Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology

@maacambridge

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· 23d

📸 Z 19200 Civil official's robe, China. Source: Fitzwilliam Museum. 🔗 collections.maa.cam.ac.uk/objects/494853/

A black silk robe with a high collar and long sleeves. It is decorated with embroidered black silk borders of bright flowers and butterflies and edged with bows and circles of pale blue ribbon, mauve lace, and light blue braid.

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology@maacambridge· 23d

We love the detailed embroidery which decorates this robe. The badge indicating the rank of the robe's owner shows a white bird with a red head, possibly a crane. This would suggest he held the first rank of a civil official.

Detail of a brightly coloured embroidered butterfly from a decorative floral boarder which covered a black robe.

An appliquéd rank badge decorated with a bird facing a sun disk in the upper left corner and has hills and trees in the background. The bird is embroidered with metallic silver thread and has a red head, seven coloured tail feathers, and green legs.

Detail of floral and foliage embroidery on a deep cuff. The cuff is made from light blue silk and decorated with metallic threads laid across the surface of the fabric and secured in place.

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology@maacambridge· 25d

📸 1982.2865 A Hair ornament, China. Collector: Dr John Maxwell. 🔗 collections.maa.cam.ac.uk/objects/494689/

The head of a sliver hair pin which is decorated with a butterfly, flowers, a lotus flower, and foliage all inlaid with bright blue kingfisher feathers. There is a piece of polished coral protruding from the top of the pin and a few glass beads at the end of two springs.

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology@maacambridge· 26d

📸 Z 39626 Miniature scene in a pine nut shell, Puebla, Mexico. Collector: Frederick Starr. 🔗 collections.maa.cam.ac.uk/objects/489395/

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology@maacambridge· 27d

📸 Z 39671 Chess pieces, Puebla, Mexico. Collector: Frederick Starr. 🔗 collections.maa.cam.ac.uk/objects/4894...

32 circular clay discs, each featuring either a face of historical significance, including political and military leaders, or a horse.

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology@maacambridge· 27d

To find out more about these chess pieces and some of the individuals who appear on them head over to our blog: www.maadigitallab.org/blog/2023/07...

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology@maacambridge· 27d

There's only a few days left to get tickets for Vox Cantab's performance at MAA! Experience their soaring vocals and uplifting sound within the atmospheric setting of our galleries. 🗓️ 23/07/2026, 7pm 🎟️ Pay as you wish 🔗 Book: www.eventbrite.com/e/1977373787... 📸 Image credit: Vox Cantab

A group of 12 people stand in front of an altar and large stained-glass window. Text reads: 'Vox Cantab, Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 23 July 2026, 7pm'.

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology@maacambridge· Jul 16

Join us as we take a moment to stop and admire the sunlight in our 2nd floor gallery.

Sunlight streams through the glass roof of a museum gallery. The centre of the space is open to the floor below and a totem pole rises up through the gallery and towards the roof.

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology@maacambridge· Jul 15

Chamber choir Vox Cantab will be bringing their souring vocals to a mix of choral classics and contemporary pieces in the atmospheric setting of our galleries after hours. 🗓️ 23/07/2026, 7pm 🎟️ Pay as you wish 🔗 Book: www.eventbrite.com/e/1977373787... 📸 Image credit: Vox Cantab

Members of a musical group lean through the arches of a cloister. Text reads: 'Vox Cantab, Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 23 July 2026, 7pm'.

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology@maacambridge· Jul 14

📸 Z 45509 Bronze mirror, Egypt, ?Middle Kingdom/New Kingdom/Ptolemaic. 🔗 collections.maa.cam.ac.uk/objects/4454...

A bronze mirror with the double-sided head of a woman situated between the bottom of the mirror and the top of the handle. She wears a large wig and has the ears of a cow.

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology@maacambridge· Jul 13

Find out more about this magnificent headdress by visiting our blog: maadigitallab.org/blog/2023/08/08/adorned-in-brilliance-a-kingfisher-headdress-and-its-royal-symbolism/

A highly ornate headdress made of metal beads and wire, with a gold base. It is decorated with blue kingfisher feathers, variously coloured beads, and pieces of mirrored glass.

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology@maacambridge· Jul 13

Today we're using one of our postcards as a means of exploring the museum. The dazzling blue which has been used to decorate this gorgeous fèng guàn (phoenix headdress) comes from using kingfisher feathers. Chinese characters show it aws a gift from the Emperor, possibly to an Imperial concubine.

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology@maacambridge· Jul 10

In this hot weather our gorgeous range of fans are currently our favourite items in our gift shop! They come in a wide variety of colours and patterns, and if we happen to own more than one - well it just means we can coordinate with our outfit or lend one to a friend!

A hand holds an open fan up in front of a buddleia with long clusters of small purple flowers. The fan is made with a floral-patterned fabric of three shades of blue and includes four small white flowers.

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology@maacambridge· Jul 9

Head over to the @camunivmuseums.bsky.social website for details of affordable family activities taking place at more than 20 museums and collections across the region over the school holidays: www.museums.cam.ac.uk/theme/summer 📸 Image credit: Carolina Rabei.

Illustrations of children playing with dinosaurs, and a model volcano whilst craft supplies lie nearby. Text reads 'Summer at the Museums, fun family days out in Cambridge and beyond'.

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology@maacambridge· Jul 9

🏛️ Moved by Objects at the Museum: 23 and 30 July, and 5 and 12 August 2026, 2-4pm 📦 Moved by Objects at the Centre for Material Culture: 22 July and 6 August 2026, 2-4pm Find out more on our website: maa.cam.ac.uk/events/upcom...

A child's hands use a pair of scissors to cut around a silver embossed heart. Craft supplies and photos of objects from the collections cover the table.

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology@maacambridge· Jul 9

We've got afternoons full of puzzles, challenges, and crafts for all the family taking place at both the Museum and our off-site store this summer! #SummerAtTheMuseums 📸 Image credit: Carolina Rabei.

Illustrations of children playing with dinosaurs, a model volcano, an igloo, and a magnifying glass. Text reads 'Summer at the Museums, fun family days out in Cambridge and beyond'.

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology@maacambridge· Jul 8

We may be closed to the public on Mondays, but that doesn't mean we're not very busy! Take a peek behind-the-scenes with us at the reinstallation of a couple of our African cases that took place this week as a result of the Rethinking Relationships project.

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology@maacambridge· Jul 8

📸 1951.530 A C-Ware bowl, Egypt, ?Naqada I Period. 🔗 collections.maa.cam.ac.uk/objects/4428...

A pottery bowl with a wide flat rim. The rim is painted an earthy red and decorated all the way round with three rows of white dots.

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology@maacambridge· Jul 8

In our latest blog post discover the story of this Predynastic Egyptian C-Ware bowl that stretches from ancient beliefs about death and renewal to Victorian archaeology and the collecting networks that brought Egyptian objects to Cambridge: www.maadigitallab.org/blog/2026/07...

A pottery bowl viewed from above with a wide flat rim. The rim is painted an earthy red and decorated all the way round with three rows of white dots.

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology@maacambridge· Jul 6

📸 1890.176 Malagan (or malanggan) sculpture, New Ireland, Papau New Guinea. Monetary donor: Prof. Henry Sedgwick. 🔗 collections.maa.cam.ac.uk/objects/5027...

A carved wooden figure of a woman holding a fish in her hands and standing on the back of a cockerel.

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology@maacambridge· Jul 6

This malagan (or malanggan) sculpture was created to commemorate the deceased and channel he life-force to the next generation. It is beautifully carved and full of detail - like the fish in her hands and the cockerel she stands on.

A carved wooden figure of a woman with a fish appearing to hang from her chin. She wears a helmet-like cap on her head, on top of which is a tall headdress which resembles a large feather.

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology@maacambridge· Jul 2

Are you a teacher interested in shaping the future of digital learning resources for schools? If so, we'd love to hear from you! Complete the brief survey (5-7 mins) on your use of digital resources in teaching and help us ensure museum resources are relevant, practical, and useful: bit.ly/4eO3gKd

A totem pole rises from the gallery floor below, up through a second sunlit gallery to the glass ceiling above. The walls of the upper gallery are painted with a mural which reflects the origins of, and responses to, the objects on display.

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology@maacambridge· Jun 30

Towards the end of the month chamber choir Vox Cantab will be bringing their souring vocals to a mix of choral classics and contemporary pieces at the museum after hours. 🗓️ 23/07/2026, 7pm 🎟️ Pay as you wish 🔗 Book: www.eventbrite.com/e/1977373787... 📸 Image credit: Vox Cantab

A musical group stand in front of an altar and stained-glass window. Text reads "Vox Cantab, Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 23 July 2026, 7pm".

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology@maacambridge· Jun 30

In their rescheduled performance Cambridge Takht will be bringing their unique blend of Arabic music with a contemporary twist to a vibrant and dynamic concert within the galleries. 🗓️ 12/07/2026, 7pm 🎟️ Pay as you wish 🔗 Book: www.eventbrite.com/e/1992622340... 📸 Image credit: Aida Miralaei

A group of musicians stand, smiling, with their instruments. Text reads "Cambridge Takht, Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 12 July 2026, 7pm".

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology@maacambridge· Jun 30

At MAA LATE join us as we celebrate our new exhibition 'Moving Objects’, alongside the opening of an exciting co-curated reimagining of the museum's African collections developed through the Rethinking Relationships project. 🗓️ 10/07/2026, 6pm 🎟️ Free 🔗 Book: www.eventbrite.com/e/1992761307...

Hands take part in a printing activity within the museum galleries. Text reads "MAA LATE, Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 10 July 2026, 6pm".

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology@maacambridge· Jun 30

We've got an exciting programme of events at the museum coming in July! 👇

In the top left hands take part in a printing activity within the museum galleries,
Whilst in the top right a group of musicians stand, smiling, with their instruments. In the bottom left another musical group stand in front of an altar and stained-glass window and in the bottom right a child's hands use scissors to cut around the embossed silver heart they've created.

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology@maacambridge· Jun 29

📸 N.172416.HNL Two fishermen mending a large nassa, Xlendi, Gozo, Malta. Photographer: James Hornell, 1931. 🔗 collections.maa.cam.ac.uk/photographs/466477/

Two fishermen mending a large bell-shaped basket trap outside a waterfront building. The trap is upturned and is taller than the men, one of whom is standing inside the trap while the other stands outside.

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology@maacambridge· Jun 26

📸 Z 46448 Basket weave and feather fan, Nauru. Donors: Dr and Mrs Humphreys. 🔗 collections.maa.cam.ac.uk/objects/5099...

A circular fan made from woven plant fibres and fringed with white feathers containing five clusters of purple feathers. The basketry design consists of bands of circles, some of which are dyed pink, purple, and green.

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology@maacambridge· Jun 26

📸 1942.122 Wood fan, Japan. Collectors: Ethel Lindgren and Henry Eichheim. 🔗 collections.maa.cam.ac.uk/objects/4954...

A folding fan which has been stained dark brown, almost black, and painted across its mid ribs in gold. It is decorating across the upper and middle sections with red and brown maple leaves.

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology@maacambridge· Jun 26

📸 Z 6019 Openwork fan, Samoa, Polynesia. Donor: Baron Anatole von Hügel. 🔗 collections.maa.cam.ac.uk/objects/5053...