Clues to Our Roots exhibition – a trip back in time

2.2.2022 14.18Updated: 21.2.2022 10.16
Clues to Our Roots exhibition tells us about how people lived and made a living in prehistory.

The "Clues to Our Roots" (Johtolankoja juurillemme) exhibition takes visitors to prehistoric times. Opening at KAMU Espoo City Museum on 17 March 2022, the exhibition looks at the genome of modern humans and traces our roots in prehistory. The exhibition is the first in Finland to examine prehistory from the perspective of genetic information.

New research on genetic information is constantly being published, and our understanding of the past is becoming clearer. Thanks to the Ancient DNA research of recent years, we know more about the migration of people of the past and even their appearance. Genomics proves that there is no biological basis to justify prejudices based on skin colour or a person's place of origin. 

In addition to shedding light on the genomics, the "Clues to Our Roots" exhibition tells us about how people lived and made a living. Museum visitors can, among other things, examine what a Stone Age dwelling looked like and listen to the ancient Indo-European language. The large and impressive illustrations in the exhibition are the work of Tom Björklund, a visual artist specialising in archaeological subjects. A new book on Espoo’s prehistory, “Ennen Espoota” (Before Espoo), will be published to coincide with the exhibition. 

Later in the spring, Glims Farmstead Museum will open an activity-oriented exhibition titled "Researchers on the Trail of Domestic Animals" (Tutkijat kotieläinten jäljillä), where you can peek into a DNA researcher’s chamber. Set to open on 14 April 2022, the exhibition introduces the latest interesting research results on the genome of the Finnhorse. The exhibition and the closely related programme also familiarise visitors with other animals of the Finnish countryside and discuss the change in the coexistence of people and domestic animals. 

Clues to Our Roots exhibition
KAMU Espoo City Museum
Exhibition Centre WeeGee
17.3.2022–29.1.2023
espoonkaupunginmuseo.fi

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