The Roman on the Lower : A European ’s Visibility in Landscape and Museums by Renger de Bruin, Astrid Hertog and Roeland Paardekooper

114 | MUSEUM international enger E. de Bruin studied History at the University of . He received his Ph.D. at the same Runiversity in 1986. He worked as a researcher and lecturer at the universities of Utrecht and Leiden in the and Greifswald in . In 1994, he joined the Centraal Museum Utrecht, where he worked as curator for urban history until August 2017. Currently, he is a senior researcher at the Department of History and Art History of the University of Utrecht.

strid Hertog is an art historian and museologist trained at UCL. For over 20 years, Hertog has Aworked in museums and heritage institutions from Programme Manager Exhibitions, to Marketing and Fundraising. She is currently the owner of Closer to Culture, a cultural management company. One of her assignments was the position of Director for the Roman Limes Foundation Netherlands. She was a board member of ICOM Netherlands from 2011 until 2017.

oeland Paardekooper is Director of the ICOM Affiliated Organisation EXARC (International Organisation Rof Archaeological Open-Air Museums and Experimental Archaeology). He received his Ph.D. from the University of Exeter. Paardekooper was knighted in 2012 for his services to archaeology and open-air museums. In 2015, he was awarded the Museum Horizon Award by the Hans Manneby Memorial Fund for Museum Development.

MUSEUM international | 115 he ICOM General Conference held in 2016, in Milan, was dedicated to the theme ‘Museums and Cultural Landscapes’, during which ICOM Netherlands hosted a session entitled ‘The Roman Frontier along the River Rhine—the role of museums in revitalising cultural landscapes’. It dealt with the Roman heritage of the cultural river landscape in the Netherlands and parts of Germany, and was jointly organised by ICOM Germany, ICOM-CECA (Committee for Education and Cultural Action), EXARC (International Organisation of Archaeological Open Air Museums and Experimental Archaeology), the Netherlands commit- tee of ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites), ICOM-MPR (International Committee for Marketing and Public Relations) and the Foundation T‘Roman Limes Netherlands’. The result was a multidisciplinary session with archae- Although museums ologists, museologists, tourism specialists and policy makers.1 are important for This session was an opportunity that allowed to discuss World Heritage Site (WHS) cultural landscapes, nomination, cultural landscapes and museums altogether. Although museums are they are not included in important for cultural landscapes, due to their archaeological collections, educa- World Heritage Site. tional goals and public awareness through tourism, they are not included in World Heritage Sites. Furthermore, ICOM is not officially involved in the nomination pro- cedures and elections, a disadvantage for the cause of museums. Yet, a step forward was made during the ICOM Advisory Committee meeting in Milan on 9 July, 2016, with the adoption of the so-called Catania Declaration on Museums and World Cultural Heritage. ICOM complemented this with statements and calls for action to sharpen and clarify the correlation between museums and World Heritage Sites. The present article will develop a case study, that of the Roman Frontier (also known as Limes), in order to highlight the various roles museums play for World Heritage Sites. In the first section, the historical background of the Roman Frontier along the River Rhine will be described (Figs. 1a and 1b). The Interpretation Frameworks and how these are applied in museums using storylines will then be explained, and an overview of the initiatives and the cultural infrastructure along the former Roman frontier, in both the Netherlands and in Germany. Finally, we will address cooper- ation between Dutch and German authorities in the World Heritage Site nomina- tion process, as well as the role ICOM can play in promoting World Heritage Sites in general.

Fig. 1a. Map of the frontiers of the . Fig. 1b. Map of the frontier in the province of Lower © D. J. Breeze and Culture 2000 Frontiers of the Roman Empire project Germany. © D. J. Breeze

116 | MUSEUM international Fig. 2. ’s Wall. ©

The Limes: Historical overview fter the failed attempt to conquer nder Roman rule, the Limes delimi- sectors of the frontier ran (Breeze 2011b). Athe lands between the Rhine and the Utated the Empire from ‘barbaric’ ter- It is not as simple as acknowledging that Elbe, the Romans decided to strengthen ritories, but in times of peace, it would frontiers ran along rivers, through des- their northern border along the natural assume an open character. As a conse- erts or across mountains, for within frontiers of the Rhine and the . In quence, Roman influence reached re- each category there are distinctions. The between the two rivers, they built a wall mote parts, such as Denmark and Latvia, Roman frontier on the Lower Rhine is a over land, in the provinces of Germania where Roman artifacts were found. The case in point. Superior and Rhaetia. Today this line full Limes stretches over 20 present-day is known as the Upper-Germanic- countries on three continents. A part of he two sections of the frontier in the Rhaetian Limes. The project of fixing the the line has been listed in the UNESCO Tprovince of offer border on the European continent began World Heritage Site since 1987, namely, interesting contrasts, particularly due under Emperor Tiberius and was con- Hadrian’s Wall in the . to the fact that the Rhine delta in the cluded under Claudius around 50 CE. Netherlands is unique. There are two n 2005 and 2008, the Upper-Germanic- types of in Germania Inferior: a fter the conquest of Britain, the IRhaetian Limes (Obergermanisch- normal river frontier in Germany, and ARomans tried to as far north Raetischer Limes) in Germany and smaller fortresses in the Rhine delta. We as possible, but were continuously re- the were added to the can observe how the Romans adapted pelled by Celtic tribes of the North. list among other sites, and more are to their frontier installations to the differ- Emperor Hadrian decided to build a be integrated. The Dutch government ent terrains through which they ran. In wall at the narrowest point, which was decided to nominate the Rhine sec- the delta, archaeological preservation named after him: Hadrian’s Wall (around tion of the Limes as UNESCO World is excellent, due to wetland conditions, 130 CE, see Fig. 2). The Antonine Wall, Heritage for 2021, in coopera­tion with which offers considerable advantages in situated further North, was a similar the German states of North Rhine- making the case for World Heritage Site project that was never fully completed. Westphalia (Nordrhein-Westfalen)­ and status. Yet both sections offer challeng- Rhineland-Palatinate (Rheinland-­Pfalz). es to museum curators, particularly due he Roman Frontier was a complex So will do the same with a por- to the relative invisibility of the Roman Tphenomenon, involving several tion of the Danube border, in coopera- military archaeological sites. forms of organisation. It was bound to tion with . Further nominations evolve over time, as it overlapped new of the Danube line by countries in South reeze discussed how the external political territories. Fortified buildings, Eastern Europe are expected. BRoman world could be brought into for instance, were made to serve other the museum. This question is of consid- functional purposes. In the 7th centu- he first speaker in the session, British erable importance as tourism continues ry CE, the Frankish ruler conceded the Tarchaeologist David Breeze, gave to grow in Europe. Visitors arrive with Traiectum, situated in pres- an overview of the European Roman their own cultural values, and it is im- ent-day Utrecht, to a religious mission- Frontier, elaborating on the similarities portant that museums relate to these. ary, Wilibrord, who used it as a mission and differences of this varied border- Museums and their movable artefacts post, as did his successor, Boniface, to line, highlighting the specificities of the are not part of World Heritage, which in convert Germanic tribes north and east Limes along the Lower Rhine.2 essence is immovable. However, they are of the river Rhine. Subsequently, the cas- the best places to explain multi-phased tellum Traiectum became the residence ll of the frontiers that protected sites and in doing so, attract visitors to of the bishops of Utrecht. Athe Roman Empire were similar in the sites. Museums function as gateways many ways, but notable differences also to the surrounding landscape, and a exist, in particular as regards the land- good museum visit leads to repeat visits scape through which the individual of museums and sites.

MUSEUM international | 117 Interpretation Frameworks, tourism and storylines n Interpretation Framework con- ifferent levels were designed, from rederike van Ouwerkerk, expert in Asists of a univocal structure, a main Dlarger museums with correspond- Fcultural tourism, discussed how the storyline where all sites and museums ing influence, to the smallest local muse- Roman Limes is actually a memoryscape play a specific part in the storyline. This ums. The German interpretation frame- that can be developed into a challenging can be picked up by any organisation work includes all existing interpretation tourist destination by using storylines as working in the area of the Interpretation sequences in museums and monu- a connecting thread between landscape Framework and therefore, offers a strong ments. The Danube Limes Interpretation and museums in order to make the past message, part of the tourism branding of Framework for Austria and Bavaria had visible and tangible.3 Van Ouwerkerk ar- the area. the status of a recommendation as part gued that all cultural landscapes are by of the prescribed management plan of definition human-made, shaped over or Hadrian’s Wall, the Interpretation the Austrian-Bavarian UNESCO appli- the ages by specific events that have FFramework was based on the re- cation (Flügel 2015). The criteria for sin- created distinguishing characteristics. view of Outstanding Universal Values. gle local lead themes and site clusters Cultural landscapes can therefore be A description of Outstanding Universal are based on the collections and mon- seen as memory spaces, with memories Value is a compulsory document for uments and the archaeological cultural specific to each landscape and which can World Heritage nominations. The landscape. The Netherlands has just fin- be translated into stories. These stories Interpretation Framework was used for ished the outlines of the Interpretation are part of the landscape’s identity and interpretational, educational and mar- Framework for their part of the Lower can draw sizeable audiences to visit the keting purposes and describes global Rhine Limes. Defining a strategy on how destination. themes, as well as each of the particular to implement this will be the next step. sites, excavations and museum collec- However, much has already been done ost visitors would not be content tions of the Limes. It enables the cultur- along the Dutch Limes, even before any Mwith the mere sight of ruins. They al institutions and tourist organisations official nomination. come for a challenging, unique ex- along the sites to tell a common, coher- perience: the story behind the ruins. ent story, but also, to differentiate the eyond policy documents concern- Museums make the story visible and various sites by highlighting regional Bing the conservation and protec- tangible with the artefacts in their col- and local storylines. tion of the sites or landscapes, World lection. These museums can play an im- Heritage Sites are also about the appre- portant role in bringing diverse stake- or the Upper-Germanic-Rhaetian ciation by people both now and in the fu- holders together in order to design this FLimes, a similar Interpretation ture (Roessler 2016). The World Heritage unique experience. Combining a muse- Framework has been produced. Using Information kit describes benefits for um with the heritage and landscape be- the approach of Hadrian’s Wall to in- tourism: yond its walls conveys a sense of histo- corporate an Interpretation Framework, […] Finally, the inscription of a site ry, time and place. This emotion can be lead themes were identified, in tune with on the World Heritage List brings heightened by edutainment techniques, the larger framework. Every core theme an increase in public awareness used to bring the unseen history of the is linked with a geographic part of the of the site and of its outstanding place to life within and beyond the mu- Limes, in keeping with the principle of values, thus also increasing the tourist seum walls. “one site, one lead theme” (Flügel 2015). activities at the site. When these are well The advantage is that stories are not re- planned for and organized respecting peated at different sites and visitors can sustainable tourism principles, they can more easily experience the relevance of bring important funds to the site the story told. In Germany, site clusters and to the local economy (UNESCO have been developed because in some World Heritage Centre 2008). cases it is impossible to explain the full Tourism will be an important element Limes story. For every site mentioned in the development of the Limes in the Interpretation Framework, one landscape, as it has been for many other iconic finding has been identified, stand- World Heritage Sites. ing for the site and the local story as a whole. Finally, for every site, a short list of vital actions and priorities has been defined, such as a refurbishment of the museum or the production of education- al material.

118 | MUSEUM international n connecting memoryscapes and mu- he ICOM Affiliated Organisation for his confirms the need to use differ- Iseums that are geographically distant TArchaeological Open Air Museums Tent means and methods to dissem- or that extend across borders, a sto- and Experimental Archaeology inate the message. Criticised by others, ryline becomes a trail and creates co- (EXARC) focuses on the various ways the learning phases discussed by David herence. These storylines incite people of interpreting the past through recon- Kolb in Experimental Learning (1983) to stay longer, to spend more time and struction or otherwise. The array of in- still provide insight into the divergent become more involved, enabling them terpretation methods and the sheer pro- ways people prefer to learn, and are often to learn more and remember their vis- fessionalism we find in museums such used as a tool in designing exhibitions, it much longer. The story of the Roman as Colonial Williamsburg (US) or the products and services for a broad pub- Limes has the potential to create such a could inspire muse- lic (Fig. 3). Museums are storytellers, re- storyline and connect places throughout ums along the Limes. Even though view- counting compelling stories. They need Europe. Although a great deal of work ing virtual and augmented reality on a to fall back on the main storylines the must still be undertaken, the storyline of smartphone seems to be the new rule, Interpretation Framework provides, but the Roman Limes is becoming increas- in fact, diversifying the public is the key the ways in which these stories are told ingly visible and tangible, and emphasis- challenge for museums in the short term. need to be varied. es shared memories of the Roman past. This echoes and acts upon the European Commission for Culture wish to create a feeling of being European by raising peo- ple’s awareness of their shared history.

Fig. 3. Roman ship De Meern 1 in Museum Castellum Hoge Woerd, excavated in 2003. © Astrid Hertog

Fig. 4. Castellum Hoge Woerd. Visualisation of the castellum, ingeneously built above the remains of the Roman Castellum in De Meern/Utrecht. © Aafke Holwerda MUSEUM international | 119 Dutch initiatives and the cultural infrastructure highlight of the Dutch Limes ini- ithin these limitations, an impres- (October 2016), Meinerswijk (March A tiatives is the 2015 opening of the Wsive array of interpretative devic- 2016) near Arnhem and Fort Nigrum Museum Castellum Hoge Woerd, with es and site museums has emerged in Pullum at Zwammerdam (where the vi- its unique Roman ship assemblage. recent years. After a period of restraint sualisation is being modernised). The museum is part of Castellum Hoge and minimalism, a bold approach has Woerd, a modern interpretation of the been conceived, with a wide scope for n the framework of the World Heritage local Roman fort (Fig. 4). The premis- local initiatives. Urban planning with Inomination, Dutch authorities under- es offer a wider range of cultural and strong attention to archaeological re- took initiatives to make the Limes bet- leisure facilities to the local communi- search led to extensive excavations in ter known, which was quite a challenge ty, including a theatre, a nature educa- Leidsche Rijn, a new district of Utrecht. in a time when the Dutch Interpretation tion centre, meeting rooms and a court- Challenges remain, nevertheless. The Framework was not yet in place. A 2013 yard, which hosts outdoor events. It has key themes of the Lower Rhine Limes questionnaire showed that public aware- a clear potential to become one of the conjure up complex storylines, such ness was extremely low: the word ‘Limes’ major interpretative hubs for the Lower as the dynamic river landscape, a river had stronger connotations with citrus Rhine Limes where the Roman storyline frontier as a transport corridor, or the fruit than with the Romans. The role of is made explicit. The museum seeks to archaeological value of preserved organ- museums is to make the Limes better combine a physical feeling of place and ic materials. All of this requires strong known; the challenge is to create pub- size with a personal experience, making museum support, and the challenge for lic support for cultural heritage. In or- extensive use of interactive displays, vir- the future is to offer exciting combina- der to increase awareness of the Roman tual reality and social media. tions of indoor information and out- frontier in the Netherlands, the Stichting door experience. The recently delivered Romeinse Limes Nederland (Foundation he Dutch archaeologist Erik Dutch Interpretative Framework is cru- Roman Limes Netherlands), a coop- TGraafstal, addressed the topic of cial to aligning the separate initiatives erative effort by museums, heritage reconstruction of the Roman military with connecting themes and an overall boards and private organisations, was structure in the Rhine delta with the case branding and storyline. established. study of the Castellum Hoge Woerd in the western part of the city of Utrecht.4 ext to Castellum Hoge Woerd, the eyond promoting the Limes na- He pointed out that making the un- Nlonger-standing institutions such Btionally by supporting exhibitions seen visible is a particular challenge in as the National Museum of Antiquities and educational programmes, the the context of the Roman frontier in the (Rijksmuseum van Oudheden) in Foundation has supported initiatives Netherlands. Firstly, in terms of orig- Leiden, the Museum het Valkhof in by communities, volunteers and entre- inal substance, there is not much to be and, to a lesser extent, the peneurs to revitalise the Limes in areas seen above ground. Secondly, unlike the Centraal Museum in Utrecht, are on where it is invisible and not represented British and German contexts, the land- the museological frontline. However, in museum collections. This programme scape setting has changed beyond rec- small museums like the Stadsmuseum was the result of a joint collaboration ognition, due to natural conditions such or the Museum Baron Van between a company, which provided fi- as changing riverbeds as well as human Brakell in Ommeren are raising aware- nancial support to the project, and the activity, directly affecting the landscape, ness that these towns and villages were provinces where the Limes is located. in a densely populated area. Finally, once part of the Limes. Alongside the Examples of initiatives undertaken in- conservation policies have traditionally older organisations, the archaeological clude setting up Roman gardens and or- been very strict, limiting research aimed park of Archeon, established in 1994 chards, designing a theatre play and a at the better understanding and presen- near Leiden, also deserves mention. school project to visualise the Limes on tion of sites, for example. Extensive ar- one neighbourhood’s pavement. chaeological research is only carried out rcheon was originally meant to be when the soil is to be disturbed by con- Aan open-air laboratory for experi- struction work. mental archaeology, but developed into a highly popular archaeological amuse- ment park with Roman reenactments and demonstrations of Roman practices. There are future plans to exhibit Roman ships that were found in the area. In ad- dition to Castellum Hoge Woerd, sever- al other public sites have been set up in recent years. DOMUnder in Utrecht of- fers an experience tour underneath the DOMsquare, where visitors can discov- er 2,000 years of history and ruins such as the Roman fort Castellum Traiectum. Recently, a few Castella were visualised in the landscape where they were situated, by marking the outlines of the Castella with low stonewalls: Fectio near Utrecht

120 | MUSEUM international German initiatives and the cultural infrastructure uite different from Archeon ith some 600,000 visitors in 2015, he Archaeological Park recreates the Qis the approach of the LVR- Wthe LVR-APX sits atop German TRoman city in its prime. The system Archaeological Park (LVR-APX) rankings, with a 35 per cent increase in of the ancient street network has been in North Rhine-Westphalia, near the visitor numbers following the opening restored. The meadows in the parkland German border with the Netherlands. of the museum in 2008 in an enlarged show the former blocks of houses. All of The park opened in 1977 and has de- park. According to cost-effectiveness the reconstructed buildings have been veloped into a complete site museum: studies and experience, the LVR-APX is built upon their original locations over the LVR-Römer Museum was added in a strong factor in economic and tourism the archaeological remains. The city 2008 (Fig. 5). Martin Müller, the director development in the town and region. It wall in the southeast part of the Colonia of the park and museum, presented the marks the first time that significant in- has been fully reconstructed, as has the case of the site, giving an overview of its vestment was made in a cultural project northern . The amphitheatre and development since opening in 1977. within the field of archaeology—advan- the harbour temple have been partially tageous in that subsidies can be drawn reconstructed, with the raised podium from the purse of cultural heritage pre- of the temple also acting as a protective servation, as well as from the consider- building for the archaeological remains. ably larger state and federal town devel- Also fully reconstructed, including the opment funds. interior furnishings and decoration, is the Roman with its baths, which are he Roman settlement Colonia Ulpia fully functional and sometimes heated as TTraiana (CUT), with its approxi- an archaeological experiment. The large mately 73-hectare plot, and the remains Xanten baths covered a whole block. The of the Roman harbour are listed as ar- building constructed to protect the ex- chaeological sites. At the same time, the cavated ruins provides an impression of possibility of using the entire archaeo- the size and shape of the structure. The logical site as a museum will form the basilica thermarum in front of the baths basis of LVR-APX’s pedagogical work. has been built in an architectural style A central objective is the visualisation of that complements the protective build- the finds below ground level, which is a ing, and has been used as a museum substantial challenge, as we have seen in since 2008. the Dutch examples.

Fig. 5. Römer Museum in LVR-Archaeologisches Park Xanten in Germany. © Axel Thuenker MUSEUM international | 121 Fig. 6. Limuseum in Rufenhofen, along the Upper-Germanic-Rhaetian Limes, which is already listed on the WHS list. © Oliver Heinl

he LVR-APX is in many respects n the German part of the Lower Rhine he German archaeologist Christof Ta model project for North Rhine- ILimes, besides Xanten, the main play- TFlügel focused on the Upper Westphalia. It is an important site where ers are the Römisch-Germanisches Germanic-Rhaetian Limes.5 He ex- the Interpretation Framework is present- Museum in Cologne and the LVR plained the Interpretation Frame­works ed in straightforward storylines. Due Landesmuseum in . However, and showed a selection of museum proj- to its high profile, the Archaeological smaller museums such as the Clemens- ects along the Roman Limes in South­ Park Xanten has become synonymous Sels-Museum in also focus on the ern Germany. The Upper Germanic- with the Romans and Roman culture on Limes. The role of museums and the Rhaetian Limes is, as outlined above, the Lower Rhine, and is thus well suit- cooperation among authorities is insti- already part of the transnational serial ed to bring the World Heritage Site of tutionalised in the Römische Museen World Heritage Site, ‘Frontiers of the the Lower Germanic Limes in general, am Limes in Deutschland foundation Roman Empire’, together with Hadrian’s and the related Roman remains in and (the Roman Museums on the Limes Wall and the Antonine Wall. Currently, around Xanten specifically, to a broader in Germany foundation). The infra- preparations for the inscription of the public. A display of the original military structure along the Upper Germanic- Austrian-Bavarian Danube Frontier finds from the Colonia Ulpia Traiana Rhaetian Limes is far more developed as an additional part of the Frontiers under protective buildings is planned for than on the Lower Rhine (Fig. 6). of the Roman Empire are underway. the future, and a large exhibition area for Based on the example of Hadrian’s the presentation of the World Heritage Wall, the Danube Limes Interpretation Site of the Lower Germanic Limes, with Framework (DLIF) considers for the first a clear focus on the area of the German time a transnational interpretation strat- Lower Rhine, is to be created within the egy approach for museums and sites in APX. Austria and Germany. The entire area is divided into regions, each with its own interpretation of the larger story of the Danube Limes. Together, these stories form a coherent interpretation frame- work. This could also serve as a mod- el for other sections of the Frontiers of the Roman Empire, such as the Lower Germanic Limes in Nordrhein- Westfalen and the Netherlands.

122 | MUSEUM international Fig. 7. DOMUnder: exploring the remains of the Roman castellum underground in the Centre of Utrecht. © Mike Brink

aking the example of the Limeseum utch and German museums are owards 2021, a plan will be drawn up TRuffenhofen on the Upper German- Dplanning a large exhibition on the Tand executed with all (site) museums Rhaetian Limes, a Roman museum that Rhine Limes for 2021, the year of the and parks along the Dutch Limes, pre- opened in 2012 following the inscription World Heritage assignment. As a sneak senting the common story of the Limes of the Upper German-Rhaetian Limes preview, the Centraal Museum Utrecht with regional accents in temporary and on the World Heritage List, Flügel ex- and Museum Het Valkhof in Nijmegen permanent exhibitions and ecucational plored the possibilities of storytelling already presented two smaller exhibi- products. The Interpretation Framework and personal engagement in museum tions on aspects of the Limes in 2016 will serve as a basis alongside already concepts along the Limes (Pausch 2012). (Fig. 7). The two museums showed new- existing Limes products, such as exhibi- Multimedia applications, especially vir- ly developed maps by Olav Odé, resem- tions, animations, apps and an interac- tual reconstructions bringing to life a bling present-day satellite views, but tive Limesmap. lost world, have become increasing- depicting the geographical situation ly important. However, the experience of 200 CE. On these maps, the results in various Roman museums in Bavaria of recent archaeological research have clearly shows that the production is of- been processed. Together with large ten underestimated in terms of scientific prints of the maps, important finds from input, time and finances. As the images the Dutch part of the Rhine Limes were created for multimedia productions re- presented. The museum in Nijmegen fo- main in the visual memory of the public, cused on the , with finds of the efforts undertaken can be justified, helmets, while the Utrecht museum fo- if they comply with international char- cused on trade, with several coin hoards ters. Sound research before a presenta- and commodity goods such as terra sig- tion is vital, combined with a continuous illata. Nijmegen highlighted the defense quality control once the presentation is function of the Limes, whereas Utrecht in place. showed that the Limes did not just serve a defensive purpose, but was, at least in times of peace, a transparent line with intensive communication and trade be- tween people on both banks of the river.

MUSEUM international | 123 The World Heritage Site nomination process and ICOM

he non-visibility of the Lower he Declaration highlights the need TGermanic Limes in the landscape Tto adapt management practices ac- constitutes a problem; but once the cording to the institution type, i.e. mu- Limes in Europe is listed as UNESCO seums, archives, libraries, archeological World Heritage, it will be the largest and natural sites or monumental com- World Heritage zone in Europe. The plexes, insofar as their primary purpose, nomination of the Lower Rhine Limes regardless of their specialisation, is the requires close cooperation between conservation, preservation and protec- German and Dutch authorities. tion of cultural and environmental herit- age. In accordance with the ICOM Code he Dutch and German policy makers of Ethics, the text delineates the different TTamar Leene and Thomas Otten de- missions of museums: ‘i) to collect, in- scribed the administrative and scientific crease and broadcast the knowledge of cooperation undertaken for the World this heritage; ii) to present their heritage Heritage nomination process.6 showing the connections with its orig- inal context; iii) to engage the people he transborder nomination of the in an active participation to the protec- TLower Germanic Limes is proposed tion, interpretation and presentation of as an addition to the existing World the inherited heritage as a resource for a Heritage Site, Frontiers of the Roman sustainable development’. Empire. Dutch and German authorities will stimulate research on their respective onversely, the Declaration calls for territories, and the parties will jointly de- CUNESCO Sites to ‘increase the mu- vise common principles for the selection seological and institutional functions of the areas and sites to be nominated for of museums; ‘motivate museums and World Heritage status, and the delimita- Institutions to have an active role in the tion of the World Heritage Site and its protection, interpretation and presen- buffer zones. Main aspects also include tation of the surroundings’, and man- the implementation of a management agers to ‘ensure that the governance of plan for the future World Heritage Sites the sites integrate in their management and the cooperation with the museums museums and other institutions and pla- and NGOs along the Limes. This also ces of culture existing in them; promote involves a highly skilled approach to an their involvement in the protection, con- enhanced transboundary understanding servation, interpretation of the heritage and interpretation of our historical land- inscribed on World Heritage List.’ scape. Museums, including recently es- tablished and forthcoming ones, should ollowing its adoption at the ICOM strengthen cooperation to achieve this FGeneral Conference, national com- transnational interpretation. mittees were encouraged to reflect and redefine the role of museums within Administrative and scientific he International Conference on WHL sites, so as to enhance their func- cooperation is key to the World T‘Museums and World Cultural tion within the site they belong to.7 Heritage Site nomination. Heritage’ held in Catania, Italy, from 16 to 18 October, 2015, resulted in a decla- ration on the role of museums in World Heritage Sites. Presently, neither the community nor the visitors can appre- ciate the strict correlation between col- lections and their cultural and environ- mental heritage.

124 | MUSEUM international n the present article, we strove to demonstrate that museums should have a role in World Heritage Site nominations and requirements. As the example of the Roman Limes demonstrates, there is a need to better integrate tangible and intangible, movable and immovable World Heritage. All along the Lower IRhine Limes, museums—some of which are gateways to the cultural landscapes they present—serve as important agents for education and storytelling, combining pedagogical tours within their walls, and an outdoor experience. Using the Interpretation Frameworks for the local storylines, museums set the region into the big picture of the Roman Limes and can invite local communities to make the Roman past their own past, thus creating identities and memoryscapes. They are custodians for the archaeological objects excavated, and connect the intangible and tangible Roman history, integrating tangible and intangible, movable and immovable World Heritage. Both larger and smaller museums play a role in explaining the history, and have clear connections to the region. The ultimate aim is public awareness, understanding and appreciation of World Cultural Heritage culture. It is our conviction, therefore, that ICOM should act as one of the advisory bodies in the procedure of World Heritage Site nominations.

Notes References Online websites 1 All contributions will be published ӹӹ Breeze, D. 2011a. The Antonine Wall. ӹӹ International Organisation of Archaeological in a forthcoming e-publication In: Mueller, M., Otten, T., Wulf Rheidt, U. Open-Air Museums and Experimental by ICOM Netherlands (TBA). (eds), Schutzbauten und Rekonstruktionen Archaeology. Available at: http://exarc.net 2 David Breeze was Chief Inspector of Ancient in der Archäologie, Xantener Berichte, Vol 19, [accessed 17 October 2016]. Monuments for Historic Scotland from 1989 pp. 71-78. ӹӹ Frontiers of the Roman Empire World Heritage to 2005. He subsequently led the team that ӹӹ Breeze, D. 2011b. The Frontiers of Imperial Site, Hadrian’s Wall Interpretation Framework, successfully nominated the Antonine Wall Rome. Barnsley: Pen and Sword. Overview and Summary. Available at: http:// as a World Heritage Site in 2008 and served ӹӹ Flügel, C. 2015. Interpretation Frameworks. hadrianswallcountry.co.uk/sites/default/ as a Chairman of the International Congress Besucherorientierte strategische files/1.%20%20HWIF_Overview%20and%20 of Roman Frontier Studies until September 2015 Vermittlungsarbeit am Limes in Deutschland summary.pdf [accessed 17 October 2016]. (Breeze 2011a). und Österreich. Sonius, Vol. 18, pp. 19-22. ӹӹ The Siena Charter. Available at: http://icom. 3 Frederieke van Ouwerkerk is a senior lecturer ӹӹ Hüdepohl. S. 2015. Limes at . museum/uploads/media/Carta_di_Siena_EN_ in Culture, Tourism and Communication In: Matešić, S. and Sommer, C. S. (eds), final.pdf [accessed 17 October 2016]. at NHTV Breda University of Applied Sciences At the Edge of the Roman Empire: Tours Along ӹӹ Arbeitsgemeinschaft Römermuseen am Limes. (Netherlands). the Limes in . Deutsche Available at: http://limes-roemermuseen. 4 Erik Graafstal is a senior archaeologist Limeskommission, Bayerisches Landesamt byseum.de/de/home [accessed 17 October 2016]. at the Department of Cultural Heritage für Denkmalpflege, pp. 180-183. ӹӹ Antonine Wall (UK). Available at: http://www. of the City of Utrecht (Netherlands) ӹӹ Kolb, D. 1983. Experiential Learning: Experience antoninewall.org [accessed 17 October 2016]. and Director of Museum Castellum Hoge as the Source of Learning and Development. ӹӹ LVR-Archaeological Park Xanten (DE). http:// Woerd,in the western part of the city. Upper Saddle River: FT Press. www.apx.de [accessed 17 October 2016]. 5 Christof Flügel is Chief Consultant ӹӹ Pausch, M. 2012. LIMESEUM Ruffenhofen. ӹӹ Castellum Hoge Woerd (NL). Available for the archaeological museums at the Bavarian An den Grenzen des Römischen Reiches. at: http://www.castellumhogewoerd.nl Museums Service in Germany (Archäologische Ein Museumsführer. Verlag: Rednitzhembach. [accessed 17 October 2016]. und Naturwissenschaftliche Museen, ӹӹ Ramstetter, K. 2015. Burgsalach. ӹӹ Centraal Museum Utrecht (NL) Available Bergbaumuseen; Welterbe Limes), In: Matešić, S. and C.S. Sommer at: http://www.centraalmuseum.nl 6 Tamar Leene is National Programme Manager (eds.) At the Edge of the Roman Empire, [accessed 17 October 2016]. Limes for the Dutch provinces of Utrecht, Tours Along the Limes in Southern Germany. ӹӹ Landschaftsverband Rheinland (DE). Available Gelderland and Zuid-Holland. Thomas Otten is München: Deutsche Limeskommission: at: http://www.lvr.de [accessed 17 October National Programme Manager Limes on behalf Bayerisches Landesamt für Denkmalpflege, 2016]. of the German State of Nordrhein-Westfalen. pp. 128-131. ӹӹ Danube Limes Interpretation Framework. He is also founding director of the new Jewish ӹӹ Rössler, M. 2016. Foreword. World Heritage Available at: http://www.museen-in-bayern. Museum in Cologne. in Europe Today. Paris: World Heritage Centre. de/die-landesstelle/veroeffentlichungen/ 7 The full text of the Siena Charter is available ӹӹ Sommer, C. 2015. Pförring. In: Matešić multimedia-welterbe-limes.html online at: http://icom.museum/fileadmin/user_ S., C.S. Sommer (eds), At the Edge of the [accessed 17 October 2016). upload/pdf/News/Carta_di_Siena_EN_final.pdf Roman Empire, Tours Along the Limes in ӹӹ Museum het Valkhof Nijmegen (NL). Available Southern Germany. München: Deutsche at: http://www.museumhetvalkhof.nl Limeskommission: Bayerisches Landesamt für [accessed 17 October 2016]. Denkmalpflege, pp. 162-165. ӹӹ Romeinse Limes Nederland. http://www. ӹӹ UNESCO. 2008. World Heritage Information romeinselimes.nl [accessed 17 October 2016]. Kit. Paris: UNESCO World Heritage Centre. ӹӹ UNESCO. 2016. World Heritage in Europe Today. Paris: UNESCO World Heritage Centre.

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