After months of construction, the new Rein Abbey Stone Age Museum could finally be opened. The vacant cellar vault beneath the Cross Chapel was transformed into an impressive exhibition space – a window into a past long before monks lived here.
On display are not only tools and weapons made of chert, found at the Rein Hochfeld, which attest to the oldest mining in Styria, but also numerous other artifacts from the Neolithic to the Roman period, discovered over the years during excavation and restoration work in and around the Abbey.
This was made possible by an EU grant, as well as supporters from industry and business, and private donors.
The permanent exhibition was designed by Dr. Michael Brandl from the Austrian Archaeological Institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences and Mag. Daniel Modl from the Archaeology & Coin Cabinet Department at the Universalmuseum Joanneum.
Already in 2018, the Archaeology Museum of the Universalmuseum Joanneum dedicated a special exhibition to the Rein chert titled “Razor Sharp”; now it is finally being displayed at its place of origin.
The Rein Abbey Stone Age Museum is open from April 1st to January 6th, every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Guided tours are available between 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM. Groups of 15 or more can register year-round at gruppe@stift-rein.at.
Photos: Rein Abbey, Universalmuseum Joanneum/Daniel Modl
