From the Find to the Exhibition at PETRI Berlin
Under the theme “Discover Archaeology,” the exhibition areas at PETRI Berlin offer information, interactive experiences, and a behind-the-scenes look at archaeology. As visitors make their way through the museum, they follow the journey of a find from the excavation site to the exhibition.
Image gallery
Restaurierung eines Fundes im PETRI Berlin
Blick ins Magazin des PETRI Berlin
Archäologisches Fenster im PETRI Berlin
An interactive wall and a large media table at the start of the tour show what artifacts lie buried beneath our metropolis and where the city’s origins lie.
Upon entering the basement, visitors are immediately immersed in the city’s underground history: within the walls of the medieval Latin school of Cölln, they look out upon the foundations of the former St. Peter’s Churches.
Through tactile building models, artifacts, and audio and video presentations, impressions of the site’s history and its exploration are conveyed in a way that can be felt and heard.
A special feature is a separate area in the basement where some of the deceased have been reburied; their original burials took place between 1150 and 1717 in the cemetery of St. Peter’s Church. These “first Berliners” are commemorated in the so-called ossuary. In addition, the latest findings from archaeological research are presented.
Glass workshops bring archaeology to life
The next stop is the artifact cleaning area on the first floor. This floor houses the actual workshops and storage facilities of the State Office for the Preservation of Historical Monuments and the Museum of Prehistory and Early History.
On weekdays, visitors can look over the staff’s shoulders through glass windows. In the exhibition areas in front of them, interactive stations explain the tasks that are crucial during an excavation and require a great deal of finesse.
The tour then continues to the restoration area, offering a view into the workshops.
Exhibition stations demonstrate the work processes necessary for the preservation of specific materials.
As visitors proceed to the third and fourth floors, they reach the museum’s storage areas. Here, the collection objects and the history of the Museum of Prehistory and Early History are on display.
Archeology as Part of Urban Development
To conclude the tour, the spacious loggia on the fifth floor offers a view of Berlin’s Mitte district. Through workshops and events, current topics in urban history research are presented, discussed, and exhibited on this top floor of the building. Content is developed and presented through participatory school projects using temporary exhibition elements.
The interactive PETRI game
In the basement, amidst the ancient walls, a treasure hunt designed for children begins, in which they become archaeologists themselves. In a stylized excavation landscape, they can discover their own finds visually, tactilely, and aurally, and then care for them throughout the entire visit. The artifacts must be digitally cleaned and (analogously) X-rayed, assembled, inventoried, and documented. A new task awaits them on every floor. The originals can be viewed in the exhibition and serve as a reference.
The Finds
Archaeological finds from across the entire Berlin metropolitan area are on display. In addition, the study collection of the Museum of Prehistory and Early History has been moved to the PETRI. This comprises the core collection of prehistoric and protohistoric finds, ranging from the Paleolithic era through Heinrich Schliemann’s collection of Trojan antiquities to modern objects. A display shelf connecting the upper floors showcases the diversity and abundance of the finds.
A permanent exhibition of the Museum of Prehistory and Early History – Staatliche Museen zu Berlin in cooperation with the Berlin State Office for the Preservation of Historical Monuments
Additional information
Hours:
- Closed on Mondays
- Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Sat & Sun 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Accessibility
Access is largely barrier-free.
