Student Exchange Program
for
Field Practice
at
Damjanich János Museum, Szolnok, Hungary
PROPOSAL
5000 Szolnok, Kossuth tér 4.
 5001 Szolnok, Pf. 128.
 56/421-602 Fax: 56/510-151
E-mail: muzeum@djm.hu
http://www.djm.hu
Transforming Boundaries
The Damjanich János Museum – as one of the most remarkable and multi-scientific museums
of Hungary – has been engaged to foster and enhance archaeological and cultural linkages
between People’s Republic of China and Hungary.
Introduction
Location—on the Crossroads of Ancient Tribes
Damjanich János Museum is situated in the county seat of Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok county in
central Hungary, the heart of Europe. The location of Szolnok city on the banks of Tisza river,
at the centre of the Great Hungarian
Plain, has made it an important
cultural and economic crossroads
for centuries.
As
a
result
of
favourable geographic and climatic
conditions the area of Szolnok has
been suitable for human settlement
since prehistoric ages.
Organisation&Structure
The Damjanich János Museum was founded in 1933 and moved to its present premises in an
impressive Classicist building on Kossuth Square in 1952. Since 1962, it has functioned as the
centre for the directorate of Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok County Museums.
Under leadership of the Directorate, the Museum
is divided into five departments as follows:
Department of Archaeology, Department of
Ethnography
and
Folklore,
Department
of
Contemporary History, Literature and Cultural
History, Department of Art History, Library and
Museum Pedagogy and Conservation Laboratory
supplemented by a technical supporter team. The Szolnok Art Gallery and the Tabáni Tájház
(traditional residential house and folklore museum) are also considered to be as a part of the
Damjanich János Museum.
Mission&Activity
The Damjanich János Museum serves the interests of high quality research and education,
upon the best European traditions. The mission of the Museum is to preserve and enrich local,
national and universal culture, to cultivate science and art, to pass on academic knowledge, as
well as to shape and satisfy the real, long-term needs of Hungarian society and of mankind.
In Damjanich János Museum are preserved the county’s complete archaeological and art, as
well as the largest ethnographical and
historical collections. In the well-developed
museum building six permanent and several
temporary exhibitions takes place. Moreover,
the cozy arcaded courtyard also serves as a
colourful background of cultural programs
and external activities.
Exhibitions are divided into three sections:
archaeological finds from the Palaeolithic
age until the 18th century; an extensive ethnographical collection; and exhibits relating to
Szolnok's history, especially the artists' colony which often highlights contemporary local
artists.
In the last ten years, new interactive programs, summer courses, museum pedagogical
sessions have been launched paying greater attention to the public’s needs and attempting to
involve visitors more into the hidden secrets of museum activity.
As recognition of its outstanding scientific
and
cultural
activity,
Damjanich
János
Museum has been appointed by the Museum
of the Year award in 1996 and 2005.
In 2013, honoring its efforts of improving the
intercultural relationship between Poland and
Hungary, the Museum has been awarded by
the Ponanski-price.
Department of Archaeology
The
antecedents
of
archaeological collection in
Szolnok can be traced back
to
the
foundation
of
Damjanich János Museum in
1933. Since the Mid-20th
century apart from the efforts
of
a
few
indefatigable
individuals, excavations over
a larger area have been conducted under large-scale construction projects. As a result of
systematical field works and museum activity the archaeological collection contains more
than 150.000 items, furthermore, numismatic and archaeo-zoological collections and
database.
The archaeological repertory comprising various objects of each archaeological period (from
the Palaeolithic ages until the 18th century) has been considered to be one of the most
remarkable collections worldwide. Several
unique items unearthed from multi-layered
settlements of the Late-Neolithic – MidBronze ages (tell-settlements) are placing key
positions of international research.
Today the Department of Archaeology splits
into four sections: Prehistory and Early
History [20.000
BCE
–
450
BCE],
Archaeology of the Pre-Roman and Roman
Period [450 BCE – 400 CE], Archaeology
of the Migration Period [400 CE – 1000
CE],
Medieval
and
Post-Medieval
Archaeology [11th century – 18th century],
supplemented by Underwater Archaeology
and Archaeometrical researches.
After the establishment of the Department of Archaeology, the necessary technical
background was also developed: storage facilities, conservation and restoration workshops, as
well as computer laboratories. Technical support for research improved significantly under
the recent years, and the Museum is now engaged in several major research projects, usually
in co-operation with Hungarian or
foreign partners. Such as the Italian–
Hungarian joint excavations with
University
of
Naples,
German–
Hungarian project that is part of the
Neolithic tell research project in the
Great Hungarian Plain, and the M3
motorway
rescue
excavations
conducted with the Institute of
Archaeology, Faculty of Humanities, Eötvös Loránd University and various Hungarian
museums and foreign partners.
The Department of Archaeology, Damjanich János Museum also gives a significant emphasis
to the international educational relations, such as student and research exchanges, excavations
and other kind of scientific co-operations.
Intention of the Student Exchange Program
The Damjanich János Museum in collaboration with the Institute of Archaeological Sciences,
Faculty of Humanities, Eötvös Loránd University has a strong commitment to give an
opportunity for foreign students to familiarize themselves with the archaeological methods
practiced in Hungary and to look into the material culture of the country.
For the above reasons the Museum and the University would like to announce their intention
to engage a co-operation as student exchange for a brief period of excavations with the School
of Archaeology and Museology, Peking University.
During the stay of students of the School of Archaeology and Museology, Peking University
in Hungary, all costs of accommodation will be covered by the Damjanich János Museum.
The Museum would also host the visit and agree to provide basic facilities so that the invited
students could finance their work.
Details of Field Practice in 2014 – the M4 Motorway Project
Description of the Project:
The M4 motorway is a planned Hungarian highway constructed by the Hungarian
state, which will, upon completion, connect Budapest to Ordea and further Romanian cities.
The route will travel in Hungary through Cegléd –
Szolnok – Karcag – Püspökladány Berettyóújfalu –
Nagykereki, before reaching the Romanian border.
In 2014, a 28,945 km long section will be created
between Abony – Fegyvernek and Törökszentmiklós
(Szolnok county), which consists altogether three
archaeological sites, each approximately 1,5–12
acres.
In accordance with the Hungarian Heritage Law, the Damjanich János Museum – as
directorate of Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok County Museums – had been appointed to conduct the
excavations of the above named area, in collaboration with the Institute of Archaeological
Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Eötvös Loránd University.
Period of Excavations:
August – December, 2014
Period of Sites:
1. Besenyszög-Berek-ér-part Site: 49,176m²; Roman Barbaricum and Migration Period
(萨尔马提亚人, 匈奴, 日耳曼人, 阿尔瓦人) [ca 0–800/900 AD] settlement and
cemetery
2. Tiszapüspöki-Holt-Tisza-part Site:126,998m²; Hungarian Kingdom(匈牙利帝国)
[10th century] settlement; Roman Barbaricum and Migration Period (萨尔马提亚人,
匈奴, 日耳曼人, 阿尔瓦人) [ca 0–800/900 AD] settlement and cemetery; Bronze
Age (青铜器时代) [ca. 3000–900 BC] settlement
3. Tiszapüspöki-Karancs-Háromság Site: 15,633 m²; Neolithic ( 新 石 器 时 代 ) [ca
5400–4500 BC]; Copper Age (铜器时代) [ca 4400–3000 BC]; Bronze Age (青铜器时
代 ) [ca. 3000–900 BC]; Iron Age ( 铁 器 时 代 ) [ca 800 BC–0] settlements and
cemeteries
Costs of visit:
All costs of accommodation, inner transportation and basic facilities will be covered
by the host institution. In case of interest, the Museum would also offer lectures held in
Chinese/English introducing the Hungarian cultural heritage system and organised trips to
significant historical places.1
All costs of flight tickets, health insurance and living expenses should be covered by
the visiting students.
Contact Person:
可茉 Krisztina Hoppál
hoppalkriszti85@gmail.com
1
One must keep in mind that all expenses of organised trips, such as entrance tickets and transportations should
be covered by the visiting students.