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Spain's National Archaeological Museum celebrates 150 years with 150 treasures


Madrid's National Archaeological Museum opened its doors to the public on Wednesday with an extraordinary temporary exhibition: The Power of the past, 150 years of archaeology in Spain, showcasing 150 of Spain's top archaeological treasures in a homage to the history and evolution of Spanish archaeology.

Spain's National Archaeological Museum celebrates 150 years with 150 treasures

The Museo de Arqueologia Nacional (MAN) traces how Spain's past was unearthed, from the 19th century's ruling elites, antiquarians and collectors - a chaotic, almost accidental accumulation of old objects - to its current scientific methodology.

Spain's National Archaeological Museum celebrates 150 years with 150 treasures
Woman playing the mizmar, Museo Santa Clara de Murcia 
[Credit: Museo Arqueológico Nacional]
"All of this will be done through 150 objects or exhibits from 68 collaborating museums, true icons of the past which reflect an overview of how we built a vision of our past through archaeology: a material history of Spain's past," the museum said in a statement.

Spain's National Archaeological Museum celebrates 150 years with 150 treasures
Portrait of Divus Augustus, Zaragoza Museum 
[Credit: Museo Arqueológico Nacional]
The coming of age of archaeology as a scientific discipline that seeks and attempts to explain the past through glimpses of a long-gone everyday life will be put on view.

Spain's National Archaeological Museum celebrates 150 years with 150 treasures
Ephebus of Antequera, Antequera City Museum 
[Credit: Museo Arqueológico Nacional]
"When I was offered to curate an exhibition featuring 150 objects showcasing 150 years of Spanish archaeology I knew it was a difficult challenge," the exhibition's curator, Gonzalo Ruiz Zapatero, Professor of Prehistory at Madrid's Complutense University, told EFE on Tuesday at a pre-inaugural media presentation.

Spain's National Archaeological Museum celebrates 150 years with 150 treasures
Idol of Tara, Canary Islands Museum, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 
[Credit: Museo Arqueológico Nacional]
Despite the challenge, Ruiz embarked on his quest to show "all types" of objects: human fossils, artworks, humble daily life artifacts, side by side with objects fit for emperors.

Spain's National Archaeological Museum celebrates 150 years with 150 treasures
Numancia Staff, Numantine Museum, Soria [Credit: Museo Arqueológico Nacional]
The curator said the exhibition included an additional challenge, it was not only bringing together a diversity of objects but also creating a narrative.

Spain's National Archaeological Museum celebrates 150 years with 150 treasures
Treasure of Neapolis de Ampurias, Museu Nacional d' Art de Catalunya, Barcelona 
[Credit: Museo Arqueológico Nacional]
"This physical memory of the past should serve to enable the visitors to become empowered by the knowledge of their own history," Ruiz Zapatero said.

Spain's National Archaeological Museum celebrates 150 years with 150 treasures
Iberian skull, Museu d' Arqueologia de Catalunya, Barcelona 
[Credit: Museo Arqueológico Nacional]
His objective was to 'embed' these objects within the story telling how Spanish archaeology evolved, a concept intimately entwined with the origins of the archaeological discipline and the Museum itself.

Spain's National Archaeological Museum celebrates 150 years with 150 treasures
Sculpture-pendant, Archaeological Museum of Asturias, Oviedo 
[Credit: Museo Arqueológico Nacional]
Spain's Archaeological Museum came into existence in Mar. 21, 1867, at the same time as a network of smaller provincial museums.

Spain's National Archaeological Museum celebrates 150 years with 150 treasures
Rock crystal trousseau, Museum of Cádiz [Credit: Museo Arqueológico Nacional]
Up to 68 of these provincial museums have now played a crucial part in this project by temporarily loaning some of their best artifacts. Ruiz Zapatero thanked them all for their generosity.

Spain's National Archaeological Museum celebrates 150 years with 150 treasures
Mosaic of the Three Graces, Museu d' Arqueologia de Catalunya, Barcelona 
[Credit: Museo Arqueológico Nacional]
The exhibition is divided into three main sections: the pioneering archaeologists of the second half of 19th century that sought inspiration in the antiquarian traditions (1867-1912), the consolidation of archaeology as a stand-alone discipline (1912-1960) and its contemporary rise as a science (1960-present).

Spain's National Archaeological Museum celebrates 150 years with 150 treasures
Sepulchral tombstone of Sancho III of Navarre, León Museum 
[Credit: Museo Arqueológico Nacional]
"This is an activity boasting great strength and significance," said Andrés Carretero Pérez, director of the Madrid's National Archaeological Museum, adding that the exhibition was aimed at the general public, a departure from the more academic activities it has organized to celebrate its century and a half of existence.