MAA: Museum of Archeology and Anthropology, Cambridge

The Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, also known as MAA, at the University of Cambridge houses the University's collections of local antiquities, together with archaeological and ethnographic artefacts from around the world. The museum is located on the University's Downing Site, on the corner of Downing Street and Tennis Court Road. In 2013 it reopened following a major refurbishment of the exhibition galleries, with a new public entrance directly on to Downing Street.

In all, the MAA contains over 800,000 historically important artefacts. The turreted, Gothic-style building has housed the museum since the end of WWI. The MAA covers three floors: the ground floor, known as the Clarke Gallery, is dedicated to archaeology, while the Maudsley Gallery above houses anthropological and ethnographic finds. The upper floor is used as a space for new/rotating exhibitions on specific themes, such as, for instance, an exhibition on the indigenous Sami people of Lapland.

Highlights of the MAA collection include numerous antiquities found in the Cambridge region, and artefacts collected by Captain James Cook on his voyages to the Antipodes. The Clarke Gallery houses some of the earliest human tools ever discovered, originally found in East Africa.

Why You Should Visit:
Gorgeous building and really accessible collection. Children will marvel at the tallest totem pole, while adults will have time to reflect on the huge and fascinating diversity of the physical expression of culture.

Tip:
If you're a bit short-sighted, make sure to take your specs, as a lot of the exhibit signs are quite small!