State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt – State Museum of Prehistory- Halle (Saale), Germany#

The State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology and State Museum of Prehistory (LDA) as the central institution in the Federal State of Saxony-Anhalt is responsible for its rich cultural heritage. The principal duty of the LDA is the recognition of monuments, to further the knowledge about cultural heritage, to document, and to publish. Also the counselling of monument owners, architects, craftsmen and conservators in the manifold concerns of practical preservation of monuments and historic buildings is an important task. Other offices receive expert reports in the frame of planning applications and proceedings relating to permission. Archaeologists plan and supervise excavations. The results are documented, finds are conserved and stored. Extensive depots store numerous testimonies of the regional human history spanning thousands of years.

In the State Museum of Prehistory – one of the most eminent archaeological museums of Europe – the most spectacular finds are presented. Since more than one hundred years the archives of the LDA store the records concerning heritage management and archaeology, historic and recent photos, plans and drawings. A large and well stocked specialised library holds books and periodicals from around the world on archaeology, art and architectural history as well as monument and heritage specific titles.

The State Museum of Prehistory in Halle (Saale) is one of the most prestigious institutions of archaeology in Europe. Its home is Germany’s oldest purpose-built building for prehistoric archaeology. The collection encompasses numerous finds of international importance, including the world-renowned Nebra Sky Disc.

Founded as the „Museum für heimathliche Geschichte und Alterthumskunde der Provinz Sachsen“ (opened 21.03.1884) the LDA is already a longstanding institution for the preservation and research on prehistory and the cultural heritage of the region. On 21.01.1991 the “State Office for Archaeological Heritage Management (State Museum of Prehistory)” was installed. On 08.04.1997 it was renamed in “State Office for Archaeology –State Museum of Prehistory–“ and on 01.01 2004 it was joined with the State Office for Monument Preservation to form the “State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt –State Museum of Prehistory– “ of today.

For more information: http://www.lda-lsa.de/en/