Cambridge University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology

The entire collection of this museum is a Designated Collection of national importance.

This museum was founded in 1884 on the basis of two important collections: the Cambridge Antiquarian Society collection relating to British archaeology; and anthropological artefacts from the South Seas acquired by, among others, the museum's first curator, Baron Anatole von Hügel. The collections now comprise approximately half a million archaeological items and over 150,000 ethnographic objects. Most have been acquired through Cambridge-based research and are exceptionally well documented.

The strengths of the archaeological collections include their worldwide scope and the extensive Palaeolithic and Mesolithic material. Important anthropological collections include artefacts from Cook's first voyage to the Pacific in 1769 and artefacts and photographs from the 1898 Cambridge Expedition to the Torres Strait.

Collection details

World Cultures, Costume and Textiles, Archaeology

Key artists and exhibits

• In addition to the permanent displays the following special exhibitions are currently on view:
• Paired Brothers: concealment and revelation (Iatmul ritual art from the Sepik, Papua New Guinea)
• Coveney: Island Identity in the Fens
• ROCK-ART image people land knowledge
• Vanuatu Stael: Kastom & Creativity
• Designated Collection

Collections services

• Object identification and/or written enquiry service
• Public access available to collections information
• Specialist publications on collections available