Archaeological Museum: Popular Culture Changing the Perspective of Heritage

The exhibition “Archaeology and Popular Culture” is open to visitors at the Archaeological Museum in Zagreb until 1 February 2026. It considers the manner in which archaeology has influenced visual arts, literature, theatre, film, comics, music, toys, different types of board games, and the gaming industry as well as their interdependence.

It is a multimedia exhibition that allows visitors to experience the past in a new and unexpected way and prompts them to analyse the topic. It reconsiders the perspective of archaeology as conditioned by the individuality of the artist and the influence of media on the public perspective of archaeology from the very beginning of this type of scientific research. 

Popular media have certainly shaped the public perspective of archaeology, which changed depending on the status of archaeology and media in a particular period. Before the emergence of digital mass media, in relation to archaeology popular culture relied on travellers’ reports and other written media. A major turning point was the development and intense influence of television, films, print media and video games, which have brought archaeology to the masses. However, these media forms at times inadvertently misrepresent the methodological and theoretical foundations of the discipline in favour of adventure and glamour. King Solomon’s Mines, Indiana Jones, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, and the series Stargate SG-1 are singled out as examples. These works present archaeologists in a romantic and adventurous way, often overshadowing the scientific aims and true life and work of “real” archaeologists. By stating examples of several media forms, the authors of the exhibition send a message that popular culture promotes and exploits stereotypes about archaeology and prehistoric pasts.

This exhibition was created in collaboration with many experts and professional organisations from Croatia and abroad.