Memory of Mankind, Archive in Hallstatt, Austria
Memory of Mankind is an archive in Hallstatt, Austria, that stores information on ceramic tablets inside a salt mine. The archive holds texts and images contributed by individuals and institutions, all printed on durable ceramic plates designed to last for a very long time.
Memory of Mankind was started in 2012 by Martin Kunze, a ceramicist from Hallstatt. The first tablet included a greeting to future finders and a date expressed through astronomical events.
The project invites anyone to submit a text or an image, making the archive a collective portrait of our time. Visitors can see boxes of ceramic tablets and learn how the organizers try to avoid bias by including different kinds of content.
The archive is inside a salt mine, so the air is dry and the ground can be uneven. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes and be ready for a cool, dim environment.
The archive is designed to survive for a million years, and the ceramic tablets can withstand high heat, water, and radiation. A small token shows the exact location of the entrance with a crosshair.
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