Museum Idiotism and How the Visitors Are Being Confused! (Photos+)

I propose to talk on such a sensitive topic as “errors” in information in museum stands. After all, state museums are a source of serious information. People write scientific works, relying on museum exhibits and specialized literature in the field of history and archeology.

It’s one thing if it’s just typos or spelling errors on information stands in museums. Which also, of course, surprises, but not so much that it makes some visitors furious. Although for me it is still a mystery how the employees of museums, being every day at their workplace and conducting tours for visitors, cannot notice such mistakes…

This is a photo from the archaeological report of October 16, 2017, after the end of the archaeological excavations of the Battle of Molodi in 1572 (Moscow region, Russia). But when archaeologists (in the Moscow suburbs after the end of the excavation) attribute the find as “a decorative piece of clothing or harness” instead of an ordinary grip from the lid of a samovar, this already causes great concern! After all, this archaeological object will go further to the fund of a state museum. And how it will be reviewed there later – a big question! Whether any of the experts will notice this mistake, remains only to guessing…

In the end, all this translates into some paradoxes. For example, in the exposition of the State Museum of Local History of the city of Alushta (Crimea, Russia), ordinary elements of horse harness (see article about that here!) are shown in full seriousness and are given out as (just imagine!) a Turkish uniform button of the XVIII-XX centuries… Apparently, according to the data of the museum staff, the Turks wandered throughout the whole Russia for centuries and lost their uniformed buttons in every field! And even in Siberia and the Far East! :)) And the funniest thing is seeing this crazy stand in the museum, one of the gullible visitors will in the future think that this is historically correct information, and on an occasion become foamy at the mouth to prove their case, exposing themselves as a complete idiot! By the way, it should be noted, that most museum workers position themselves as highly educated and historically competent specialists. After such pearls, this statement, at least, is questioned …

And what kind of errors have you seen in your museums? Maybe there’s something to add? Send photos – will be published!