Archaeological Open-Air Museum Havránok
Slovakia
The unique Archaeological Open-Air Museum Havránok is situated next to the dam Liptovská Mara. It is a magical place and the visit to this park might be a great experience.
Havránok is among the most important archaeological sites in Slovakia. It demonstrates the presence of Celts in Liptov region in time between the 4th and 1st century BC. Archaeologists discovered here remnants of the settlement from the Upper Iron Age referred to as the La Tene period.
Celts that lived in Liptov were classified as Kotins. The size of the site suggests that is was a settlement of supraregional importance. Apart from great amount of pottery, jewellery, iron and bronze objects also remains of defensive walls, a cult place of Druids and fragments of Celtic dwellings were found at Havránok.
Experimental archaeology was applied at the Havránok site. It means that the finds were dug out and conserved and apart from it, their replicas were made and the site was creatively reconstructed. Thanks to this approach, Havránok became the first open-air archaeological park in Slovakia where visitors can contemplate reconstructed buildings, a furnace and ramparts with a gate.
During summer seasons several cultural events such as fencing duels or examples of Celtic religious ceremonies and various artisan activities are organized in Havránok.
