Science

What is archaeology?

Archaeology deals with the history of mankind; as a source, it is based on material culture. This term covers all the remains of human life and activity, which we in archaeology refer to as finds and features. By finds we mean concrete objects, while features describe the situation and context in which the artefacts were found, i.e. the remains of houses, pits, graves or other structures. The degree of preservation depends on many factors, such as the soil environment, natural erosion and human intervention (e.g. ploughing).

How does archaeology work?

The field methods of archaeology include excavation and, above all, prospection. Prospection involves analysing aerial photographs, geomagnetics or field inspections to obtain data on the extent and structure of former settlements or burial grounds. During archaeological excavations, these are uncovered and meticulously documented in order to obtain as much information as possible. This includes documentation in the form of (digital) plans, photos and work records. The finds are restored, conserved and then stored in depots so that they are available for further investigations or exhibitions.

The Collections of Lower Austria

The Prehistory and Historical Archaeology collection comprises around 3 million objects from the cultural history of Lower Austria from the Ice Age to the recent past. Prehistory" deals with the period of time from which we only have material sources; historical archaeology also includes written, pictorial and other sources that complete our picture of the past.  

The holdings of the Provincial Collections of Lower Austria are of great importance for the cultural heritage of the province, but they also represent a valuable source for research into the (pre)history of Central Europe in a supra-regional context.

Employees of the Province of Lower Austria and the University for Continuing Education Krems are working on the processing of these objects. The first step is to catalogue them, document them photographically and record them in a database. This is followed by the scientific analysis of selected find complexes. The results are then presented to experts and the general public in the course of lectures, publications and exhibitions.

Archaeology and museum

In the permanent exhibition and the annually changing special exhibitions in the MAMUZ, artefacts from the Lower Austrian Provincial Collections are presented to the public. Thanks to the close co-operation between the Provincial Collections of Lower Austria and the MAMUZ, the relevant objects are easily and unbureaucratically available for this purpose.

The ongoing scientific evaluation of the collection also makes it possible to present exhibitions based on the latest research and to keep visitors up to date with new findings.

Presentation of archaeological findings at conferences in the MAMUZ

Great importance is also attached to networking within the archaeological community. This takes place at symposia at home and abroad. The MAMUZ Museum Mistelbach is also a regular venue for exciting specialist conferences. The MAMUZ is a meeting place and offers space for 120 conference participants, the foyer is the ideal place for breaks in between and the current exhibitions offer the perfect all-round programme.

Current scientific publications on prehistory, early history and medieval archaeology can also be ordered:

Overview of publications

The Centre for Museum Collections Science at Danube University Krems supports the Lower Austrian State Collections both in the scientific development of the collections and in the research of artefacts from the Palaeolithic Age to the present day.