Previous Research projects

Pilot study 2008:
A public archaeological excavation of the Stockholm Art and Industry and Fair 1897 (Publik arkeologisk undersökning av Stockholms- utställningen 1897)


(Top left to right) The excavation involved searching for remains and traces from the renowned art and industry fair that took place on Djurgården, Stockholm in 1897; One point of attraction at the 1897 fair was a half-scale replica of the medieval city of Stockholm - Olde Stockholm - located on an artificial island (that still exists although no visible traces from 1897 remain); which has been chosen as the site of the excavation; A grass-green carpet, a park bench and road sign, identical to the kind used on Djurgården were used in the exhibition in the entrance hall of the museum; Aiming to show that remote presence can be achieved at limited cost, the designs were based on commercially available audiovisual communication equipment of good quality, however not the most exclusive, and a beam-splitter design concept enabling eye contact which was previously developed and tested.

The designs included an exhibition area in the entrance hall of the Museum of National Antiquities of Sweden as well as well-functioning excavation site in a popular recreation area, Djurgården. The design included features to connect the two spaces. A mediated "window", placed by a park bench, allowed museum visitors to see, talk and attend the excavation remotely. The museum exhibition was designed in such a way that the window was perceived as a natural extension. Its measures (height 2m, width 0,9m) inside the museum allowed visitors to follow what was going on at ground level as well sensing the landscape, trees and surrounding sky. The verticality of the window, its form and materials, suggesting a glass-door with a horizontal bar, contributed to the architectural and spatial qualities of the "mediated museum"�.

To enable communication in real-time and minimize delay, a direct fibre link was set up between the museum and the excavation site. Technically, it was a new challenge for the design team to work out of doors with demanding and varying climatic and lighting conditions during the two weeks the installation endured. The "window" on the excavation site had smaller measures than the museum window, but was similarly designed in the form of a framed "window" or "glass-door". Almost 5000 people visited the island during the two weeks the museum was extended and an estimated 2000 approached the mediated window in the museum.

Guided by professional archaeologists, the general public was invited to participate in an excavation; as well as to contribute with oral histories and objects relating to the 1897 fair. Almost 5000 people visited the island during the two weeks the museum was extended and an estimated 2000 approached the mediated window in the museum. The activities aimed to explore innovative forms of communication between a museum and its visitors which will be further developed in the continued project addressing public participation and access to cultural heritage sites (public archaeology, outreach); the definition and collection of modern cultural heritage sites and artifacts.