The establishment of an Archaeological Museum represents a unique opportunity to develop an educational project addressed, for the first year, to the students of the Public School at Mazzano Romano. In order to encourage the participation at the constitution of the Museum by the local community (considering MAVNA as a leading cultural center for the territory) we believe that the involvement of students in the school is essential.
The participation of children and young people to such a project has specific and clear educational goals. Among the many we want to emphasize:
- Education to “Legality”: the community of Mazzano Romano appears lacerated by the plague of illegal diggings (tombaroli). The respect for legality is possible only betting on children. The assumption that Cultural Heritage is public and belongs to the whole community is opposed to the logic of venial price of the item and the practice of abduction.
- Education for an Active Citizenship: to participate at the “construction” of the Museum by local community, corresponds to the principle of sharing the res publica. Discover and study the ancient city (archaeological site) means indirectly to understand the modern city.
- Education for the protection of Cultural Heritage: discover the rich archeological reality of the territory at Mazzano – Narce is one of the largest and most important archaeological sites of ancient Italy – constitute the basis for a renewed consideration by children of their territory, becoming aware of the protection and enhancement.
- Education towards Internationalism: according to the nature of the “virtual” museum, which brings together tomb-groups exhibited in famous museums abroad, to participate in the birth and life of the Museum will permit to children to discover many different museums in the world, recognizing the universal value of Cultural Heritage.
The series of meetings plans to present at children Archeology as “historical science”, promoting the comprehension of the area around them, their territory, to discover what lies beneath the modern town and inside the woods. The archaeological methodology – even in the imagination of children – intrinsically possesses the value of adventure, a dynamic approach to history, thanks to a methodology of practical work, aimed at active participation of all the students.
The project students of the elementary school and of the junior high school. Obviously, according to the different age characteristics of groups involved, the project consists of two separate proposals: one for elementary and one for junior school.
At the elementary school the primary goal is the discovery of the archaeological site of Narce. The history of the Faliscan site fits perfectly with the annual in History in fourth and fifth grade. A series of meetings will take place, aimed at a first approach to the archeology and history of the area. The main activity of the project will be a great Treasure Hunt to be held in April in Narce (in collaboration with associations of Mazzano Romano and the Treja Valley Regional Park).
For the students of the junior high school, the project will focus on the Museum itself. In this case it will not consist in a “game” but a participation in the adventure of the creation of the museum through a “contest” that will involve the students. It will also be the opportunity to visit the Museum during the set-up and participate in this event.
Outside the museum a laboratory for simulated excavation was prepared. It will be used, starting in June 2013.