(Photo – Tom Heaney, nwpresspics)
VISITORS to the Tower Museum will have the opportunity next week to view and handle some rare collections of historic artefacts – some dating back 7,000 years – at the Mabel Colhoun: Collections in Focus event.
The artefacts will be on show on Thursday 9th of November at 7pm when participants can find out more about some of the exotic findings discovered during the ground breaking local archaeologist’s travels.
Hosted by Curator Roisin Doherty and Education Officer Ronan McConnell, this event will unveil some never before seen artefacts collected by Mabel Colhoun during the 20th century, as Roisin explained.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to get close to some of the most exotic artefacts from our collections here at the museum. Whether it’s Roman Lamps from Ancient Jerusalem, Neolithic transparent flint arrowheads from North America, jewellery from Egypt, this session gives participants a chance to engage with history using a variety of different senses.
“The power of museum objects are most apparent when viewed and held up close, they can directly immerse you in the past.”
Interactive workshops at the museum are always popular and offer people the chance to appreciate the detail and textures of pieces normally on display in cabinets and behind glass, according to Ronan McConnell.
“Bringing collections out of their traditional storage units and cases to an open space where they can be most appreciated – in a round table setting under supervision by museum staff – really offers participants a memorable experience.
“We’re lucky to have such an incredible collection in Mabel’s name, and it is really fantastic to recreate the very kind of experience she would have given to groups in the past.
“We are almost halfway through our Mabel Colhoun: A North-West Pioneer exhibition programme and this event promises to be one of the most engaging yet.”
Spaces are limited for this event and booking is essential so please RSVP by contacting the Tower at [email protected].
The remaining events for the Mabel Colhoun Programme include, ‘The Engineered Landscape of the Foyle and Swilly’ by Dr. Liam Campbell on the 16th November at 7pm and ‘After Mabel – Archaeology in Derry and Inishowen’ by Dr. Brian Lacey on the 14th December at 7pm.
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