Research Areas
The Western Australian Museum is one of the State's premier centres of excellence in the areas of natural sciences, anthropology, archaeology and history.
Museum scientists and curators work in the fields of aquatic zoology, archaeology and anthropology, conservation, earth and planetary sciences, history, maritime archaeology, maritime history and terrestrial zoology.
Our staff have specialist, often internationally regarded expertise in their areas and work extensively with other museums and universities both nationally and overseas.
Museum staff carry out extensive research and field work and have produced some of the State's most exciting scientific finds including: the Gogo fish; ancient megafauna such as Thylacoleo carnifex; new species of frogs, reptiles and spiders; and an abundance of new marine species along the vast WA coastline.
Anthropology and Archaeology
The Anthropology and Archaeology department specialises in cultural anthropology and archaeology. Our research, collections and public programs focus on understandings of what it is to be human, to understand cultural diversity, and to explore complex relationships between society, culture, language, sociality and economy.
The department cares for over 10,000 ethnographic objects collected mainly from Western Australian Aboriginal cultures, stone tools from locations throughout WA and other parts of the world, and 5000 objects from other parts of the world such as Papua New Guinea, Melanesia and Africa.
- Hot wire impressed animals
- Photo from WA Museum
- Image copyright of WA Museum
The department manages and builds its collections on behalf of the people of Western Australia in partnership with various communities. Working together, we focus on repatriation, exhibitions, research projects and cultural maintenance.
Video: Talking Walls: Graffiti from ancient Pompeii to 21st century Perth - Pompeii lecture by Moya Smith.
Anthropology and Archaeology - societies
The Western Australian Museum Centre for Ancient Egyptian Studies (WAMCAES) aims to raise money to support Western Australian Museum research, exhibitions and purchases of ancient Egyptian specimens for the collections and books for research, and simplify access to information about ancient Egypt for all Western Australians. Find out more about WAMCAES - including upcoming events - by clicking on the below banner.
Ian Crawford – West Kimberley images 1961–1993
collections
Aboriginal cultures collection
Anthropology and Archaeology
The representation of Western Australian Aboriginal cultures has been a significant focus of the Museum since its inception in 1892. The early collections reflect hunting and gathering lifestyles...
Ancient Egyptian collection
Anthropology and Archaeology
As part of the 19th century belief that the Ancient Worlds were a window into the past, and also that a display of ancient objects reflected a civilised and cultured society, the Western...
Anthropology and Archaeology - introduction
Anthropology and Archaeology
This page introduces the Anthropology and Archaeology department, outlining types of objects, artefacts held, and the research areas the department focusses on.
The Anthropology and...
Archaeology collection
Anthropology and Archaeology
The Archaeology Collection from the Anthropology and Archaeology department focuses on Western Australian Aboriginal archaeological materials, predominantly stone tools, but including...
Crawford collection - West Kimberley images 1961-1993
Anthropology and Archaeology
Former staff member Ian Crawford was the Western Australian Museum’s first Curator of Anthropology & Archaeology, appointed in 1961. Between 1961 and 1993 he made 30 fieldtrips to the...
Indigenous cultures and the Ancient World
Anthropology and Archaeology
The Anthropology and Archaeology department Indigenous cultures and the Ancient World collection, formerly known as the foreign ethnology collection, includes cultural...
Department Web Pages
Anthropology and Archaeology - peer-reviewed publications
Anthropology and Archaeology
Peer-reviewed publications published from the department of Anthropology and Archaeology from 2006-2008.
2007-2008
Moffat, I., Wallis, L.A., Beale, A. and Kynuna,...
Anthropology and Archaeology Podcasts
Anthropology and Archaeology
Moya Smith Interview
29/10/2011 - Steve Gordon talks to Dr Moya Smith.
...
Archaeology and Anthropology - curators and contacts
Anthropology and Archaeology
Contact: anthropology-archaeology@museum.wa.gov.au
Dr Moya Smith,
Head of Dept Anthropology & Archaeology
...WAMCAES
Anthropology and Archaeology
The Western Australian Museum Centre for Ancient Egyptian Studies (WAMCAES) aims to raise money to support Western Australian Museum research, exhibitions and purchases of...
anthropology and archaeology Highlights
Bottles
Bottle dump. Perth Metropolitan region, WA. Evidence of early waste disposal in Western Australia, now covered by modern development. Collected by WA Museum staff.
- Bottles
- Photo by Alice Beale
- Image copyright of WA Museum
Drawing on cardboard
Artist unknown, Kalumburu area.
Ochre on cardboard.
Registered 1995.
- Drawing on cardboard
- Photo by Alice Beale
- Image copyright of WA Museum
Wavy handled jar
From Predynastic Tomb 152F, Hierakonpolis, Egypt. Archaeologist John Garstang worked at Hierakonpolis between 1904 and 1906, under the auspices of the Egypt Exploration Fund. The WA Museum purchased a small collection of Egyptian items from the...
- Wavy handled jar
- Photo by Moya Smith
- Image copyright of WA Museum