Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology

The Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology is a university museum in Cambridge that presents findings and objects across three floors documenting human history over a long timespan. The collections include items from archaeological excavations and ethnographic objects from cultures around the globe.

The institution was founded in 1884 as a museum for general and local archaeology, building on collections from the Cambridge Antiquarian Society. It later grew to include ethnographic materials and became a major repository for objects from around the world.

The museum displays objects from different cultures that show how people lived in various parts of the world. Visitors can see how craftsmanship, clothing, and daily life changed shape and meaning over long periods.

The museum is located near Downing Street and is accessible on foot from Cambridge's city center with good walking routes. It helps to allow several hours to comfortably view the different floors and collections.

The museum holds the Trumpington Cross, an artifact discovered during excavations in an Anglo-Saxon burial site where it had lain hidden for centuries. This find shows how archaeological discoveries sometimes emerge from unexpected locations and reveal valuable information about past communities.

Location: Cambridge

Inception: 1884

Official opening: 1884

Part of: University of Cambridge

Address: Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3DZ

Opening Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10:00-17:00; Sunday 12:00-17:00

Website: http://maa.cam.ac.uk

GPS coordinates: 52.20280,0.12097

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:55