Contribution short abstract:

Objects and spaces in archaeological open-air museums may bridge an immense time-gap by triggering autobiographical memories or homy feelings. I want to discuss these phenomena in connection with both contested images of prehistory in Germany and a new longing for a “"prehistoric" lifestyle.

Contribution long abstract:

Encounters with (reconstructed) everyday objects, like whisks, and spaces in prehistoric open-air museums may trigger autobiographical memories or “homy” feelings. While meaningful connections to exhibits from the last few decades in open-air museums dedicated to rural or urban forms of living may seem pretty feasible, this might appear surprising considering a time-gap of several thousand years. Speaking of objects, this gap is bridged by a familiarity with form and material. When it comes to spaces, a multisensual combination of form, materiality and location is involved.

In fact, the relation between hominess and such museums is not a new one. During their first heyday in Germany under the Nazi-regime, making the visitors feel ‘at home’ was a major purpose of archaeological open-air museums. The aim was to create an effect of belonging, of identity via detailed, immersive settings. In the decades following WWII the idealized, “patriotic” representations of the 1930s and 40s have been criticized and detailed, “atmospheric” reconstructions seemed to be no longer suitable. This, however, doesn’t mean that they’ve disappeared completely.

Parallelly, a new longing for a simple, rustic, sustainable “prehistoric” lifestyle has evolved over the last decades, comprising diet, workout routines, stress management, a close relation to nature and simple, durable household goods made of ‘natural’ materials. In fact, some of the new, “traditional” items offered by specialized stores would fit perfectly into the displays of archaeological open-air museums.