Not many kids are digging in the sand on the best beaches of the Costa de Almeria yet. But many more archaeologists are excavating in this region of Spain. The Museo de Almeria (Archaeological Museum of Almeria) was created to exhibit the artefacts found during the excavations. This is an excellent place to take children on excursions: firstly, the museum is small, and, secondly, there is a children's quest in its rooms. A quest booklet (in English or Spanish) can be downloaded from the website or picked up at the box office.
The Almeria Museum uses interactive elements to take visitors on a real journey back in time. The museum exhibition covers the period from the first settlements on the territory to the present day. There are primitive tools and the simplest utensils, but also masterfully made jewellery, sophisticated weapons, musical instruments and national costumes. Audiovisual shows complement the exhibits in the showcases.
A stratigraphic scale runs through all the museum floors, a kind of calendar in which the geological periods of the earth are marked instead of days and months. On the ground floor, dedicated to the culture of Los Migliares, modern artisans have created buildings using materials used several millennia ago. And the 'Circle of Life' exhibition is dedicated to burial rites, where archaeological finds are interspersed with artistic compositions.
The children's quest through the museum can be easily added to the list of unusual activities in Almeria. The activities are witty, and while they are being carried out, the child will feel like an actual participant in the excavations, having been lucky enough to discover a valuable object. Reassemble the statue from the rubble? Separate a wine jar from an oil jar? Identify a comb in a half-decayed piece of wood. These are tasks for the young archaeologist.
As the tour doesn't take long, you can explore the other sights in Almeria, including the Alcazaba fortress, after the museum visit.
