National Museum of History turns children into archaeologists for a day

published on 1/23/12 2:04 PM

Kids go through all the steps of the archaeologists’ work via this game

Photo: Архив

There is a very strong sense of national cultural tradition at history museums. Their halls, full with exhibits make us respect our past and the life of our ancestors. However, children may find a visit to an archaeological museum a bit boring and even scary. They think it is hard to pay all that attention to unknown objects, hidden behind glass. Moreover, they have to be quiet and careful about each step. Naturally, it is a challenge to them. There have been special museums for several decades, in the USA, for instance – children can get acquainted with the whole information, while playing and without being a threat to the exhibits. All kids from Sofia and other places can visit the Archaeology: Behind the Scenes exhibition from mid-December to March 25 this year. It takes place with the support of the America for Bulgaria foundation and the Scientific Research Fund with the educational ministry. Two lecturers at the Archaeology Dept. of New Bulgarian University – Vessela Gercheva and Bogdan Atanasov created the exhibition. The results from the work of the Struma 2009 – 2010 expedition are presented at the event.

Little “archaeologists” look for “findings” in a special sand playground, situated in the middle of the museum’s hall

“The kids may try all those things, done by the archaeologists, as a game, within the frameworks of the exhibition,” Vessela Gercheva says. “For instance, the initial step of the experts is about conversations with local people, who share memories and legends on the surveyed spots. The children listen to the recorded interviews and try to find out what has been told on the different places, just like real archaeologists. They look for findings in a playground with sand, situated at the museum’s hall and have the chance to discover objects – replicas of those, already found. One can figure out that this is their favorite game. The feeling is indescribable, a young visitor told us, adding that the stimulus for new knowledge is much greater – what is this subject, what was its purpose etc. Children also learn to date the object. It is another game, created within the frameworks of the exhibition – they compare old with new objects, in order for the method of comparison to be understood. Children can do that through a game, trying to reach the same conclusions as the real archaeologists. The whole exhibition is a game, we don’t make kids read texts, we do not try to put a barricade between them and the objects.”

The hall is accessible over the whole day – no restrictions and no bans exist. The authors have also thought about the parents that accompany their children – they also can face the challenge of a special archaeological game too.

Children compare old with new vessels, trying to understand the dating method of archaeologists

“We dare them to find a real archaeological object, deciding which of the three places offered is a settlement, dated to more than 7,000 years ago,” Vessela Gercheva says. “The point, after all, is a very serious one. Our message is essential – it says that the cultural and historical heritage of Bulgaria is threatened. Over 90 percent of the sites have been damaged by treasure-hunters that try to export the findings abroad and sell them. Thus people cannot see them.”

A similar experiment has already been made at the Archaeological Museum of Varna. Interactive playgrounds of this kind can be found at the Blagoevgrad Museum and the Earth and People National Museum in Sofia. Mrs. Gercheva gives us further details on the goals of her team.

“I can imagine a real, big children’s museum in Sofia,” she says. “It will unite all the subjects, currently developed across the country. It will be a family place that will support at the same time all museum experts, who want to work with kids in a slightly different manner.”

English version: Zhivko Stanchev

По публикацията работи: Lina Ivanova

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National Museum of History turns children into archaeologists for a day

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