Founded in 1866, the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology is one of the world’s oldest museums dedicated to anthropology. It holds one of the most comprehensive records of human cultural history in the Western Hemisphere. Its current building opened in 1878 and houses some two and a half million objects, including collections from Africa, Oceania, ancient Europe, North America, Mesoamerica, and South America. Much of this material was acquired through the university’s hundreds of expeditions and excavations, as well as through the acquisition of collections and individual donations.
Archaeological holdings number in the millions and comprise the bulk of the museum’s collection. Within this, its collections from the Americas are unparalleled. They focus primarily on the Southwest, Southeast, Northeast, and the Arctic. The Central American archaeological collection is the most extensive and varied Mesoamerican collection outside of Mexico and is particularly strong on Maya material. It is also noted for its holdings from lower Central America, the Caribbean Islands, and other Mexican civilizations such as the Aztec, Casas Grandes, and West Mexico. It includes holdings transferred in 1948 from the Carnegie Institution in Washington, D.C. The South American archaeological collection focuses primarily on Peru and is strong in material from the Inca, Chimu, Nazca, and Moche. It features a rare collection of pottery excavated from near Lake Valencia, Venezuela.
Though smaller in number, the Peabody’s ethnographic holdings are of fine quality and contribute significantly to its standing as a world-class research institution. It holds one of the most comprehensive collections of North American ethnology, which includes the only surviving Native American objects collected by Lewis and Clark. Its African collection numbers some 20,000 objects, some collected as early as 1800. The African collection is particularly strong in material from Liberia, southern Cameroon, and Uganda. Additionally, the museum holds an important collection of African musical instruments from across the continent. The Oceanic and Indonesian collection is comprehensive, containing material from Easter Island to New Guinea, and throughout Island Southeast Asia and Australia. It numbers around 23,000 objects, some collected in the eighteenth century. It also features some archaeological material, primarily from Tasmania and Australia.
In addition to objects, the Peabody possesses one of the world’s largest photographic archives documenting the cultures of indigenous peoples across the globe. Only a small percentage of the objects are on display. Storage is accessible to researchers by appointment.