The modern field museums: A link between science and community

Abstract

Several prehistoric sites have been studied intensively through surveys and excavations by the former National Research Center of Archeology. The extraordinary scientific information of those archaeological sites is barely conveyed to the wide audience. Realizing this situation, the Government of Indonesia, through the Directorate General of Culture (Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology), has established eight site museums for prehistoric sites and nineteen historical and ethnographical museums. The site museums are including: five clusters of Sangiran, three of Semedo, Song Terus, Gua Harimau sites. Although there is no generally accepted tight definition of an archaeological site museum, several characteristics stand out. An archaeological site museum is not just a storehouse for findings made at a particular excavation. It is a place for both research and education. That is why the site museums are realized in accordance with the provisions of a modern museum, not only to apply the modern techniques displayed for the audience, coffee shop and souvenirs, but also other facilities such as storage, laboratories, workshops, audio-visual rooms, seminar rooms, and researchers’ housing. The positive impacts of the construction of modern museums by the Directorate General of Culture is the number of visitors increase dramatically, as shown by Sangiran Museum. The community is immediately close to the museum, and vice versa, the museum is less distant from the community. The museum and the community come closer and closer, and the museum became a link between science and community.