World Cultures

Our World Cultures collections include internationally important material from across the globe.

Our collection includes artefacts from Ancient Egypt, Near Eastern archaeology (including Cyprus), ancient glass (600BC–c.AD600), a Chinese lacquer collection (200BC-c.1900), Tibetan tankhas (17th–19th centuries) and  Japanese prints (1750–20th century).

There are significant early North Athapaskan collections from the Canadian Subarctic collected by Scottish traders. There is also a collection from early exploration of the Pacific including material from Captain Cook’s voyages and the Challenger Expedition.

The Jean Jenkins collection of sound archives highlights her pioneering work in Africa, the Middle East and India gathering examples of native music in the 20th century.

The department is organised into four sections:

• Ancient Mediterranean Archaeology
• East and Central Asia
• South Asia and the Middle East
• Ethnographic Collections from Africa, Oceania and the Americas

Find out more about the the National Museums Scotlands' World Cultures department expertise.

Owing to current levels of activity within the World Cultures Department, it has become necessary to restrict access to parts of the collection. Staff will only be able to meet with visitors by appointment. Unfortunately we will be unable to react to spontaneous requests.

If you would like to arrange an appointment, please contact Rachel Smith on 0131 247 4230 or email r.smith@nms.ac.uk