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A museum at the heart of Val-d’Oise heritage
This departmental museum, heir to an earlier museum run by the French Vexin Archaeological Research Center (CRAVF), invites visitors on a journey through time to meet the men and women who shaped the region, from prehistory to the present day.
But behind the display cases and ancient objects lies an essential mission: to understand and promote the archaeology of the Val d’Oise in order to better reveal its territorial identity.
A departmental institution dedicated to archaeology
Opened in 1983, the Val d’Oise Archaeological Museum is a departmental museum entirely dedicated to the conservation, study, and promotion of local archaeological heritage. It houses 22,000 archaeological remains—around 50,000 objects for study collections—from excavations carried out in the area over more than half a century.
From flint tools to Gallo-Roman objects, each piece tells a part of human history and the link between the inhabitants and their environment.
Presented on two levels, the exhibition offers an immersion into the long history of the Val d’Oise, from the geological landscapes of the Cretaceous period to the beginning of World War II. The collections trace nearly 90 million years of natural evolution and 200,000 years of human occupation.
A living and accessible heritage
Far from being static, the museum takes a dynamic approach to heritage. Exhibitions, workshops, conferences, shows, reenactments, and family activities fuel cultural mediation focused on discovery and sharing. Visitors learn about archaeology—the science that studies human societies through their material remains—in a clear and accessible way. Through educational tours, the Val d’Oise Archaeological Museum makes history tangible, alive, and inclusive.
Val d’Oise, a region shaped by history
An exceptional archaeological landscape
As the only departmental archaeological museum in the Île-de-France region, it has played a key role in promoting the history of the Val d’Oise since its creation.
The Val d’Oise has a rich archaeological heritage. Its limestone plateaus, valleys, and plains have been inhabited by humans for over 100,000 years.
Excavations carried out in the region have revealed a mosaic of heritage sites: Neolithic settlements, Gallo-Roman sanctuaries, Merovingian necropolises, and medieval remains.
The Val d’Oise Archaeological Museum plays a central role here. It preserves, studies, and exhibits these witnesses to the past in order to offer the public a coherent interpretation of local history.
Strong local roots
The museum does not simply display the results of excavations; it is part of a genuine effort to strengthen local ties. By collaborating with field archaeologists, local authorities, and cultural actors in the department, it actively participates in promoting the heritage of the Val d’Oise.
Each temporary exhibition, scientific publication, and local event helps to strengthen the link between science, the region, and collective memory.
Archeology and promotion: a scientific and civic mission
From excavations to mediation: the cycle of knowledge
Archeology is not just a scientific discipline, it is a tool for understanding the world.
The museum illustrates this process by showing how an archaeological excavation site becomes a museum exhibition.
From the discovery of a ceramic fragment to its study in the laboratory, to its presentation to the public, each step reveals the rigor of scientific work and the passion of archaeologists.
For visitors, it is an opportunity to learn about dating methods, excavation techniques, and heritage conservation issues.
These educational resources help to educate people about heritage and raise awareness of the importance of preserving archaeological sites.
Partners serving the region
The Val d’Oise Archaeological Museum works within a network of institutional and scientific partners, thereby strengthening its roots in the region and its mission to promote heritage. A Musée de France and member of the Môm’Art network, it collaborates with the Val d’Oise Departmental Archaeology Service (SDAVO), particularly on exhibitions and events, and regularly with the National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP) during European Archaeology Days. The Île-de-France Regional Directorate for Cultural Affairs (DRAC) also supports numerous research, conservation, promotion, and mediation projects.
The museum regularly loans works from its collections to other cultural institutions, thereby contributing to the dissemination of the archaeological heritage of the Val d’Oise beyond its territory. These partnerships foster a collective dynamic, which is essential for promoting dialogue and sharing archaeology with as many people as possible.
A heritage for all, with outreach at the heart of the project
Immersive and educational experiences
To reach all audiences, the museum has implemented an innovative cultural outreach strategy.
Its visitor tours are designed to spark curiosity, encourage reflection, and make archaeology accessible to all ages.
Investigative tours, immersive investigations, reconstructions during certain events, and workshops allow visitors to experience archaeology in a different way.
School groups find it an ideal learning environment, while families enjoy a range of fun, participatory activities.
Transmitting knowledge and memory
The museum’s mission goes beyond discovering ancient objects; it extends to transmitting knowledge and preserving collective memory.
By recounting ancient ways of life, funeral rites, and craft techniques of the past, the museum helps to strengthen the sense of belonging to the region.
This heritage education allows everyone to better understand the roots of their regional identity.
The museum as a player in local cultural development
A meeting place between science and society
The Val d’Oise Archaeological Museum is also a space for dialogue between researchers, residents, and visitors.
By organizing events, conferences, and collaborative exhibitions, it encourages citizen participation in the cultural life of the department.
It contributes to the Val d’Oise’s appeal to tourists, while supporting the region’s economic and cultural vitality.
Heritage for the future
By adapting to contemporary issues—sustainability, inclusion, digital technology—the museum brings archaeology into the present.
It proves that preserving heritage is not an end in itself, but a lever for understanding the world today.
Through its educational projects and partnerships, the museum is preparing future generations to inherit a heritage that is better understood and better shared.
Want to step back in time?
The Val d’Oise Archaeological Museum welcomes you to Guiry-en-Vexin. A place where archaeology becomes a human and collective adventure, at the heart of the region’s living heritage.