@maacambridge.bsky.social
Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, telling two million years of human history 🗺 Website: maa.cam.ac.uk/ Collections: collections.maa.cam.ac.uk/ Blog: maadigitallab.org/
📸 1939.132 Witch's broom, England. Source: Dr Margaret Murray.
🔗 collections.maa.cam.ac.uk/objects/450789/
We've got a #MuseumMystery for you this Friday 13th! We suspect this broom was collected in Cambridge or Ely early in WWII, but we don't know why the collector thought it was a witch's broom. Let us know your thoughts on what it could have been used for.
The closing dates for grant applications are:
26 April 2026 - Crowther-Beynon Fund
30 April 2026 - Frederick Williamson Memorial Fund
For more information about these grants and how to apply visit our website:
maa.cam.ac.uk/research/res... [3/3]
The Frederick Williamson Memorial Fund focuses on furthering research relating to the peoples of Tibet, Bhutan, Sikkim, and neighbouring Himalayan areas. The Crowther-Beynon Fund supports projects relating to material already at MAA or the acquisition of new material. [2/3]
📢 Research Grant Alert!
@maacambridge.bsky.social is inviting applications for two annual research grants! [1/3]
📸 David Doyle and Eleanor Foster, Australia. Image credit: Carol Doyle, 2025.
📸 P.6332.ACH1 Grinding spices for curry [cropped], Karnataka, India. Photographer: Marguerite Milward, 1935.
🔗 collections.maa.cam.ac.uk/photographs/299604/
We are delighted to welcome food historian and chef Monisha Bharadwaj to the museum on 18 March 2026 at 5:30pm for a talk exploring the origins of the British obsession with curry.
Tickets are pay as you wish (suggested donation £8 or £5 for students/MAA Friends): www.eventbrite.com/e/1977383727...
📸 1896.184 Beaker, Bronze Age, Snailwell, England.
🔗 collections.maa.cam.ac.uk/objects/478122/
In our latest blog post discover how a vessel from Snailwell reveals clues to Early Bronze Age mobility, craftsmanship, and burial practice, as well as a Cambridgeshire connection to Scotland’s Beaker traditions:
www.maadigitallab.org/blog/2026/03...
📸 Image credit: My Linh Le, 2025
Taking your A level exams (or equivalent) and thinking of a museum career? @camunivmuseums.bsky.social's fixed-term part-time Post Sixth Form Museum Experience Internship with MAA might be for you!
#MuseumInternships #MuseumJobs
Closing date: 11/05/2026, 8am
Apply: museums.cam.ac.uk/new-internships
📸 DG.122644.OLT Torgny Oberg and his pet Argali, ?China/Kazakhstan/Mongolia. Photographer: Owen Lattimore, c.1928-38.
🔗 collections.maa.cam.ac.uk/photographs/415912/
It's #NationalLoveYourPetDay so here's a photo of Torgny Oberg with his pet mountain sheep. Argali can be found across Eastern and Central Asia, so unfortunately we're not sure exactly where or when this image was made, but we can all agree this ram is clearly a sweetie.
In our latest blog post Charlotte, one of our @camunivmuseums.bsky.social Museum Experience interns, reflects on how hands-on research, visitor engagement, and leading creative activities, have helped her build confidence, skills, and meaningful connections: www.maadigitallab.org/blog/2026/02...
📸 1885.3.4 L Stela E plaster cast, Guatemala, Modern copy of Classical Maya.
🔗 collections.maa.cam.ac.uk/objects/560575/
See what other nearby events you can drop into tonight on the @camunivmuseums.bsky.social website: museums.cam.ac.uk/theme/twilight 2/2
Today’s the day! #TwilightAtTheMuseums gets glowing here from 4:30pm and we can’t wait to see you all.
We'll be closed between 4pm and 4:30pm to allow our staff time to prepare for the event. 1/2
📸 1997.216 Paper cut horses, Ih Juu Aimag, Inner Mongolia. Collector: Dr Caroline Humphrey.
🔗 collections.maa.cam.ac.uk/objects/517639/
Don't forget you can join us as we celebrate the #YearOfTheHorse with free family drop-in sessions on Saturday 21 February 2026, 10am-12pm and 1pm-3pm and learn Chinese calligraphy, create paper-cut art, and enjoy colouring activities! 2/2
Happy #LunarNewYear to everyone celebrating! Today marks the start of the #YearOfTheHorse, so we had to share this intricate paper-cut art. Sadly, we don't know who made it, but they've skilfully managed to create a sense of movement, power and energy. 1/2
📸 2025.25 Gold and enamel posey ring, Childerley, England, c.1500-1700.
🔗 collections.maa.cam.ac.uk/objects/629048/
Video description: One of the museum's curators talks about and holds a small gold ring decorated with crystal, five tiny hearts and an inscription on the inside.
As the perfect #ValentinesDay gift this beautiful little ring is now on display at MAA. Since filming our Archaeology team have carried out further research and now think the inscription inside reads ‘As I prove I wish your love’ - what do you think?
📸 P.6172.ACH1 Portrait of a Nepali woman, ?Nepal. Photographer: Unknown, ?1930s.
🔗 collections.maa.cam.ac.uk/photographs/299444/
Ga’us, or amulet boxes, like the one worn by the Nepali woman in this photograph contained prayers, copies of sacred texts, or items which had been blessed. They were intended to protect their wearer from evil.
#FridayTheThirteenth
📸 1997.227 Paper cut horse, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia. Collector: Dr Caroline Humphrey.
🔗 collections.maa.cam.ac.uk/objects/517650/
To celebrate #LunarNewYear and the start of the #YearOfTheHorse we're running free family drop-in sessions on 21/02/2026, 10am-12pm and 1pm-3pm. Join us to learn Chinese calligraphy, create paper-cut art, and enjoy colouring activities!
Find out more on our website:
maa.cam.ac.uk/lunar-new-ye...
📸 1885.3.14 Plaster cast featuring Lady K'abal Xook, Yaxchilan, Mexico, Modern copy of Classic Maya.
🔗 collections.maa.cam.ac.uk/objects/5604...
Are you counting down the days to #TwilightAtTheMuseums? 🎉🌟
Bring a torch, grab a trail, and join us on an after-hours museum adventure with your family on 18/02/2026, 4:30-7:30pm.
Find out more on the @camunivmuseums.bsky.social website:
museums.cam.ac.uk/events/twilight-maa-all-glistens-not-gold
So proud of the catfish its caught! 😍
📸 Z 25475 B Abrammo (goldweight), Ashanti, Ghana. Source: Unknown.
🔗 collections.maa.cam.ac.uk/objects/5665...