House of Questions
Delphi House of Questions was an EU Culture 2000 project by three EXARC members. Under this umbrella, other EXARC members as well collected and answered the most frequently asked questions by visitors to archaeological open-air museums. The largest part of this collection of questions you can find here – as many of them still carry importance. In most cases we offer the questions both in the original language and in English. With several questions you will find illustrations by Savannah Parent.
The elephants Hannibal used, did they originate in Asia or Africa (IT)?
The name Hannibal or Chan-i-bal means something like "Mercy of Baäl" in Phoenician or Carthague. As Hannibal Barkas himself attacked the Roman Empire from Africa (the Carthague Empire) it is probable, his elephants originated from there as well...
You use the saw a lot in your museum. What did Medieval people do with all that sawdust (NL)?
Indeed the hand saw is frequently used in our medieval village. But we use the axe even more: for construction wood, fire wood, you name it. The saw dust and small pieces of wood which remain are not thrown away...
How did people hunt before bow and arrow were invented (NL)?
Bow and arrow were invented about 15,000 years ago, when the last ice age was ending. Before that, people used a stick to make their arm longer, thus enhancing the power with which the spear was thrown...
What does „Únetice culture” mean (CZ)?
The Únětice culture (in German Aunjetitzer Kultur) is a dominant archaeological culture of the Early Bronze Age (2200-1500 BC) of Central Europe. It is the only...
Why is Araisi settlement called a lake fortress (LV)?
It was established in the course of archaeological excavation (1965–1969; 1975–1979) that Āraiši lake fortress had been built on an island in the lake for defensive purposes and had been fortified in a similar manner to...
How old are the Crannogs in Scotland (UK)?
The earliest known loch-dwellling in Scotland goes back 5,000 years to Neolithic times. This is on the island of North Uist, Scotland.
What games did Roman children play (NL)?
A wide variety of Roman games are known. These games vary from the simple throwing of nuts in a pot (Orca), to Roman rugby (Harpastum) and even chariot races with two hoops on a stick.
Do you know anything about how people kept food cool in the Middle Ages (NL)?
There are different ways. Actually, the best fridges are either streaming water or a hole in the ground. Rich people would have ice cellars where they would store ice in winter time, which would remain good until Summer.
Was there a division of roles in the early Middle Ages (NL)?
There was a traditional division of roles. Women in general took care of the children. They herded and milked the cattle and sheep and fed the chickens. Shaving sheep, plucking wool,...
Where did people sleep in the migration period in Sweden (SE)?
Well that is a hard question to answer, because no beds of any kind from the migration period in Sweden have survived until today. They may have slept in beds, on benches or maybe even in hammocks. What we can be sure of however is that they didn’t sleep on the floor.