Did you know that the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in Cambridge holds a piece of Winchester Cathedral? It is not a religious relic but a section of Inigo Jones’s choir screen. Welcome to a journey through time and cultures at the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. This museum is also known as MAA. It is a treasure trove of human history.
Founded in 1884, the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology began as the Museum of General and Local Archaeology. Its first collections included local finds and Polynesian artifacts. Alfred Maudslay and Sir Arthur Gordon donated them. Anatole von Hügel, the first curator, enriched the museum. He donated his own collection from the South Pacific.
The 1898 Cambridge anthropological expedition to the Torres Strait boosted the collection. Alfred Haddon and W. H. R. Rivers led the expedition. They inspired their students to collect items for the museum. These students included Alfred Radcliffe-Brown and Gregory Bateson.
Von Hügel envisioned a larger space for the growing collections. In 1913, the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology moved to its current Downing Street location. The new galleries were completed after World War I. Donations from the 18th century followed. These included items from James Cook’s expeditions.
After renovations, the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology reopened in 2013. It featured a redeveloped ground floor, new exhibit space, and updated archaeology galleries.
The museum’s displays span three floors. The Clarke Hall on the ground floor showcases Cambridge archaeology. It also hosts temporary exhibitions in the Li Ka Shing Gallery. Anthropology is featured in the Maudslay Hall on the first floor. The Andrews Gallery on the second floor displays world archaeology.
One notable display features the Anglo-Saxon Trumpington bed burial. But the Gweagal Spears hold a unique story. Captain James Cook and botanist Joseph Banks collected them in 1770. They took them from the Gweagal people. The spears were given to John Montagu. He then gifted them to Trinity College. Four of these spears remain. They are on display at the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.
Today, the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology is part of a joint research project with the British Museum. It studies audio recordings in anthropology. It also maps connections between related collections.
With over 70,000 artifacts and photographs, the museum offers something for everyone. The Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology provides a glimpse into our shared past. Its collections span local antiquities to global artifacts. The Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology stands as a testament to human history. Take a moment to appreciate the stories held within these walls.