1. Welcome

Welcome to De Museumfabriek for the audio tour "Offering Treasures – Rituals in the Landscape of Overijssel".

As early as around 4000 BC, people made sacrifices, often in wet places such as swamps, bogs, and rivers. This practice persisted for thousands of years, even after Christianity arrived around 768 AD.

In the past, people lived close to nature. The landscape of Overijssel was difficult to inhabit, with swamps and mysterious mists. Such places were considered special. It was believed that here the world of humans and that of gods or ancestors lay close together.

When people wanted to ask for something or express gratitude, they chose a valuable object: an axe, a piece of jewelry, a weapon, or possibly even a person. They made these offerings in peat and swamps. In the wet, acidic environment, materials remain preserved for thousands of years – even wood, leather, skin, and hair. On this tour, you will discover special places where archaeologists have found such sacrificial treasures.

How does the tour work?

You use one QR code. Click on the arrow in the top right to go to the next point. You can see where that is on the map. The tour takes about 20 minutes.

If there is more information, you can click on the "More info" button:

You can also choose your own order via the map.

For more explanation about the buttons, click on "help":

Listen with earphones or read along on your screen. Enjoy!