Memory of Russia: Russia’s first archaeological outdoor museum to appear in Novgorod Region

On December 19th 2011 St. Petersburg launched a conference which turned the spotlight on a project of Russia’s first archaeological outdoor museum in Batetsky District, Novgorod Region. The project is expected to be completed within two years.

The new museum to be founded in Batetsky District along with already existing monuments of Novgorod Region - “Ancient Settlement of Rurik” and “Slavic Village” in Lyubytino will together create a new attraction for tourists. One of the project’s key purposes is to rest upon Scandinavian rich experience in development of regions through promotion of provincial cultural centers. The new museum is said to widely implement interactive museum activities – historical re-enactments, to be more attractive for pupils and young adults.

Leading Scandinavian museums, Russian and Scandinavian archaeologists, researchers specializing in the Viking epoch have joined the project. “Common History in the Past for Common Future” project supported by the European Union involves special perception in the context of 1150th anniversary of Russian statehood celebration in 2012, with Veliky Novgorod to become the centre of festivities.