Our archaeological and Scottish collections cover Scottish material culture from the earliest times to the present day.

Explore past research projects at National Museums Scotland.

Collections in City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian and West Lothian.

Touring exhibitions are a great way to share collections across the country and develop partnerships between venues.

Explore the legacies of the British archaeology in Egypt and the dialogue being created around these collections.

National Museums Scotland is establishing an international network of scholars to explore the role of silver in the emergence of the early medieval kingdoms of Europe. This network has been made possible thanks to an award from the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council.

Our reach across Europe reflects the multi-disciplinary nature of our collections.

Pupils can explore technology or be inspired by history with our newest exhibitions and collection of aircraft.

‘The Matter of Slavery in Scotland’ was a collaborative research project with the University of Edinburgh which explored the history and legacy of Scotland’s connections with the transatlantic slave system through objects in public collections.

This project, funded by a Carnegie Trust Research Initiative Grant, is undertaking research into African collections acquired from Scottish travellers, missionaries and explorers, focusing on the period between 1870 and 1930.