Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
Founded in 1884, the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology holds world-class collections of art and artefacts from all over the world, representing cultures and histories over millennia.
In 1997 the Museum's entire collection was recognised as a Designated Collection of national importance and in 2013 the museum was shortlisted for the Art Fund's Museum of the Year Prize.
Venue Type:
Museum
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.
Items from this collection
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
Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
Downing Street
Cambridge
Cambridgeshire
CB2 3DZ
England
Website
Museum website
Telephone
01223 333 516
Fax
01223 333 517
- About
- | Collections
- | Map
