Anthropology and Archaeology collection

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, and personal adornment of the peoples of the South West, Pilbara, Desert and Kimberley regions.

The collection traces the impact and influence of Europeans on the Aboriginal peoples of Western Australia and includes objects representing the innovative use of introduced materials and the continuity of Aboriginal traditional knowledge and skills.

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 Australian Museum acquired numerous objects from early 20th century excavations in Egypt. Other objects in this collection have been donated or purchased to reflect ancient Egyptian culture.

The Archaeology Collection from the Anthropology and Archaeology department focuses on Western Australian Aboriginal archaeological materials, predominantly stone tools, but including plant and faunal materials from excavated sites.

The collection also focuses on Western Australian Historic Archaeology, predominantly material from sites that relate to non-Aboriginal settlement e.g. convict/ police sites and including contact period sites where Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal cultural materials intersect e.g. pastoral stations, missions, Lock Hospitals.

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 Kimberley, working with Aboriginal communities focusing on research into art and mythology, contact with Indonesian and Malay fishermen, maintenance of knowledge of traditional resource use and mission history. His photographic collection includes around 30,000 images.

This extensive image collection reflects Crawford’s work with Kimberley community members, particularly Kalumburu.

The Anthropology and Archaeology department Indigenous cultures and the Ancient World collection, formerly known as the foreign ethnology collection, includes cultural items from Africa, Asia, the Americas, the Pacific and Melanesia, and Europe.

Since the Museum opened in the 1890s it has worked to bring the world to Western Australians and to position the State in a global context.