Brief information:
- What is exhibited in the Nussdorf Prehistoric Museum? Archaeological finds from the Traisental.
- Where is the museum located? 1, 3134 Nußdorf ob der Traisen (slightly southeast of Krems)
- What is the highlight? a mammoth tusk
- When is it open and how much does admission cost? April to 31 October, daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- How much time should I plan for a visit? 30 min
The highlights of the museum
In the Prehistoric Museum Nussdorf Archaeological finds from the Traisental are exhibited. The collection includes finds from the Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman and Early Middle Ages. The most important exhibits include a mammoth tusk, the largest found in Lower Austria, a bronze weapon from the Hallstatt period and a gravestone from the Roman period.
Why a museum in the Traisental?
The Traisental, a charming wine and cycling region in the Mostviertel near the Danube, is one of the most important archaeological sites in Austria. Around 30,000 years ago, during the era of the mammoth hunters, people roamed this area, which, due to its geographical location and importance in prehistoric times, was as outstanding as Carnuntum was in Roman times.
We gain particularly impressive insights into life in the Traisental during the Bronze Age, around 4,000 years ago. The largest burial sites in Central Europe were uncovered here near Nussdorf in Franzhausen. Over 2,300 graves were examined by scientists, bringing valuable grave goods to light and gaining important insights into the way of life of the people of that time. The most fascinating finds can be admired today in the Nussdorf-Traisental Prehistoric Museum.
The Prehistoric Museum is also known for its landmark: a life-size mammoth, weighing 33 tons, hand-carved by Thomas Kosma, a sculptor from Klosterneuburg. The oldest exhibit in the museum is a mammoth tusk, which at 3.3 meters long is the largest found in Lower Austria. Another highlight is the oldest grape seed ever discovered in the Traisental. In the Prehistoric Museum, a 100-fold magnification of this 4,000-year-old grape seed made of clay and plaster can be seen, proving that the people of the Traisental valued grapes as early as the Bronze Age and used them as grave goods.