Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology

museum, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

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July 23, 2026

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The Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology is a museum at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1866 and is dedicated to the study of human history and culture. The museum houses extensive collections of archaeological artifacts and ethnographic objects from around the world, offering insights into past and present human societies. It plays a significant role in research, contributing to the understanding of human evolution, diverse cultures, and material culture. The museum's collections have been shaped by historical exploration and academic study, reflecting the broader development of anthropology as a discipline.123

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anthropology
Museum-based study
…entirely to anthropology was the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology (1866) at Harvard University, followed in 1901 by the Lowie Museum of Anthropology (now the Phoebe Apperson Hearst Museum of Anthropology) at the University of California. The Field Museum in Chicago (1893) was established (as the Columbian Museum of…
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…entirely to anthropology was the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology (1866) at Harvard University, followed in 1901 by the Lowie Museum of Anthropology (now the Phoebe Apperson Hearst Museum of Anthropology) at the University of California. The Field Museum in Chicago (1893) was established (as the Columbian Museum of…
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William W. Howells
…on the staff of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology at Harvard until his retirement in 1974.
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…on the staff of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology at Harvard until his retirement in 1974.
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