Morten Valdorff RASMUSSEN
(Moesgaard Museum, Aarhus, Denmark)
Keywords: Alken Enge, survey, public archaeology, on-site dissemination
Abstract:
Since the end of the 19th Century human bones have regularly been unearthed at Alken Wetlands by Lake Mossø in Denmark. Then, as now, the numerous human remains have fascinated and puzzled the local inhabitants as well as specialists. When archaeologists excavated the area in 2005 to 2014, the astonishment increased. The results provided the specialists with new and surprising information about a spectacular site dating from around the birth of Christ where the skeletal remains of hundreds of warriors were deposited in a lake.
During the 2013 excavation, a user survey was conducted as a part of the author’s master thesis. The purpose of this survey was twofold: 1: To investigate whether or not the visitors visiting the museums are the same as the visitors visiting the excavation? And 2: Whether the visitors have an understanding of the purpose of the excavation and the excavations part in the archaeological research process?
By using a simple survey form, focusing on both qualitative and quantitative data, it was possible to identify a different visitor group compared to the typical visitors in the museums (as published by The Danish agency for culture, Brugerundersøgelse 2012, København. 2013).
What the result of this survey indicates is interesting, as another archetype of visitor seems to be attracted to this type of events, a group not usually seen in the Museum. Secondly it shows how to conduct a simple field survey, which allows us to further determine the type of visitors we have in the excavations, and their interests and needs. In a time where many museums find it difficult to attract visitors, on-site communication may offer possibilities to involve people and attract a different type of audience.