Concerns have been raised regarding the low level of public support for the Dutch Roman Limes, considering its upcoming UNESCO World Heritage nomination. With regard to this issue, this thesis set...Show moreConcerns have been raised regarding the low level of public support for the Dutch Roman Limes, considering its upcoming UNESCO World Heritage nomination. With regard to this issue, this thesis set out to gain insight into the role Dutch local museums with a Roman collection do and could play in enhancing support for the Limes amongst the local community. Four local museums were selected as case studies: Stadsmuseum Woerden, Woerden; Museum Swaensteyn, Voorburg; Liemers Museum, Zevenaar; and Museum Dorestad, Wijk bij Duurstede. The data for this research was gathered through analysis of the Roman exhibitions in these museums and interviews with museum staff members and volunteers. Community engagement, the idea of creating a dialogue between the community and the museums (and their Roman exhibitions), provided the theoretical framework for this research. The main issue brought to light in this thesis is the seeming lack of support for these museums amongst their local communities, because of which they do not reach many people amongst the local communities for the Limes. If alterations are made to the Roman presentations to facilitate personal connections, outreach efforts are targeted at audiences other than the standard ones, and community participation is encouraged by these museums, the amount of support from the local community for the museums and their Roman collections could increase. To enhance public support for the Dutch Roman Limes, the museums should present their Roman exhibitions as a part of, and a contribution to, the overall story of the Limes. To achieve all the above, it is essential to intensify cooperation amongst the Limes museums, cooperation with stakeholders in the local and regional areas, and cooperation with Stichting Romeinse Limes Nederland. All in all, this research has revealed that the current role of the local museums in enhancing public support for the Limes amongst the local community, is marginal. However, if the suggestions outlined in this thesis are considered, these museums have great potential to increase support for the Limes amongst the local communities. This would further justify the Limes World Heritage nomination and strengthen the position of the local museums as public institutions and guardians of (local) heritage. In the end, telling the story of the Limes to a broader audience and thereby, hopefully, enriching the lives of the inhabitants of the Limes area, is the ultimate goal.Show less
The Peruvian capital Lima contains over more than 300 archaeological sites existing in its forty-nine districts. Sixty percent of these archaeological sites are in danger of being destroyed, and...Show moreThe Peruvian capital Lima contains over more than 300 archaeological sites existing in its forty-nine districts. Sixty percent of these archaeological sites are in danger of being destroyed, and only three percent is incorporated in projects that enjoy their social use. One of the sites that is included in the three percent is the on-site museum ‘Huaca Pucllana’, the subject of this master thesis. Since the construction of Huaca Pucllana’s archaeological complex from 500 A.D. until the arrival of the Spaniards, the archaeological complex has been part of various pre-Columbian cultures (Lima, Wari, and Ychsma) fulfilling different roles (administrative and ceremonial center, cemetery). After a long period of abandonment and being in danger of destruction, an on-site museum was created next to the archaeological complex in the 1980’s. The museum’s main objective was to be a cultural center for society in which society got involved with their cultural heritage. Nowadays, Huaca Pucllana’s heritage management is seen as a model that can be applied to other archaeological sites in Lima. An important aspect of this management is society’s involvement with the archaeological site. But how can this be achieved? This research focuses on this question by using a theoretical framework that includes the themes: New Museology, social development, heritage preservation, and museum education. During this research, an analysis has been performed on the offered activities and programs by Huaca Pucllana, using a theoretical framework of educational theories that George Hein discusses in his book Learning in the Museum (1998). Subsequently, a look has been taken on how they fit into the framework of New Museology, social development, and heritage preservation. Lastly, Huaca Pucllana’s cultural heritage management is compared with other limeño huacas. This research has shown that community involvement with an archaeological site can be achieved by aiming at an active community participation, in which a hands- on/mind-on mentality is essential, in other words: physical and mental participation of the community. Finally, the self-sufficiency of Huaca Pucllana’s cultural heritage management is made possible thanks to four following factors: registration of the archaeological site as heritage of the nation, a convention between the Ministry of Culture and the municipality in which it is situated, its economic self-sufficiency, and the involvement of community with the on-site museum.Show less
