An interpretive and pedagogical approach of archaeological collections in the light of natural sciences: the notion of Science Educative Islet

POPI GEORGOPOULOU, KALLIOPI MELI, DIMITRIS KOLIOPOULOS

Abstract

It is rare to find, both in Greece and internationally, interpretive frameworks of archaeological museum collections or related educational activities that include elements of modern natural sciences. The field of archaeometry is perhaps the most appropriate interdisciplinary reference knowledge for such an interpretation of the archaeological museum collections. The Science Educative Islet (SEI), a museum structure mainly addressed to groups of children aged 11-13 years old, embodies the relationship between natural sciences and archaeology due to both museographic and didactic transposition simultaneously. This article (a) describes the design principles and the main characteristics of this museographic structure and (b) presents the results derived from investigating the conceptions of Greek archaeological museums’ mediators. This investigation shows that most mediators are challenged when approaching topics that contain elements from the natural sciences. However, they emphasize not only the usefulness but also the need to introduce such elements in archaeological museum exhibitions and educational programs.

Keywords

Museology, science education, archaeological museum, interdisciplinary interpretation of museum collections, archaeometry

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References

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.26220/rev.3818

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