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.
What language did people speak in the early Middle Ages (NL)?
The language spoken in the Netherlands in the early Middle ages we now call Old Dutch. It’s actually a collection of dialects which were spoken in the Low Lands between 600 and 1200...
Biskupin became the most important site for Polish archaeology of the 20th century, why (PL)?
Because of the unique preservation of the wooden complex of ramparts, houses and streets, because of using modern methods of archaeological and interdisciplinary research, because of initiating archaeology by experiment and because of organizing training camps for archaeology students.
What did the dwellings in the lake fortress look like (LV)?
The 9th century lake fortress consisted of 16 houses, with a habitable area of 10–30 m2. The houses were built of horizontal logs, with gently-sloping roofs, made of spruce or birch bark, as well as turf, and served at the same time as the ceiling...
How long did it take the Vikings to build a house like the Borg Museums’ longhouse (NO)?
It depends on what resources and materials were available. A possible estimate is one to two years (the reconstruction took one year to build), but we must also consider that the house seems to have been continually added to and maintained.
How do you make linen out of flax (NL)?
Flax is an annual plant which grows to 60 - 100 cms. The length of the plant is important because it equals the length of the fibres. The plant blossoms with white or light blue flowers. After the blossoming, small seed boxes remain...
Was the castle meant as well for defending (NL)?
A medieval castle - like the one from Eindhoven - often was the house in which the Lordship lived. Often it was the only stone building in the area he owned...
Where do modern musicians get medieval music from (NL)?
In different monasteries and libraries, sheet music dating back to the Middle Ages is kept.
Why did the „Terramare“ disapear (IT)?
The Terramare-culture, one of the most important cultural groups of the Middle and the Late Bronze Age in Northern Italy was confronted around 1200 BC with a fundamental crisis; some decades later this civilization had disappeared...
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...
What did Romans wear (NL)?
In Rome and in the Mediterranean parts of the Roman empire, the sun’s warmth enabled Romans to wear next to nothing. The tunic, a long t-shirt like garment, was the most common piece of clothing. Women could add a kind of long cape, the palla...