About our collection
The University of Edinburgh’s Social Anthropology Teaching Collection features a diverse range of ethnographic objects including masks, drums, arrows, and other artifacts. Through in-depth provenance research, we hope to uncover the origins of these objects and tell their stories to spark on-going conversation.
About this website
This website showcases our curated selection of catalogued objects, showcasing the current, updated provenance research.
We hope to make this collection an active, dynamic space, compared with static, traditional, ‘hierarchical’ museums.
In our blog posts, each group member had the opportunity to personally reflection on their relationship to the objects and the entire process. Similarly, our creative endeavours are represented through our beautifully hand crafted zine.
We hope the website can invite all viewers to equally engage in conversation and bring this collection to life.
About SPS Anthropology
Social Anthropology invites us to think about the root of the human experience, examining the nuances of every day life from rituals, material culture, and beliefs. It places a global perspective on history, sociology, geography, and everything in between.
While the discipline can offer unique perspectives from international, multidisciplinary viewpoint, its origins cannot be separated from colonialism.
Acknowledging this challenging past, we hope to open up conversation about this objects, including questions surrounding their origins and ownership.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the collection about?
This collection is a compilation of ethnographic objects, accumulated by the university over the years. The objects come primarily from Sierra Leone and Papua New Guinea, although many object’s origins are still unknown or unconfirmed. Our goal is to dive into their origins, illuminate their stories, and create a place of conversation and connection surrounding these objects.
Who is leading this project?
The Anthropology Teaching Collection is currently being managed by a group of 3rd and 4th year students, under guidance of the SPS administrative team and Professor John Harris.
Where can I find the collection?
The majority of the collection is safely stored on the 5th floor of the Chrystal McMillan Building. However, these objects are available to be ‘checked-out’ by university staff and students.
Can I visit the physical collection ?
A selection of the objects are currently on ‘exhibit’ on the 5th floor of the Chrystal McMillan Building.
Got questions? Want to Chat?
Please reach out!