Gourd from Kenya stitched with plant fibre

Scars and stitches: Repairs in African collections

What if broken things were not to be mourned, but to be celebrated? The Stores Move project at the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology has recently completed its work on the West, North and East African collections and uncovered some amazing examples of repairs. Discover how damage can trigger extraordinary displays of skills and strength. In the last few months,… Read full article

Black and white image showing a view of Kodok from the Nile River

How do you research a colonial era collection?

Visiting researcher Zoe Cormack talks about her research on the colonial histories of collections at Cambridge, the previous owners of African objects now stored at the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, and the new questions and connections this research is bringing to light. As a visiting researcher in the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (MAA) in Cambridge, I am investigating… Read full article

Model of a skeleton sitting in a blue cart, used as part of the Day of the Dead celebrations

(Please don’t) Shake, rattle and roll

It’s the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (MAA) Stores Move team here again. We’ve been busy packing all kinds of fascinating and surprising objects, including some rather animated Mexican artefacts from the 19th and 20th century. Our goal is to keep them safe during their trip across Cambridge to the Centre for Material Culture (CMC), and to ensure that they… Read full article