Dating back some 300,000 years, the Schöningen Spears are the oldest completely intact hunting weapons discovered to date. The impressive Paläon Research and Experience Center is located on the major archaeological site where they were discovered, at the edge of an open-cast lignite mine. The building forms a landmark in this undulating landscape, which is mirrored in the structure’s reflective exterior.
The archaeological exhibition of the original excavation finds from Schöningen shows and explains the history of our ancestors, Homo erectus, and their everyday lives, and how the flora and fauna here looked some 300,000 years ago. In addition, it considers current topics like climate change and sustainability.
The white sculpture of the exhibition design is inspired by the skeleton of a horse. Together with the other objects in the room, it forms a total work of art, interacting visually with the juxtaposed theme cabinets and large-format artworks. The Paläon Research and Experience Center and the adjacent excavation site allow for a first-hand experience of the daily archaeological adventure of research. It was selected as Winner of the American Architecture Prize in the categories Architectural Design and Cultural Architecture 2017.

Architecture & Exhibition Design: Holzer Kobler Architekturen Zurich/Berlin
General Construction Coordination: pbr AG
Landscape Design: Topotek 1