L’archeologia sperimentale applicata nei parchi a tema: l’esempio olandese dell’Archeon Museum Park.

Abstract

This article presents an in-depth analysis of one of the most renowned archaeological theme parks in Europe, located in Alphen aan den Rijn in the Netherlands. The study aims, first, to examine the criteria and level of philological rigor adopted in the reconstruction of archaeological contexts at a 1:1 scale. Secondly, through an analysis of the visitor experience and the events offered, the paper investigates the target audience addressed by Archeon and the communicative strategies employed. The study highlights how, within open-air museums of this kind, experimental archaeology cannot be applied in its purest form. Instead, it is necessarily integrated with more popular and educational approaches based on archaeological simulation, including living past activities, the use of period costumes, and the re-enactment of historical events. These strategies contribute to shaping the park as a space where entertainment and learning intersect, resulting in a hybrid “archaeo-ludic” museum model.