Chania with kids

We went to Kissamos,  a small town just a half-hour easy drive from Chania in Crete. Our first is the archaeological museum featuring findings from the western part of Crete, mostly Polyrenia, Falasarna, and other smaller ancient towns of the area.

The museum was founded in 2005, and it is housed in a two-floor Venetian monument that once was hosting the Headquarters of the Governor of the area. On the ground floor, you will basically admire the findings from Ancient Falasarna and Polyrenia which flourished during the Hellenistic period as well findings from the prior Minoan era.

On the first floor, you will admire the mosaics that are in maintained very good condition from the Hellenistic period of the area, along with other findings, such as coins, amphoras, jewelry, and tomb findings.

Archaeolab

Play-Dig-Learn!

After the museum, we visit Αrchaeolab, the only hands-on activity for archaeology for kids in Crete. A child’s paradise where for the next two hours the kids will enjoy making their own excavations.

We will meet Koula Bourboudaki, an archaeologist with a busy schedule who will welcome us and explain the project she is running.

Archaeolab offers kids the opportunity to experience an excavation process. The process of documentation and management of the archaeological finds, and to understand how archaeologists reconstruct the past, based on the findings. Children are invited to bring an ancient Minoan premise to light. Following the instructions are given in order to follow the protocols of the archaeologists and do professional work. Kids are invited to reveal:

architectural elements (walls/floor residues), storage jars and their contents, constructions.Utensils for the preparation and the production of the food (kitchen), wine press, loom residues, and treasure crypts. 

In the process of excavation, kids practice various aspects of contemporary archaeological practice (backfill removal techniques, water, and dry sieve, findings sorting/classification, etc.). The sets of findings are revealed, the excavation process resembles the gradual solving of a mystery.

After the excavation, a second lab is taking place, where children are introduced to the art of pottery or other ecological practices. We were amazed to see the construction of a Neolithic house which was made by small children.