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maacambridge.bsky.social
Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
@maacambridge.bsky.social
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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, telling two million years of human history 🗺

Website: maa.cam.ac.uk/
Collections: collections.maa.cam.ac.uk/
Blog: maadigitallab.org/
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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 2d
✨ 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.
maacambridge.bsky.social
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.
An oval jug with a base and tall rim that has the head, wings, and tail feathers of a turkey moulded onto the sides. The clay has been textured for the skin around the throat and over the break, whilst the design on the wings reflects the zigzag pattern of feathers.
November 27, 2025 at 10:01 AM
maacambridge.bsky.social
✨ 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.
November 25, 2025 at 11:51 AM
maacambridge.bsky.social
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.
November 24, 2025 at 10:19 AM
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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
Kunāne Wooton’s sculpture ʻAuamo No Ka Ulu’ which depicts two kneeling wooden figures holding a cracked piece of volcanic basalt on their shoulders. In the background the exhibition's title, 'Fault Lines' can be seen on a wall. A visitor to the exhibition looks at a short cape in a display case. The cape is made from bright yellow feathers with a pattern created by red feathers. Visitors to the exhibition looking at contemporary art works by Atheana Picha, consisting of handmade blankets, carved pins and painted drums with photographic portraits of community Elders from wearing these works.
November 21, 2025 at 4:11 PM
maacambridge.bsky.social
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!
Two men, one standing and the other lying on the ground, having a picnic, including bread, beer, custard powder, and small campfire, on the banks of a waterway. In the background is a small, moored sailing boat. 
November 21, 2025 at 10:00 AM
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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...
A copper representation of a curved flat throwing stick lying on the dry and cracked ground. The surface is engraved with a singular curvilinear line symbolising a river, with markings representing emu tracks and camps scattered along it. 
November 19, 2025 at 10:15 AM
maacambridge.bsky.social
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.
November 17, 2025 at 10:00 AM
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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
November 14, 2025 at 10:01 AM
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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
A group of soldiers in uniforms which appear to date around the time of the First World War are standing to attention in courtyard. The lines of soldiers hold bayonet rifles over their left shoulders whilst an officer standing in front of them holds a drawn sword in his right hand.
November 11, 2025 at 12:08 PM
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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
David Hockney's 'A Yorkshire Sketchbook' is displayed on top of a bag featuring leaves in various shades of green. The book has a watercolour landscape on the front whilst the bag is made from recycled material. A book titled 'Liberty Style', which features a fashion photo of a woman in a long dress seated on a couch on the front cover, lies on top of a bag made from a combination of recycled fabric. A denim pocket decorates the top right corner of the bag. Susie Dent's 'Guilty by Definition' is displayed on top of a bag made from recycled fabric. The book shows and open book on the front cover and the bag features a series of spirals arranged in square and circular patterns. A book titled 'The Lost Princess', one of the Rosewood Chronicles, sticks out from inside a small fluffy purple bag which has two pompoms attached.
November 7, 2025 at 10:06 AM
maacambridge.bsky.social
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
A star-shaped template and partially embroidered coaster lying on an open book.
November 6, 2025 at 2:43 PM
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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...
A mushroom with a long stem and slightly concave cap stands on a workbench in the museum's offsite store.
November 5, 2025 at 10:13 AM
maacambridge.bsky.social
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
Three women sit on a bench whilst two more adults and a child lean on the back of the back of it. The woman seated in the centre holds a tablet containing images of museum collections which she is sharing with the others.
November 4, 2025 at 4:00 PM
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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
Ask a Conservator Day 2025
YouTube video by Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Cambridge
youtu.be
November 4, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Reposted by Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
camunivmuseums.bsky.social
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
A montage of five images showing group tours taking place in the Museum of Zoology, Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology and the Fitzwilliam Museum.
November 3, 2025 at 5:00 PM
maacambridge.bsky.social
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
A gold signet finger ring depicting a skull which is surrounded by the words 'Memento Mori'.
October 31, 2025 at 10:00 AM
maacambridge.bsky.social
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
A little girl making tissue paper flowers, a star-shaped embroidered coaster and template lying on an open book, the museum's galleries with a totem pole rising between floors, and an advert for a Winter Craft Market taking place at the museum on 9 November 2025, 12-5pm.
October 29, 2025 at 10:00 AM
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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
The museum gallery brightly decorated to celebrate the Day of the Dead with colourful paper-cut bunting strung overhead and a three-tier altar at the far end of the room. Hangings featuring fully-clothed skeletons are attached to pillars.
October 28, 2025 at 12:02 PM
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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
October 27, 2025 at 10:00 AM
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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.
A scorpion made from brass with six legs and a tail curved over its body. The body is decorated raised bands consisting of two twisted bands alternating with one smooth.
October 24, 2025 at 9:00 AM
maacambridge.bsky.social
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
A little girl with her tongue slightly poking out in concentration sits at a table surrounded by other children and adults as she creates a flower using tissue paper.
October 22, 2025 at 2:51 PM
maacambridge.bsky.social
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...
A man, woman, and child seated in front of a dais. Displayed on the dais is a woven mat and three marriage pillows standing upright in a row with two candlesticks in front of them.
October 22, 2025 at 9:00 AM
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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...
A Senior Elder and the author of the blog post sit side by side at a table, smiling. The are holding a book titled 'Recording Kastom: Alfred Haddon’s Journals from the Torres Strait and New Guinea, 1888 and 1898'.
October 21, 2025 at 3:10 PM
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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!
A figure of a four-armed goddess seated on a lotus flower with her legs crossed. She holds two elephants in her back hands which in turn support a vessel on her head.
October 20, 2025 at 9:08 AM
maacambridge.bsky.social
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?
A rectangular panel of reverse appliqué fabric with a background of blue fabric and a pattern built up using red and orange material. The design includes a large, winged creature.
October 16, 2025 at 9:07 AM