🕒 3pm-9pm
Blue Museum Fair: festive and scientific activities in the Hortus garden
Activities for the little ones, experimental “p’tit labo”, timed courses, games of skill or guessing, etc. Participatory workshops for all ages, to play with terrestrial and underwater archaeology, the objects in the collections and the trades that surround them.
ArchéoPop “À la découverte de l’Archéologie”, an Inrap exhibition
Immerse yourself in the daily life of archaeologists, from excavation site to laboratory! Through four colorful, illustrated panels, discover preventive archaeology by answering three key questions: Where and when do we dig? What do archaeologists do? What do they discover? A fun and exciting immersion into the traces of the past!
Ready, set… play
Like archaeologists: “dig, discover, solve” the enigmas of the world of Unlock, a card game inspired by escape rooms.
Moments of grace
Looking for a break? Equipped with headphones and comfortably seated in deckchairs, you can discover the quarry’s “moments of grace”.
“moments of grace” from the professional careers of our archaeologists, mediators and curators. Enough to inspire future vocations?
Burger Archéo Quiz
Pop culture is full of references to archaeology and Roman history, but how much do you really know about this discipline and historical period? As in the famous TV game show, put your knowledge to the test by playing alongside the museum’s archaeologists!
Enter by drawing lots and win museum goodies!
-TERRESTRIAL ARCHAEOLOGY
Children’s corner (3 years and up) – How do you equip yourself?
With a set of magnets, have fun choosing outfits and tools for budding archaeologists!
Le p’tit labo (from 8/10 years) – Ceramology and anthropology
Ceramology workshop
In the company of Inrap specialists, learn how to reassemble ceramics and discover the work of the ceramologist, the archaeological expert in ceramics!
Anthropology workshop
Immerse yourself in an investigation of bones in the company of Inrap specialists!
Discover the work of anthropologists and learn how to decipher the clues left on bones. Age, sex, lifestyle… every skeleton has a story to tell. A fascinating workshop for learning about scientific methods and unlocking the secrets of past populations!
Top chrono (ages 6 to 106) – The land archaeologists’ race
Children and grown-ups alike: equip yourselves like archaeologists before completing the key stages of a site, but hurry up… you’re timed!
Attention Fragile (ages 6 to 106) – Don’t get your brushes tangled!
Archaeology is a discipline that demands patience and meticulousness. Discover and remove buried objects without ringing any bells!
Guess how many (ages 6 to 106) – Painted plaster crates
Between 2014 and 2017, archaeologists unearthed a wealthy Roman residence in Arles, dubbed the “House of the Harpist” in reference to one of the characters painted on its walls.
In a remarkable state of preservation, the paintings were both in place on the walls and in thousands of collapsed fragments in the backfill levels.
They fill 800 boxes.
But how many fragments are there in this one?
Whoever solves the mystery will win museum goodies at the end of the day!
-UNDERWATER ARCHAEOLOGY CENTRE
Children’s corner (from 3 years) – Barge fishing
Based on the principle of duck fishing, catch the little barges (flat-bottomed boats) speeding through the water and (re)discover the history of the Arles-Rhône 3 boat!
Le p’tit labo (open to all from 8/10 years) – Wood and water
Join a specialist from the museum’s conservation-restoration department for a hands-on exploration of science through mini experiments on the presence of water in the air and its effect on wood.
Top chrono (ages 6 to 106) – The archaeologists’ diving race
Mask on, flippers on, equip yourself like an archaeologist diver before drawing on an underwater tablet, but hurry… you’ll be timed by a museum archaeologist!
-THE MUSEUM AND ITS COLLECTIONS
Children’s corner (from 3 years) – Mystery boxes
Guess the objects hidden inside 5 mystery boxes by touch. Are they made of clay, stone or metal? Can you recognize objects from the museum’s collections?
Le p’tit labo (from 8/10 years) – Mosaic restoration (also for adults)
Join a museum conservation-restoration specialist as she takes you step-by-step through the job of conservator-restorer, working on ancient mosaics both on the excavation site and in the museum workshop!
Top chrono (ages 6 to 106) – From site to storeroom
It’s not just archaeology that requires patience and attention to detail!
Like the curators, concentrate on moving an object as gently as possible from the excavation site to the storeroom, following an electrical path…without setting off the alarm!
Guess how much (ages 6 to 106) – The weight of objects
Ever wondered how much a statue, sarcophagus or other museum object weighs? Now it’s your turn to guess!
Those who solve the mystery will win museum goodies at the end of the day!
Attention Fragile (ages 6 to 106) – Chamboule-tout des idées reçues
A classic fair game to turn conventional wisdom about archaeology, the Romans and the museum on its head!
