and westwards – One Europe.
The cultural transfer was in both directions, which could be illustrated by for example the developments in agriculture and metal working and for example the amber trade. Extra in Araisi is that the explanations concerning the museum and its qualities are now presented in 4 languages: the three Delphi countries and English. |
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| “Delphi” in Unteruhldingen: Latvian Embassador and Duch Consul open the route through (pre)history, partner museums answers questions by mouse click. |
2005.05.29
by G. Schöbel/R. Paardekooper |
On a very sunny day as there would follow many, officials from the three partner countries
of the “Delphi” project opened the website by mouse click and walked with the other invited guests across the 2 km long route through prehistory and history, with which the Pfahlbaumuseum in Unteruhldingen links itself into their environment.
The 3rd opening that day was the “House of Questions”, a Bronze Age reconstruction with an exhibition of the 50 most asked questions in this museum and its answers. Meanwhile a brochure has been published of both the walking road as the “House of Questions”. These festivities were joined by members of the other two Delphi partners as well as a delegation form the EXARC board.
The road through history and prehistory is not just fixed on the eras with which the museum is working: all different kinds of visible and invisible monuments which meant a lot for local society are presented in small islands with signposts. If you have seen all points, you will understand better how the landscape and its people were shaped over 10,000 years.
The website which was successfully presented this day, houses over 200 questions.
The success can be seen in that 50% of the questions came from colleague museums across Europe, most of them EXARC members, which generously not only helped with collecting questions and answering them, but as well assisted in having the website available in at least 13 languages. |
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| Introduction of the European project “Delphi – house of questions” at the 8th EXARC Meeting, Biskupin (PL) |
2004.11.12
by R. Paardekooper |
The three Delphi partners were handed over a sign, making their museums more visible to the public. This event took place during the 8th EXARC meeting in Biskupin, Poland. Besides that, the partners informed EXARC on the ideas and the progress of Delphi, especially concerning the new website. All EXARC members were asked to collect their FAQ, to see what the public wants to know on Europe, as far as this can be answered by (living) archaeology.
Over 40 participants from 10 countries gladly accepted this challenge. |
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| Start of the European project “Delphi – house of questions” in the European archaeological open air museums (EXARC) |
At the archaeological Theme Park Archeon (NL) in Alphen, on June 30th 2004 a new European project with participation of the open air museums Archeon (NL), Araisi Lake Fortress (LV) and the Pfahlbaumuseum Unteruhldingen (DE) am Bodensee could start off.
The first wooden floor parts for
a Carolingian house were split
out of a trunk by the representatives
of the participating museums.
This was done with wooden wedges
and hammers. The project runs
for one year.
“Oak posts stood at the beginning of a new EU project of the European archaeological open air museums (EXARC), that in June in Archeon (NL) took off.
Director Jack Veldman (Archeon), Dr. Wim van der Weiden (European Museum Forum), Dr. Gunter Schöbel (Pfahlbaumuseum Unteruhldingen) and Nico P.M. Schoof (Mayor of Alphen aan den Rijn) jointly prepared the first fundaments for the Dutch partner.
Early Medieval reconstructions as well as Stone and Bronze Age sceneries are set up simultaneously in Latvia and Germany.”
Part of the goals is, in all three museums (under coordination of the Pfahlbaumuseum), to find out the most frequently asked questions (FAQ) with “Houses of Questions”, Info Points as well as “Time Islands” (Stone and Bronze Age, Early Middle Ages). These questions should be answered professionally and authentically with the means of the open air museums.
A further goal is to collect the most important questions in the individual European open air museums and connected to it, to add these in the 15 languages of Europe at the common platform. By this, the access to historical questions as well as the visit to the open air museum should become easier. The project urges for an exchange of thoughts with archaeology over the own national borders within Europe. |
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