Looking for a unique gift idea? We've got an exciting range of upcoming events which might be just what you're looking for! For the foodie in your life, that live music lover, or someone who enjoys arts and crafts, we've got you covered: maa.cam.ac.uk/events

In our latest blog post we explore how a ceremonial betel tree collected by William Walter Skeat in Selangor during the 1890s opens up questions about colonial desire, lost ritual, and the uneasy status of ethnographic souvenirs: www.maadigitallab.org/blog/2025/12...

point? Documenting and recontextualising Pacific arrows', a project to advance understanding of over 2,000 Pacific arrows through new research and scientific analysis, creating resources to guide the wider sector.

As we're shut to the public on Mondays Mei, our Collections Assistant in Anthropology, took the opportunity to open one of the North America display cases. 1/4

Are you a fan of gingerbread? These moulds were used in the 19th Century to create designs a little different to what you might be used to. What do you think, would you buy one of these gingerbread figures?

This beautiful little ring holds a piece of carnelian which has been skilfully with the face of a bearded man. This is probably meant to represent the Greek hero Herakles (called Hercules by the Romans) who was a popular symbol of strength.

Mounts are an important part of how we display objects and each one is custom made by our incredible Workshop team. Today we're taking a peek behind-the-scenes to see the process involved in making one of the mounts for our new 'People of the world' display. 1/6

Sadly, the names of many of the people who appear in the photographs we care for were not recorded. We are even sometimes unsure who made the photograph and when. By sharing images like this one we hope that someone might recognise the couple in it and help us identify them.

Unpacking a Japanese wedding kimono during our Stores Move uncovered unexpected links to Gertrude Strickland, Alice de Bar, and Kathleen Rishbeth, emphasising women’s often-overlooked presence in museum histories. 1/2

Jordan Wilson is one of the curatorial collective behind #MAAFaultLines. He is passionate about finding ways for contemporary Indigenous communities to engage with the material legacies of anthropological collecting. 1/3

Congratulations to Jody Joy, our Senior Curator in European Archaeology, and British Museum curator Julia Farley, who co-edited 'The Snettisham Hoards' which has been nominated for the Current Archaeology Research Project of the Year Award! 1/3

As today is #Thanksgiving we had to share something which represented an animal very closely associated with the holiday - this magnificent turkey-shaped effigy jar.

✨ Holiday closing ✨ The Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology will be closed from 5pm on Sunday 21 December and will re-open at 10am on Saturday 3 January 2026. The museum will also be closed to the general public on Tuesday 6 January 2026. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Opening display cases too often can put the objects inside at risk through contact, changes in their environment, and security issues. Our deep cleans whilst we're closed to the public on Mondays allows teams from across the museum to come together to potentially resolve multiple jobs at once.

You've only got a month left to see 'Fault Lines: Imagining Indigenous futures for colonial collections'! Visitors are describing it as "Very moving", "touching, insightful" and a "powerful message"! Exhibition closes: 21 December 2025

What are your picnic essentials? This pair, who we think are archaeologists looking at the use of terraces as a farming technique in England, would probably say a tin of custard powder!

In our latest blog post discover how Barkindji artist David Doyle has collaborated with researcher Eleanor to reconnect collections at MAA with Country, community, and living Indigenous heritage in Far Western New South Wales, Australia: www.maadigitallab.org/blog/2025/11...

Have you seen our new display? Today we're going behind-the-scenes to find out how we installed the 'People of the world' case. Video description: Museum staff install objects depicting human faces into a display case.

Looking for the perfect gift this winter? We've got you covered with a lovely range of cool blue items! Make sure you drop by our museum shop this weekend and browse our other amazing gift ideas. #MuseumShop

The object record for this glass negative describes it as "a group of British? soldiers, possibly in World War I uniforms, standing to attention in courtyard". Another copy of this image appears elsewhere online with the caption 'Rupert Brooke and Rugby Cadet Corps c.1906'. 1/3

Who doesn't love a good second-hand book stall? We have an amazing selection ready for our Winter Craft Market (Sunday 9 November 2025, 10am-12:30pm), with a stylish range of handmade bags to carry your new reads home with you. 1/2

There's still time to book your place in our Japanese winter coasters workshop! 1/2 🗓️ 8 November 2025, 10am-12:30pm 📍 Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology 🎟️ £40pp (refreshments included) 📸 Image credits: Sarah-Cate Blake

In our latest blog post University of Cambridge researchers Katherine Enright and Liana Chua explore how colonial collecting reclassified Indigenous foods (such as tiger milk mushrooms and edible bird’s nests) and rituals as charms, specimens, and commodities: www.maadigitallab.org/blog/2025/11...

Museums "hold and care for collections that are highly complex. Further engagement and curation with communities can change the way people view and deepen the meanings to what they think they see." This is what artist Taloi Havini wants visitors to the Fault Lines exhibition at MAA to take away. 1/2

It's #AskAConservatorDay, so we sat down with CeeCee, a 2nd year MSc student from Durham University, to discover why she chose to study conservation, what she hopes to learn from her work experience placement at MAA, and much more! youtu.be/Vz3J0KnTgq8

Introducing a new tour series: African Legacies in Cambridge Museums, led by Uncomfortable Cambridge. Join a thought-provoking journey into African collections & histories within the University. Find out more & book your place on an upcoming tour: bit.ly/4hImkur

It's Halloween so we're taking a look at this stunning and 'Memento Mori' ring. `this beautiful piece of jewellery would have served as a reminder to its wearer that life is short and everyone must die. 1/3

We've got a lot of exciting events coming up! From drop-in family craft sessions during October half term to learning Japanese embroidery techniques and a Winter Craft Market, there's something for everyone at MAA over the next four weeks. To find out more visit our website: maa.cam.ac.uk/events

Our 2nd floor gallery has been transformed, and we're set to celebrate #DiaDeLosMuertos (#DayOfTheDead)! Thank you to Cambridge University Mexican Society for allowing us to host their altar. It will remain on display until 09/11/2025, so if you're in Cambridge make sure you drop by - entry is free

We're delighted to have CeeCee, a conservation student from Durham University, with us on a work experience placement and can't wait to see what she gets up to during her time with us! 1/2

Scorpio is the 8th astrological sign in the zodiac, so today we naturally had to search our collections database for scorpions! This mrammuo was used as a measure for weighing gold dust by the Asante, who view scorpions as symbols of power.

Día de los Muertos (#DayOfTheDead) is nearly here! This popular Mexican festival celebrates the memories of those who have passed and pokes fun at death. Get in the spirit of the occasion and celebrate by joining us on 30 and 31 Oct, 1-3pm, and 1 Nov 2025, 10am-4pm, for free family craft activities

In our latest blog post architectural historian Haziq Khairi explores how Walter Skeat’s records of Malay wedding decorations show how ceremonial objects (including some cared for by MAA) transformed homes into vibrant sites of celebration: www.maadigitallab.org/blog/2025/10...

In a blog post for the IndiGen project Dr Anita Herle, Senior Research Fellow and Emeritus Professor, discusses how the publication of Alfred Haddon's 1888-98 journals in 2020 revealed the value of ethnographic archives for research and community empowerment: www.indigen.eu/blog/returni...

Diwali is associated with Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and inviting her into your house during the celebrations is a symbol of good fortune. The lotus flower she sits on and the elephants (representing the monsoon rains) which she holds in her hands are symbols of abundance. Happy #Diwali!

This striking fabric was created by the Guna people of Panama with layered fabric that is cut away to create the intricate patterns. Textiles like this are used to make molas, a shirt-like garment worn by women. We're not sure whether this complex design is a bat or a bird. What do you think?

The West Tofts hand axe, with its fossilised shell, is one of the most popular objects on display at MAA. It has been assumed that the position of the shell was an aesthetic choice by the axe's creator, but this interpretation has been challenged. What do you think? 1/2

Join us for 4 sessions of deepening mindfulness practice in the tranquil environment of the MAA galleries after hours. Starting on 23/10/2025 these half hour sessions will offer an opportunity to find quiet as you slow down towards the end of a busy day and focus on your positive wellbeing. 1/2

There's something deeply satisfying about watching Lily, our Senior Teaching and Collections Assistant in Archaeology, create a new storage solution for a collection of pottery sherds.

We are delighted to be hosting our first Winter Craft Market on 9 November, 12pm-5pm! From hand woven basketry and beautiful jewellery to stunning prints, luxurious skin and haircare products, and much more. We'll even have a second-hand book stall - with fiction, non-fiction, and children's books.

Thanks to the amazing work of the Photographic Collections team, including many volunteers and interns, we have now digitised and catalogued 90% of the Photography Collections - that's around 160,000 images! Join us in congratulating the team on this remarkable achievement and their hard work. 1/2

Discover how volcanic landscapes and the near total absence of Torres Strait Islander women from the historical records of the 19th century impacted Leah-Lui Chivizhe's choice of objects in Fault Lines. 1/2

Join us in the McDonald Seminar Room on 14 October 2025, 1-2pm, as curator and artist Miriama Bono and artist Tahe Drollet discuss their work, which is featuring in the Tau o Mai | Journeys with Mai exhibition opening at the Fitzwilliam Museum this month. 📸 Image credit: Salvador Brown.

How do we evaluate the impact of the work we do, whether it's an event or a new display? How do we deal with hazards like poisons or radiation in the collections we care for? Join us tomorrow (8 Oct) for our Access and Engagement Power Hour to discover the answers! 🗓️ 08/10/2025, 2pm 🎟️ Free 🌐 Online

Research visits can be rewarding of researchers, but also for us. They enrich our knowledge of the collections we care for and help us look at them in new ways. It was a very exciting moment when the first shadow puppet appeared on a screen during a recent visit to the Centre for Material Culture!

As the museum is closed today (Friday 3 October 2025) for staff training we thought we'd take a look back at how our galleries used to look in the 1970s! There are a lot of differences between when this phot was made and how the space appears today, but what similarities can you spot?

Don't forget that due to staff training the museum will be closed tomorrow (Friday 3 October 2025). We apologise for any inconvenience this causes. Head over to our website now to plan your visit: maa.cam.ac.uk/visit #MuseumClosure

Take a journey across the oceans and join us for an evening shaped by contemporary Pacific artists. 🗓️ 17/10/2025, 7-9pm 📍Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology 🎟️ Free, booking essential Visit our website to find out more: maa.cam.ac.uk/voices-acros... 📸 Image credit: Salvador Brown.

Today marks the final day of Durga Puja, a festival honouring the goddess Durga and her victory over evil in the form of the demon Mahishasura. 1/2

Within the collections cared for at MAA is a wooden figure of the langsuir - a Malay vampire. In our latest blog post University of Cambridge MPhil students Ashley Chin and Ryan Ko trace its ties to folklore and colonial collecting practices: www.maadigitallab.org/blog/2025/09...