Archaeological Museum of Asturias facts for kids
| Museo Arqueológico de Asturias | |
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| Established | 1952 |
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| Location | Calle San Vicente 3 and 5 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain |
The Archaeological Museum of Asturias (in Spanish: Museo Arqueológico de Asturias) is located in a cool 16th-century building. It used to be a Benedictine monastery called Saint Vicente in Oviedo, Asturias, Spain. This museum is full of amazing finds from different time periods.
You can see items from the Asturian Neolithic (New Stone Age), Megalithic (big stone structures), Bronze Age, and Iron Age. There are also things from the Astur hill fort culture, the Roman period, and the Gothic era. Plus, you'll find art from the Pre-Romanesque and Romanesque times of the Kingdom of Asturias.
The museum also has sections about Asturian Ethnography (the study of cultures), Heraldry (coats of arms), and old writings. You can also see Spanish coins and medals, and even some Armor.
The Spanish government owns the museum. But since 1991, the local government of Asturias has been in charge of running it. The museum got a big makeover starting in 2004. It reopened its doors to the public on March 21, 2011.
Contents
What Cool Stuff Can You See?
The museum has some really special items. Here are a few:
- The Vega del Cielo mosaic: A beautiful ancient floor design.
- The San Miguel de Lillo altar stone: A stone from an old church.
- The Santa María del Naranco altar stone: Another important stone from a historic building.
- A 12th-century sarcophagus of Gontrodo Pérez: This is a stone coffin. Gontrodo Pérez was the partner of King Alfonso VII of León. She was also the mother of Urraca la Asturiana., Queen of Navarre.
Journey Through Time: Permanent Exhibits
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The museum's main exhibition tells the story of the Asturias region. It goes from prehistoric times all the way to the Middle Ages. You'll learn about the different people who lived here over thousands of years.
Life in Prehistoric Times
Scientists have studied how prehistoric people lived. They hunted, fished, and gathered food. They also made clever tools. You can see how Neanderthals lived, thanks to new discoveries in the El Sidrón cave in Asturias.
The art from the Stone Age is also amazing. Our ancestors carved or painted animals, symbols, and human shapes in nearly fifty caves in Asturias. These images are very beautiful and mysterious.
From Stone to Metal: Neolithic to Metal Ages
Around 4,500 years ago, life changed a lot. People started farming and raising animals. They cut down forests to make fields. Big stone monuments called megaliths appeared in the Asturian landscape. These showed that society was becoming more complex.
People also started mining copper. This led to new tools and more advanced societies. Asturias has a long history as a mining region, which began during this time.
The Era of Fortified Settlements (Castros)
Castros are old fortified settlements. They are a common sight in the Asturian landscape. People lived in these strongholds during the Iron Age, before the Romans arrived. Castros were like small, independent towns. Their strong defenses show that these communities were often divided into different groups or clans.
When Rome Came to Asturias
When the Roman Empire arrived, Asturias became part of it. This happened during the time of Emperor Augustus. Rome brought big changes. They built cities, farms, and a huge network of roads.
The Romans were very interested in the gold mines in western Asturias. They mined gold on a large scale. New businesses and trade grew across the region. This changed the way people lived, as they had traditionally focused on mining and farming. Rome's presence also connected Asturias to the wider classical world.
Medieval Asturias: Kings, Castles, and Towns
The Kingdom of Asturias marked the start of the Middle Ages in this region. Kings, churches, monasteries, and castles were the main centers of power. Most people lived in small villages in simple homes.
The art from the Asturian monarchy is special because of its unique buildings and decorations. From the 13th century, new towns called polas grew. People moved to these towns for administration, trade, and crafts. New Romanesque and Gothic churches were built. By the end of the Middle Ages, a new group of powerful people emerged. They played a big role in the region's politics and economy.
The museum also has a section called "From Collection to Museum." It shows how the museum itself started. There's also a special area honoring Friar Benito Feijoo y Montenegro. He was an important thinker from the 18th century. You can see a recreated Benedictine monk's cell, just like the one he might have lived in.
Another part of the museum helps you learn about Asturias' World Heritage sites. These include ancient cave art and monuments from the Asturian monarchy. You can use interactive screens and videos to get information. You can also find out about archaeological routes to visit these amazing places.
The Museum's Collection
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The museum's collection started growing in the 19th century. At that time, many church properties were taken by the government. This meant many religious artworks became available. A group called the Asturian Commission on Monuments began collecting items from abandoned churches and monasteries. These pieces formed the first collection of the Museum of Antiquities. People also donated items.
In the 20th century, archaeology became more scientific. This led to exploring prehistoric times, especially after ancient cave art was found in Asturias. The museum's collection grew a lot from archaeological digs. Private collections were also donated.
In the 1960s and 1970s, the local government bought many wooden statues, furniture, and other objects. Important purchases included a collection of archaeological items from the Soto Cortés family. They also bought a coin collection from Pedro Hurlé Mansó, and weapons and coins from the Tomás Fernández Bataller family.
Since the 1970s, research has added many items from the Stone Age, Metal Ages, and Roman period. More recently, "management archaeology" has brought in lots of material from all periods. This includes many objects from the Middle Ages. These were found in old city centers and from churches and monasteries being restored.
The Museum Library
The library at the Archaeological Museum of Asturias is a special place for study and research. It focuses on prehistoric times and archaeology in Asturias. The library has a huge collection of books and documents. It also has a computer system to help you find what you need.
The library has always been important for the museum. It has changed a lot since the mid-19th century. It now helps manage information as well as its collections.
Library Goals
The library aims to:
- Make the museum better.
- Collect, organize, and share information for studying the museum's items.
- Keep its documents safe.
- Combine its archives and library to be the main source of information.
- Share its collections through publications and websites.
- Work with other institutions.
- Use new technology to improve services for users.
Library Space
The library is located between the first and second floors of the museum. You get there by using the old monastery stairs. It has two main areas: one for reading and one for storing books. The reading area has seven seats. Here, you can look at books and archive materials. You can also use the internet and a computer for printing. There's also a workspace for the library staff.
The library is free to use. It is open for research from Monday to Friday. This means it's much easier for the public to access now. The library is also used for meetings and workshops.
What's in the Collection?
The library specializes in archaeology, prehistory, and ancient and medieval history. It focuses especially on Asturias. Its catalog is part of the Network of Libraries of Asturias. You can search for books online. The collection has books from 1650 to today.
It has about 15,000 items. Most are books and magazines. But there are also maps, images, videos, drawings, posters, and old handwritten documents. Most publications are in Spanish, but some are in English, French, and Italian.
- Historical Fund: This part has about 3,500 items collected between 1844 and 1952. They cover topics like old writings, coins, art history, and Asturian subjects. Many were printed between 1870 and 1930. They came from purchases, donations, or exchanges with other history groups. You can find old art encyclopedias and works on early archaeological digs. A special work is "Architectural Monuments of Spain." It was made to study and share Spain's art history, especially Asturian art. It has very detailed engravings and lithographs. There are also old Asturian language documents, speeches, and letters.
- General Fund: This has about 9,000 books and reference works. They cover all areas of knowledge, but mostly history and art, especially about Asturias. You'll find manuals, reports from archaeological digs, museum catalogs, and more. The museum is responsible for protecting archaeological objects found in Asturias. So, the library has many reports on archaeological sites. These are very popular with researchers.
- Magazines and Journals: The library has a large collection of 152 different magazine titles. Many come from exchange agreements with over 70 Spanish and international groups. Some are from before 1900, like the Bulletin of the Academy of History. Since the 1940s, the library has worked hard to keep its collections updated. However, due to recent economic changes, many magazines are now accessed digitally online.
- Other Materials: The library also holds the archive of the Provincial Commission on Monuments. It has documents from 1840, old photos, drawings, diplomas, and local newspapers. The museum's modern image archive has about 5,000 photos of archaeological items.
Who Uses the Library?
The library is used by many different people:
- Museum staff.
- Students of history, art history, and museology.
- Cultural guides and tourist guides.
- University professors.
- Archaeologists and historians who work with the museum.
- Researchers.
- People interested in local history.
- Other institutions needing information for their users.
- Experts who organize exhibitions.
Library Services
The library at the Archaeological Museum is now very different from how it used to be. It's no longer just a place to store books. It's a lively space for researchers. Just like museums are more than just places to keep objects, libraries are more than just book warehouses.
Museum History
How the Museum Started
The idea for the museum began in 1845 with the Provincial Commission on Monuments. This group worked to protect Asturias' monuments and cultural heritage. They opened the first museum in 1870 in the Convent of San Francisco. It had items collected from Asturias and private donations.
The current museum officially started in 1944. But it didn't open to the public until 1952. It was set up in the cloister (a covered walkway) of the old Monastery of San Vicente. Since then, the collection has grown a lot from new archaeological digs, donations, and purchases.
Because the building needed repairs, the Ministry of Culture started a big renovation in 1998. The work began in 2004. After spending 16 million euros, the museum's size grew to 5,810 square meters. About 2,013 square meters are used for the permanent exhibition.
During the renovation, workers found a 1.6-meter-high part of the original 8th-century wall that surrounded Oviedo! The cloister's arches rest on these old wall remains. The plans for the museum had to be changed to show off these parts of the wall. This discovery supported a historian's idea about where this wall was built by King Alfonso II.
History of the Library
The library started with the Provincial Commission of Monuments in 1844. After church properties were taken by the state in 1836, there was a need to protect historical buildings and art. The commission aimed to save cultural heritage, gather information on monuments, and care for books, documents, and other items.
The library's story is linked to the museum's many locations and events over time.
The Library in the Commission Museum (1844–1878)
The first collection began 150 years ago as a small helper library. It was looked after by librarians from the University of Oviedo. In 1868, the Chapel of the Third Order of the Convent of San Francisco became the first home for the museum and library. It took seven years to get it ready.
The Library in the Antiquities Museum (1878–1918)
On September 21, 1878, the museum opened in a small space. The library was a key part of the museum. As Fermin Canella Secades said in 1882, it had "enriched enough in these last years, with books of history, archaeology, fine arts." It included the important "Architectural Monuments of Spain" publication.
In 1889, the museum moved to the Normal Schools. The library and archive had their own room. In 1902, the library opened to the public and allowed books to be borrowed. But the Normal Schools needed more space, so the library moved again.
The Library in the Provincial Museum (1918–1951)
The building assigned in 1918 was temporary. It was on the ground floor of Dean Benigno Rodríguez Pajares' house. The library, archive, and museum collection stayed there with limited access. This helped protect them during the Revolution of October in 1934 and the Civil War. In 1939, work began to rebuild the Benedictine Monastery of Saint Vicente. This would be the museum's final home.
The Library in the Provincial Archaeological Museum (1952–2003)
On San Mateo's day in 1952, the museum officially opened. The library had an important place in this new location. The museum's director was also in charge of the library. The library started a new phase, getting new books and setting up exchanges with other groups in Spain and abroad. In 1972, the original commission disappeared. Its duties were taken over by the local government. In 1991, the management of the Provincial Museum was transferred to the Government of Asturias.
The Library in the Archaeological Museum of Asturias (2011–)
After being closed for 8 years for renovations, the Archaeological Museum of Asturias reopened on March 21, 2011. It was in its historic building, which had been fully updated and expanded. The museum now has a modern permanent exhibition and new facilities. With this big change, the library also became modern. It opened to the public, its catalogs became available online, and its old collections started to be digitized.
The Museum Building
Since 1952, the museum has been in the cloister of the old Monastery of San Vicente. This building has a long and interesting history, connected to how the city of Oviedo began. The cloister was declared a national monument in 1934.
The Monastery of San Vicente is thought to have been founded in 761, during the time of King Fruela I. Only small parts of that very first building remain. However, the cloister, which was started in the 1530s, is still standing. It was built by master builders like Juan de Badajoz, the Younger, and finished by Juan de Cerecedo, the Elder and Juan de Cerecedo, the Younger in the 1570s.
See Also
In Spanish: Museo Arqueológico de Asturias para niños
- Archeological Museum of Asturias' Library
- List of museums in Spain
