Research at the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University

Summary

Founded in 1866, the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology at Harvard University is one of the oldest museums in the world devoted to anthropology. It is dedicated to the care, study and long-term preservation of one of the largest and finest collections of cultural history found anywhere. A primary tenet of the Peabody Museum’s mission is to support the study and interpretation of its 1.2 million objects and archival collections in the service of research, teaching, publication, exhibition, and artistic endeavors. The Museum’s utilization of digital inventory techniques has improved accessibility of collections to various stakeholders and audiences refocusing research questions and enhancing public education. Examples of recent projects involving the collections include: public archaeology of Harvard Indian College, collaborative conservation and analysis of ethnohistoric Alaskan kayaks, and research publications providing refreshed interpretations. Learn more about significant Peabody Museum collections, which include: extensive archaeological documentation of the Maya, comprehensive collections of North American archaeology and ethnology including surviving Native American objects obtained by Lewis and Clark, over 5000 ancient Peruvian textiles, rare ethnographic objects from the Pacific islands and Africa, photographic archives documenting indigenous cultures across the globe, unique personal papers documenting the history of anthropology and archaeology.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 81st Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL (2016)   •
• Museum Meet and Greet

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