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On the trail of riddles from the past. Archaeology in Agatha Christie’s and Arthur Conan Doyle’s novels - temporary exhibition (07.06.-30.09.2024)

On the trail of riddles from the past. Archaeology in Agatha Christie’s and Arthur Conan Doyle’s novels - temporary exhibition (07.06.-30.09.2024)


On display: 7 June - 30 September 2024 (Museum's courtyard)

Exhibition curators: Dr hab. Agnieszka Mączyńska, mgr Agnieszka Krzyżaniak

Exhibition concept: Dr hab. Agnieszka Mączyńska

Does the work of an archaeologist have anything in common with that of a detective? Do these two professions, at first sight so different, share a common element? The answer to this question can be found in Agatha Christie's novel "Murder in Mesopotamia". One of its characters says: You would have made a good archaeologist, M. Poirot. You have the gift of re-creating the past, aptly highlighting the shared objective of both archaeologists and detectives: to explain past events. For archaeologists, it is the distant past, involving the lives of people centuries and millennia ago. Detectives, on the other hand, focus on more recent events. Archaeologists search for artefacts—objects made by humans—and other traces of past activities. Using these, researchers explain the past and reconstruct the sequence of events, including the reign of rulers, trade routes, ancient religions, and the daily lives of ordinary people. For detectives, the starting point is a crime or other recently committed offence. Fresh traces help explain the motive of the crime and identify culprits. Interestingly, both archaeologists and detectives encounter false hints and obstacles during their investigations and both experience excitement before discovering or solving the case. Ultimately, both endeavours entail reconstructing events from fragments of evidence. Through meticulous analysis, the improbable transforms into the plausible, and the plausible evolves into certain.

The exhibition showcases the works of two renowned authors of detective novels, Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle. The central theme revolves around archaeology, a subject subtly referenced in their writings. Agatha Christie, being married to an archaeologist and actively participating in excavations in the Near East, frequently incorporated archaeological elements into her stories. Similarly, Arthur Conan Doyle's interest in archaeology and palaeontology is evident through numerous references in his novels and short stories, reflecting the state of research in these disciplines during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This unique perspective on the works of both authors offers a glimpse into archaeology from a less explored angle. By intertwining the themes explored with the lives of the writers and the historical contexts of their times, the exhibition aims to present archaeology as a discipline and its evolution throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. We hope to inspire you to delve into the books of Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle during this holiday season, a time for relaxation and leisure.

LIST OF PHOTOS USED FOR THE TEMPORARY EXHIBITION

 

The partner of the exhibition is Wydawnictwo Dolnośląskie, the official publisher of Agatha Christie's books in Poland.

 

Financed by the Self-Government of the Wielkopolska Region.