Old Land - Prehistory of Flevoland - Batavialand Museum 360° Mural Illustrations

I created this 360° mural for the exhibition "Oud Land - Prehistorie van Flevoland" (Old Land - Prehistory of Flevoland) for museum Batavialand in Lelystad. Opened on Friday, June 14th by the King's Commissioner Arjen Gerritsen.

Before the creation of the new land of Flevoland, the vast Zuiderzee (Southern Sea) occupied this area. Ships sailed over this sea for trade for centuries, but many also met their demise in its waters. However, the Zuiderzee hadn't always existed in this area. In prehistory, this area was land. This land was home to the Swifterbant culture, whose presence can still be seen in the landscape through unique traces such as a prehistoric footprint.

The exhibition covers the time from the Paleolithic era to the Iron Age (between 25,000 and 2,500 years ago). A large part of the exhibition is focused on the Swifterbant culture (5000-3500 BCE), a community that already experienced environmental changes due to climate shifts. The exhibition explores the transition of the region's inhabitants from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to farming. The abundant natural resources and water-rich landscape played a vital role in shaping their way of life.

The environment evolved from a landscape full of creeks to a wetter environment, transitioning from marshland to the Zuiderzee. This exhibition brings Flevoland's history as part of the ancient Doggerland (the land that once existed between The Netherlands and England) to life through the stories of its inhabitants and how these people adapted to the changing conditions from climate change. We know this from traces and artifacts that have been preserved in the different layers of the region's soil.

Renewed Reconstruction of the Swifterbantman

Recent DNA research indicates that prehistoric hunter-gatherers in Europe had dark skin and a high probability of light eyes. The people of the Swifterbant culture likely already had a bit lighter skin. A previously made reconstruction of the Swifterbantman, made by Maja d'Hollosy, has been adjusted based on these findings, giving it a more darker skin to display a more accurate representation of these ancient people.

The exhibition showcases archaeological findings from all municipalities in Flevoland, including:

• The skull of an auroch from Almere
• Pottery dating back 6200 years
• A dugout canoe
• A fish trap
• The skeleton of a woman who lived in the area 7000 years ago
• Numerous other artifacts

• Art Director: Evert van Ginkel from cultural historical public relations agency TGV teksten & presentatie
• Graphical Design of the exhibition: Bannink Publiciteit
• You can visit the exhibition at Batavialand
  Address: Oostvaardersdijk 01-13, 8242 PA, Lelystad.

Press releases on or near 14th of June 2024:

• Batavialand newsletter: Archaeological highlights and a makeover of the Swifterbantman in an exhibition about the prehistory of Flevoland.
• NOS news coverage article: Make-over oermens Flevoland: 'stereotiepe Germaan' heeft nu mediterrane uitstraling
• NOS news coverage with 2.115.000 viewers: Journaal vrijdag 14 juni
• NOS news for the youth (Jeugdjournaal) Podcast: Podcast: Waarom krijgen oermensen een make-over?
• NOS news for the youth (Jeugdjournaal) episode: Ochtendjournaal van donderdag 20 juni
• Omroep Flevoland news: Episode 14th of June 2024
• Omroep Flevoland news article: Make-over van Swifterbantman terug in Museum Batavialand
• Omroep Flevoland news article: Immerse yourself in prehistory at the new exhibition at Batavialand.
• Trouw newspaper article: The 5000-year-old Swifterbantman is no longer blond and white (and actually never was).
• BNN VARA news article: Ancient-Dutch person wasn't white but had darker skin and darker hair, museum adjusts depiction.
• NPO Radio 1 news coverage: Skin color of archaeological ancient human models is probably much too light.
• NRC news article: Museum Batavialand laat de oeroude kant zien van het nieuwe land
• Almere Deze week: Physical and digital newspaper, 14th of June 2024
• Flevopost news article: Swifterbantman was lichtgetint, blijkt uit recent DNA-onderzoek
• Flevopost news article: Een duik in de Geschiedenis van Flevoland, deel 1 | De prehistorie
• Noordoostpolder news article: Swifterbantman was lichtgetint, blijkt uit recent DNA-onderzoek
• Noordoostpolder news article 2: Een duik in de Geschiedenis van Flevoland, deel 1 | De prehistorie
• Radio Lelystad news coverage: Prehistorische Flevolander was niet wit, en dat kun je nu zien in Batavialand
• Zeewolde Actueel: Archeologische topstukken en make-over Swifterbantman in tentoonstelling over prehistorie Flevoland
• Telegraaf physical news paper column
• NRC physical news paper column in the science annex

The exhibition covered by Omroep Flevoland: