The MAMUZ Museum Mistelbach is showing the special exhibition CELTS until 24 November 2024. The term "Celts" has always captured people's imagination. From ancient times to the present day, they have been portrayed as fearsome warriors, "noble savages", skilled craftsmen or guardians of secret knowledge. But which ideas are true and which originate from the world of conjecture and legend? Thanks to modern archaeological research, a detailed picture of the living conditions of the Celts can be drawn: Experience like never before what life was like for the people who populated Lower Austria more than 80 generations ago. Based on numerous extraordinary archaeological finds, "KELTEN" conveys a new picture of everyday life, beliefs and the fate of people in Celtic times and breaks with stereotypical ideas and clichés.

In the late Iron Age, from around 450 BC to the birth of Christ, the Celtic tribes colonised Central and Western Europe. Numerous remains bear witness to a highly developed culture. Today we know that they were not a uniform population, but groups and tribes with a similar material culture and language. The Celts built city-like settlements, practised innovative agriculture and traded extensively in large parts of Europe. Their high-quality metalworking and blacksmithing skills were particularly in demand. Inspired by the money of the Greeks, they began to mint their own coins from gold and silver, which were used as a means of payment for local and supra-regional trade. As the Celts themselves left no written records, much of the knowledge about their culture comes from the writings of Roman and Greek authors. Finds from archaeological excavations show how the "barbarians" of the late Iron Age, who were called "Celts" by their neighbours, really lived. Even though we will never know what they called themselves, it is possible to trace their living conditions and fates.

Exhibition curator Peter Trebsche is a recognised expert on the late Iron Age and has been working intensively on Celtic culture for many years: "If you start from ancient written records alone, you get a one-sided picture of the Celtic tribes. Thanks to archaeological research, we are now in a position to supplement and in some cases correct the written sources. Numerous excavations provide us with detailed information about areas of life such as the settlements with their houses and sanctuaries, the highly developed crafts or the wide-ranging trade, about which the written sources are silent. In the last 20 years, thanks to modern analyses, it has even become possible to reconstruct individual life stories from the grave finds. In this way, we learn details about the lives of all population groups, i.e. women and men, young and old, and not only about rulers and warriors mentioned in the written sources. Based on the current state of research, the exhibition provides visitors with completely new and in-depth insights into the living conditions of the Celtic period."

Structure of the exhibition and its highlights

Around 300 impressive original objects provide a comprehensive insight into the time of the Celts, including richly decorated pieces of gold jewellery, valuable iron weapons, Celtic coins and everyday objects such as agricultural tools and earthenware drinking utensils. The exhibition extends over two floors and is divided into nine themed areas: Fantasy and Reality; Art and Myth; Flourishing and Crisis; Faster, Sharper, More Colourful (crafts); From the Field to the Bowl (agriculture); Money Rules the World; 5 Fates - Life Stories from the Celtic Period; Rituals and Sanctuaries; Contact and Confrontation.

In addition to the treasures from the Lower Austrian provincial collections, almost twenty lenders from Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia have been secured. Renowned museums such as the Natural History Museum in Vienna, the National Museum in Prague, the Slovakian National Museum, the Historical Museum in Budapest and the Historical Museum of the Palatinate in Speyer have made exciting objects available for the special exhibition KELTEN at the MAMUZ Museum Mistelbach.

One highlight of the exhibition is the gold ring from the princely tomb of Rodenbach, which is a testimony to filigree craftsmanship. Depicted rams' heads, masks and chalices stimulate the imagination, even if their exact meaning can only be surmised. Finely crafted fibulae, which were used to fasten clothing, are characteristic of the Celts. In its CELT exhibition, the MAMUZ is showing the figurine brooch from Ossarn, which features a hybrid creature with a bird's body, predatory paws and round eyes. The coin hoard from Neubau (Upper Austria) is impressive and shows that coins were already being used as a means of payment for regional and national trade in the late Iron Age. On display for the first time are the bird figurines from Haselbach, which are exemplary of the large number and rich variety of zoomorphic depictions in the La Tène period. The exact use of the bird figurines is uncertain; possible functions include as amulets, tokens or weights.

A particular focus of recent excavations in Lower Austria are the sanctuaries from Roseldorf, which are a central theme of the exhibition. At MAMUZ Schloss Asparn/Zaya, a sanctuary based on these finds was erected in the archaeological outdoor area. The place of worship shows the Celtic cult of the gods and allows us to surmise what was sacred to them and how they came into contact with the gods.

Franz Pieler, scientific director of the MAMUZ and Lower Austrian state archaeologist, explains: "A lot has happened in Lower Austria in recent years in terms of research into the Celts. For example, the archaeological excavations and surveys at Haselbach and Ronthal have brought numerous new findings and finds to light. As part of the Lower Austrian Provincial Collections, they will be presented to the public for the first time as part of the CELTS exhibition at the MAMUZ Museum Mistelbach."

"Hands on" & photo station

In addition to original archaeological finds, the MAMUZ presents replicas that allow visitors to experience the museum with all their senses: the axle nail from Unterradlberg, a Celtic brooch and a magnificent chariot, which was modelled on an image on a situla, can be studied in detail outside the display cases - some of them in larger-than-life size. A carnyx, a Celtic war trumpet, can also be heard at the touch of a button. If you want to take a look into your own future, you can try your hand at a Celtic dice game, which was modelled on finds from a Celtic settlement in Stradonice and is interpreted as a divination station in the MAMUZ. Dice games must have been a favourite pastime of the Celts in general, as they have been found in graves and settlements.

At a photo station equipped with a spear, shield and sword, visitors can take a souvenir photo of the CELT exhibition at the MAMUZ Museum Mistelbach with their own smartphone.

Five children's stations and puzzle fun

Five video terminals in the centre of the exhibition allow young visitors to experience the history of the Celts in a vivid and age-appropriate way. Children talk about their life in a Celtic community - about their tasks, what clothes they wore, what was on their menu and how they spent their free time.

Children receive a free puzzle booklet with tricky tasks to accompany their visit to the museum. The clues for the correct solutions are hidden in the terminals. So you have to look carefully and listen carefully. This turns a visit to the museum into an entertaining excursion where children can discover new things and learn new things through play.

The MAMUZ podcast also offers all interested visitors audio experiences on various topics from 40,000 years of human history. The podcast is presented in an exciting and easy-to-understand way and is therefore also suitable for children and young people. The various episodes tie in with the current exhibitions at the MAMUZ Museum Mistelbach and Asparn/Zaya Castle.

Christoph Mayer, Managing Director of MAMUZ, summarises: "We are all fascinated by the Celts - just think of the hype that certain series have generated on streaming platforms in recent months and years. There are still many stories surrounding Celtic culture today, but which tales are true and which can be categorised as myths? In 2023, we will go in search of clues with the CELTS exhibition, scrutinise stereotypes and attempt to reconstruct the living environment in Central Europe in the period from 450 BC to the birth of Christ. Around 300 outstanding national and international artefacts and objects will be on display, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the everyday life, art and rituals of Celtic culture."

To accompany the exhibition, the book "The Celts in the Weinviertel. Von Kriegern, Heiligtümern und Druiden" by Ernst Lauermann, which is available in the museum shop.

The exhibition is being organised in cooperation with the Natural History Museum Vienna and Museumspartner.