Who we are and what we do

The State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology (LDA) Saxony-Anhalt – State Museum of Prehistory Halle (Saale) is a subordinate authority to the State Chancellery and Ministry of Culture of Saxony-Anhalt. It was founded on 1 January 2004 from the formerly independent authorities ›Landesamt für Denkmalpflege‹ (“State Office for Heritage Management) and ›Landesamt für Archäologie‹ (State Office for Archaeology). The legal basis for the work of the State Office is the Monument Conservation Act of the State of Saxony-Anhalt. According to paragraph 5 of the act, the State Office is the heritage authority (Denkmalfachamt) for Saxony-Anhalt.

The legal basis for the work of the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology is the Monument Conservation Act of the State of Saxony-Anhalt. According to Section 5 of the Act, the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology is the state's expert authority on heritage. Its tasks include the scientific recording, research and documentation of cultural monuments in Saxony-Anhalt, maintaining the list of schedulded monuments, buildings and sites, preparing assessments and expert reports, providing specialist advice to monument protection authorities and owners or holders of monuments, carrying out or assisting with restoration and conservation work, carrying out archaeological excavations, publishing scientific research results and maintaining specialised scientific libraries and archives.

The State Office is also responsible for communicating the results of its work and research to the public. The State Museum of Prehistory in Halle (Saale) – a department of the State Office – is a showcase for this work. It addresses the citizens of Saxony-Anhalt, but also a national and international audience.


What we stand for

Knowledge of history, events and developments, causes and consequences of human actions in past times is fundamental to informed action in present times. As part of its statutory mandate, the State Office is committed to establishing, preserving and disseminating knowledge about the human past. It performs these tasks on the basis of the liberal democratic basic order and the academic freedom enshrined in the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany.

Freedom to pursue research also means responsibility. Accordingly, we resolutely oppose any deliberate falsification or instrumentalisation of our research results and the history of the past. The State Office is committed to diversity, tolerance and respect as the basis of a democratic society. We are open to all people, regardless of their origin and background. We not only respect the diversity of people and opinions, but also see it as an opportunity.

The State Museum sees itself as an inclusive place of learning and exchange. We invite you to engage in dialogue based on mutual respect and tolerance and to explore new perspectives.