Due to the passing of tropical storm Tomas, which according to the weather forecasts would cause 40 - 80mm of rain on Aruba, we decided on Monday, November 2, 2010 not to make an extensive tour. As an alternative we chose the Archaeological Museum. It took some searching, because it turned out to be no longer opposite the Post Office, where I have been there once in the past, but on the Schelpstraat.
There is a row of beautifully restored Aruban houses. One of these serves as the entrance to the Archaeological Museum. Behind that entrance, the museum extends over a fairly large area. Behind the classic Aruban houses is a modern building (not visible from the front), which houses part of the exhibition.
The museum covers the history of Aruba from the pre-ceramic period (no pottery yet), the ceramic period and the period after that (historical period), which includes the arrival of the Spaniards and the Dutch colonization. The largest part of the exhibition is devoted to the Amerindian population of Aruba, to which 40% of the current Aruban population is still connected through DNA characteristics.
The museum is very modern in design with a good educational element through questions about the exhibits, to which you can find the answer yourself through previously displayed information and of which you can check the answer yourself by lighting up a number of signs. There are also open questions, of which the museum reports that the archaeologists have not been able to find a conclusive answer and on which you can give your opinion. A good example of how to make a museum interesting.
Foto's
The new location of the Archaeologisch museum in a row of restored houses
Tropical storm Tomas on monday evening; a bit of extra wind
Tropical storm Tomas on Tuesday morning; rain and no wind
Row of nicely restored houses; location of the Archaeological museum
Entrance of the Archaeological museum
Modern showcases with Amerindian artefacts
Showcase with earthenware
Indian tools made from shells; well documented
Educational; a question with three possible answers; under one of the boards the correct answer
Reconstructed Indian hut
Explanation and reconstruction of a hill with "leftover food"
Small scale model of an indian site
Scale model of a large hut
View from the second floor
Indianen cave with projected indian drawings
Earthenware pot wit on the topside human characteristics
Some art and utensils
Reconstructed Indian grave site
Even the operation panel of the aircondition got a cave-like appearance
Closeby there is another classical Aruban house
Monument organisation apparently uses its money on other building; goed or bad example?
Nice flowers in Aruba
