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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 15h

You've only got until Sunday (4 October 2026) to apply for the MAA and @cam-archaeology.bsky.social's Research Associate and Exhibition Project Curator (full-time, fixed-term) role for the 'Between the Lines: Mapping histories in the margins' project exhibition. Apply: www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/researc...

A bearded man wearing a turban and a knee-length robe or tunic stands with two camels behind him. The ground appears arid and there is a mountainous landscape in the background.

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 22h

Are you ready for the start of #TheTraitors tonight? We're sorted with a lantern which, for extra levels of stealth, can be collapsed down and easily hidden!

A rectangular lantern with four side panels, three of which have glass panes against a burgundy background with the silhouettes of tree branches. The panels are decorated with embossed linear designs around the glass panes and have rounded crenelations around the upper edges, and a partially cut-out flower design on the top panel.

An unfolded rectangular lantern laid out flat with the four side panels (three of which are designed to hold glass panes), the base and top spread out like a net or die-line design. There is a small sconce on the base for holding a candle or taper.

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Last night was biscuit week on the #BakeOff, so we had to take a look through the collections portal to see if we could find any biscuits, and we weren't disappointed! This Biddenden cake is a 103-year-old biscuit featuring Mary and Eliza Chulkhurst, a pair of conjoined twins from the 1100s. #GBBO

Three once identical rectangular biscuits featuring a raised design of two women standing side-by-side in Elizabethan dresses. Above them are the words "ELIS AND MARY" and "CHULKHURST", whilst "BIDDENDEN" appears below.

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

This National Coffee Day we're sharing this coffee pot which probably dates from around the period when the first coffeehouse in Cambridge opened, which was relatively soon after the introduction of coffee to England during the mid-1600s.

A coffee pot with a lid attached by a section being wrapped around the handle. A small amount of glaze from the inside of the pot dribbles down the front.

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

You've only got until Friday (2 October 2026) to apply for our part-time Archivist (fixed-term) role. We're looking for someone to help make the museum's archival material accessible to researchers and staff. If this could be you, we'd love to hear from you. Apply now: www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/archivi...

A shelf of old books in the museum's archive. They are numbered 9 to 17 and labels on two of the show they cover the period 29 January 1908 to 31 July 1908 and 1 August 1908 to 6 February 1909.

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

We're running a free drop-in session for home schooled children aged 7 to 11 next month! Focusing on Roman Britain there'll be the chance to handle some of the objects we care for, a talk on Roman Cambridge, and a challenge to identify real Roman pottery sherds. 📸 Image credit: My Linh Le, 2025.

A child's hand touches a piece of pottery as they sort the pottery sherds which lie in front of them. Images of complete pots provide helpful references.

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Inspired by last night's episode of The Great British Bake Off we decided to search our collections portal for cakes, but you might not be expecting what we found...

The search bar on the museum's collections portal showing that there are 104 results for 'cake' over 11 pages.

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

In our latest blog post two volunteers reflect on the painstaking work of cataloguing Roman coins discovered during an excavation in Great Staughton and the unexpected discoveries careful museum work can reveal to researchers: www.maadigitallab.org/blog/2026/09... 📸 Image credit: Lily Pencliffe.

A volunteer examines a Roman coin under a bright light in an attempt to read the inscription on it. He is sitting in front of a laptop in the museum's Archaeology workroom and is wearing green gloves.

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Have you seen our 'Moving Objects' exhibition? There's still time to join us as we share stories about objects we transported across Cambridge as part of our Stores Move project, from the people who have worked with them. These are things that moved us. We invite you to be moved by them too.

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Richard's circus-themed desk set on last night's #PotteryThrowDown made us think of this Caritas Para Pan de Muerto. Made from dough known as Pan de Muerto (Bread of the Dead) rather than clay, it was a gift or altar offering during Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations.

A painted dough head in the shape of a clown wearing a pink bow tie and a yellow, purple, green, and pink hat. 'PEPITO' is written in the hat brim.

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

🚨 Job alert! 🚨 We're looking to appoint a part-time Archivist (fixed-term) to help make our archival material more accessible. These documents are key to research on art and archaeology, Indigenous cultures, and artefact provenances. Closing date: 02/10/2026 Apply: www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/archivi...

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

🚨 Job alert! MAA and @cam-archaeology.bsky.social are looking to appoint a full-time Research Associate and Exhibition Project Curator (Fixed Term) for the 'Between the Lines: Mapping histories in the margins' project exhibition. Closing date: 04/10/2026 Apply now: www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/researc...

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Before these combs were processed during our Stores Move we knew little about them, but similarities were noticed to combs made by the Oraon and Sora people. So, we updated their place of origin from 'unprovenanced' to 'possibly Chhota Nagpur'. Revisiting what we think we know about objects is vital

A pair of finely toothed combs, with red and black decoration at the top of the combs of what may possibly be stylised feathers or leaves.

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

The colours of this tapestry fragment are so vibrant, despite probably being over 500 years old! But what are the four figures it depicts? We believe them to be stingrays, what do you think?

A band of tapestry decorated with a row of four figures which appear to have two protuberances on their heads, eyes, mouth, and either arms and legs or fins and a tail. The figures are woven in black, red, pink, brown and two shades of yellow, with borders of interlocking frets in two shades of pink above and below them.

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

The metamorphosis theme of the final Great British Sewing Bee challenge immediately made us think of this showstopping outfit! Made from sumptuous black silk damask its beautiful embroidery features many butterflies and the cuffs have been decorated with metallic thread using a couching technique 😍

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Tears and laughter on the 1st episode of the Pottery Throw Down reminded us of this double-faced pottery figure! Combining elements of the Virgin Mary and Pachamama (Pre-Columbian earth goddess), tears on one face represent fertility but the other shows the consequences of failing to appease her.

A pottery figure with both sides depicting a woman with halo-like hair. One woman has tears on her face, and her body is decorated with a bird, tree, fruit, animals, and two figures which look like they're wrapped in bandages. The woman on the other side has six holes pierced in her halo-like hair and her body is decorated with a snake, cactus, hound, skull, lizard, and a mammal.

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Today we're showing you where you can find a contemporary artwork that appears on one of our postcards. Decorated to look like the sky and stars, this mask represents the artist's sense of his own place within the universe and expresses his concern for the environment.

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

It's Cloud Appreciation Day, so just pause and take a minute to join us in admiring the clouds in this photo. In an ever-changing world clouds can be a reminder to appreciate the often fleeting nature of beauty.

A large, wide sky with a strip of ocean at the bottom and with land visible in the distance. The sky is dominated by enormous, billowing clouds.

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Our display highlighting finds made by local detectorists was deinstalled this week, which means that Lily, our Senior Teaching and Collections Assistant for Archaeology, has been repacking the Heydon Hoard. All 341 pieces of it!

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

We were inspired by last night's episode of the Great British Sewing Bee to take a look through our collections portal for photographs featuring sewers. Our favourite photo has to be this portrait of a sewer with his hand-driven sewing machine and beautifully patterned fabrics.

A portrait of a man sitting on a chair outside a house using a hand-driven sewing machine to sew patterned material. He is wearing a patterned wrapper and looks directly at the camera whilst three children peek around the corner in the background.

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Join us in our latest blog post as we explore how 18th and 19th Century knitting sheaths combined practical labour with love, memory, and gift-giving. Transforming everyday tools into intimate tokens of affection and remembrance: www.maadigitallab.org/blog/2026/09... #Knitting

A wooden knitting needle holder made from wood with a fairly flat sheath, which is squared at one end and tapers to a rounded point at the other. One side has 'M. B. 1786' engraved, with a love-heart shape made from engraved 'X's.

The squared end of a wooden knitting needle holder with three holes, that knitting needles would be inserted into. 'M. B. 1786' engraved near the top.

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

There is something very tactile about this highly polished and shaped piece of jadeite. Measuring only 5.9cm in length it is believed to be an arrowhead, but its shape also reminds us of the delta insignia from Star Trek! #StarTrekDay

A highly polished stone object, possibly an arrowhead, with a hollowed base and bevelled sides which converge towards a pointed tip. The stone it is made from is mottled brown, black, and grey in colour.

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

When you work in a museum it's expected that your camera roll will be full of photos from the museum. But they're not always the picture-perfect images you might expect!

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Sometimes the objects we care look back at us. Literally. 👀 These are just a selection from a collection of 427 glass eyes which were processed as part of our Stores Move project. They once formed part of a taxidermy kit.

Glass eyes of various shapes, sizes and colours, including 22 large eyes and 10 piles of smaller eyes.

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Join us for an evening talking about theatre, history, music, and the making of 'Queen Idia', a bold new African musical. Members of the musical's creative team will share their research, development process, and plans for the future. 📸 Image credit: Queen Idia the Musical

Promotional image for Queen Idia the Musical featuring an ivory mask portrait of the queen.

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Last night's Transformation Challenge on the Great British Sewing Bee inspired us to take a look through the Photographic Collections for images of school uniforms! Does anyone from Cambridgeshire recognise the crest on this boy's blazer?

A boy stands on the lawn of a formal garden. He is wearing a striped blazer, trousers, and shirt and carrying a cap.

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

It's Ginger Cat Appreciation Day, so join us in admiring this amazing paper-cut of an orange cat. It's giving us Cheshire Cat vibes, what do you think?

A paper-cut of a curled-up cat, made from orange glossy paper. The cat is facing the viewer, and its eyes and fur are depicted through cutouts.

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Reposted by Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology

University of Cambridge Museums @camunivmuseums.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Have you joined us for one of our Summer at the Museums events during the holidays? We'd love to hear your thoughts! Fill in our five-minute survey and you could win a £50 Love2Shop voucher. Give us your feedback 👇 cambridge.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

An illustration with scalloped border with central text reading Summer at the Museums: Fun family days out in Cambridge and beyond. On either side are illustrations of children, two playing with a dinosaur toy and building blocks, and the other two children watching an erupting volcano. A smiling sun is in the top right corner.

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

After the cone bra challenge on last night's Great British Sewing Bee, we had to search our collections portal, and we found this pair of false breasts. Worn by Iatmul men during special occasions, like initiation ceremonies, their conical shape has been created using two pieces of gourd.

Pair of conical gourd halves painted to resemble breasts, with their protruding stems forming nipples. They are joined together across the chest and around the neck by bands of cotton cloth.

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

It was on 24 August 79 CE that, according to Pliny the Younger, the eruption of Mount Vesuvius began, destroying towns like Pompeii and Herculaneum. Everyday objects, like this probable children's toy, are a poignant reminder of the devastating loss of life, the full extent of which is still unknown

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Object handling sessions as part of our 'Caribbean to Cambridge' project have been invaluable in prompting reflections on identity, heritage, and personal connections to the Caribbean. It has been a pleasure to see the enthusiasm the Pre-Columbian archaeology collections have generated.

A visitor to the museum sits in the archaeology workroom holding a figure of a monkey-like animal carved from stone in her hands. In the background other members of the group examine other objects, writing down their thoughts and discussing them with a curator.

Two members of a group visiting the museum sit in the archaeology workroom examining a pottery figure.

A community group are gathered around a long table in the museum's archaeology workroom examine a selection of Pre-Columbian archaeological finds.

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

The wonder of photography is the way it preserves a moment in time. This little boy is believed to be Kenid anak Paka. His father, Paka anak Otor, was a former tua gawai (ritual chief). What do you think the photographer said to Kenid to make him pose like this? #WorldPhotographyDay

A grinning boy wearing check trousers stands on the edge of what appears to be a water trough, with his arms raised and bent and fists balled in a ‘strongman’ pose. Behind him is part of a house with wooden plank walls and a corrugated metal roof.

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

The cuddly toy challenge on last night's Great British Sewing Bee inspired us to search the toys we care for, and we came across this Nazar Battu. These dolls are protective figures that can be hung up to ward off evil. Its face is meant to be scary, but we find it oddly cute. What do you think?

The face and chest of a demon doll with a protruding red tongue. It is made of black fabric with an insect painted on its chest in red and white.

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

It's #NationalBlackCatAppreciationDay, so join us in admiring the black cats which have been woven into the base of this tray. Known as a wapa, the tray was made by the E'ñepa (Panare), an Indigenous people from southeastern Venezuela.

A shallow, round tray made from plaited basketry with a black cane frame. The base is decorated with a plaited black and natural coloured geometric pattern featuring four black cat motifs within squares.

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

This striking design featuring a monitor lizard has been created using Nassa shells. The shells have been filed down and then attached to the sleeveless jacket using a cord made from pineapple leaf fibres. The white of the shells creates a dramatic contrast to the rich indigo of the fabric.

The back of a sleeveless jacket-like garment decorated with shells which take the form of a lizard. The head of the lizard is at the top of the jacket and the tail finishes near the bottom.

Detail of the shells which decorate the jacket-like garment, including a swirling pattern and the lower half of a lizard-shaped design.

The front of a sleeveless coat or tunic decorated with shells in a swirling pattern. It is open at the front and made with a fabric which is dark purple, almost black, in colour and lined with a striped, brown fabric.

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

As it's National Coffee Month why not check out our blog post on the Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony and discover how it unites people and generations and why a jebena like this one sits at its heart: www.maadigitallab.org/blog/2023/08...

A clay coffee pot with a curved handle and lid sitting on a circular band wrapped in plant fibre string which has been dyed purple, pink, and blue. The coffee pot has a long, thin neck and globular body, from above the shoulder of which a narrow spout protrudes at an angle.

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Snow googles like these were worn to protect the eyes from the glare of the sun on snow. They won't protect your eyes during a solar eclipse. If you're excited to see the solar eclipse, today remember to never look directly at the Sun without specialised eye protection.

A pair of snow goggles made from wood with two eye slits.

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Hot weather update! Due to the Met Office warning, we have the following update for members of the public hoping to visit us tomorrow. The Museum will be partially closed on 13/08/2026 for general visits to the galleries. We apologise for any inconvenience caused!

A museum gallery with a glass ceiling through which sunlight streams and a totem pole which rises from the floor below. Caption reads "Hot Weather Update".

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

As soon as we watched last night's swim shorts challenge on the Great British Sewing Bee we immediately thought of this photo featuring completely authentic mermen swimming in Lough Oughter. We'd love to see what swim wear inspired by these fishy tails would look like!

Five men in a lake with mermaid tails added using many little dots. Behind them are two men in a boat.

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Are you ready for an afternoon of summer fun? We've got puzzles, challenges, and crafting for all the family in our galleries. Just drop-in, the session is free and there’s no need to book. 🗓 12 August 2026, 2-4pm 📍 Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology 🎟 Free, booking not required

A pair of hands decorate a plastic milk container. They are drawing inspiration from Bellarmine jugs which are usually decorated with a bearded face, but this visitor has chosen a face with long hair instead.

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Today we're showing you where you can find two objects which appear in our postcards can be found within our local archaeology gallery - the iconic West Tofts hand axe and a pot decorated with chariots being pulled by penises. Will you be looking for them when you next visit?

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

As today is International Beer Day we thought we'd raise a mug, or rather a beaker, to celebrate. This beaker probably was found in the River Cam during the 1920s. It may have been used to drink beer or ale, and it has been intricately decorated with incised patterns on its sides and base.

A straight sided beaker with a small handle on one side. The rim, outer surface, handle and base are all covered with incised geometric patterns arranged in bands.

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Conservator Ayesha has been working on a pair of Early Medieval brooches to remove glue residue and sticky tape, the result of historic display methods. Ayesha needs full dexterity whilst using a scalpel, so she isn't wearing gloves, but the surfaces of the objects were cleaned once she finished.

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes in a museum's store? Our LATE event is your chance to find out! Explore the store and discover how 300,000+ objects were moved there over a remarkable five year project. Hear from staff involved as they share stories about objects within the collection.

A museum intern holds a coffee pot stand made from basketry inside the workroom of the museum's off-site store. Text reads 'MAA Centre for Material Culture LATE, 13 August 2026, 6:15-8pm, £5.00 per person'.

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

We've been inspired by last night's episode of the Great British Sewing Bee to take a look through the collection of Mexican textiles we care for. One of our favourites has to be this stunning huipil with embroidery that covers the entire surface of the garment.

A long, heavily embroidered tunic or blouse. Made from three panels of white cotton it is covered in rows of embroidery using heavy yarn predominantly in red, but also in orange, pink, and green.

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

In our latest blog post follow this tiny ivory sparrow through the history of Japanese netsuke, from practical Edo period fashion accessory to collectible sculpture shaped by global demand and taste: maadigitallab.org/blog/2026/08/04/birdwatching-at-maa-a-baby-sparrow-netsuke/

An ivory carving of a baby sparrow with a squat body and puffed breast. Its wings are spread and it has a short, upright tail.

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Are you ready for an afternoon of summer fun? We've got puzzles, challenges, and crafting for all the family in our galleries. Just drop-in, the session is free and there’s no need to book. Not able to make it? Don't worry, we have another drop-in session on 12 August too. #SummerAtTheMuseums

A father and daughter take part in a trail of the museum galleries. They look at a case containing a large carving of a figure riding an opossum. Text reads 'Free Summer Fun, 5 August 2026, 2-4pm'.

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Our @camunivmuseums.bsky.social Museum Experience interns are taking over our socials and they have a puzzle for you... Check the comments below for a hint followed by the answer!

A cylindrical basket with a pedestal base and a conical lid, five cups, a metal jug, and a stand made from basketry surrounding the text "What do you think links these 4 objects together? Answer in the caption below".

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Conservator Ayesha has done an amazing job separating these brooches from their old mounts without damaging them! In case you're wondering why she isn't wearing gloves - Ayesha needs full dexterity of her fingers whilst using the scalpel. She cleaned the surfaces of the objects once she finished.

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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology @maacambridge.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

It's #InternationalTigerDay so we had to share one of the most striking depictions of these majestic creatures in the collections we care for. Made using tiny glass beads it stares out from the back of an ibuk (jacket), watching your every move.

Detail of a snarling tiger made from tiny glass beads on a black/dark blue velvet background.

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