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Paper Maché Figurine (Alebrijes). Linares Family, Mexico.

Camel Cover. Uzbekistan.

Nutting Stone. Native American, North Carolina.

Girls' Day Set. Japan.

Explore Global Cultures

Discover North Carolina’s only museum dedicated to the study of global cultures. Artifacts from the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Oceania illustrate the story of humanity past and present. Learn about people from around the world through their everyday objects, ceremonial artifacts, and visual arts.

We hope that you’ll check out our exhibits and events, and plan your visit to see everything we have on display for yourself.

News

MOA Artifacts Inspire Upcoming WFU Hackathon

February 18, 2021

In 2005, hundreds of earthenware pots and other pre-Columbian artifacts from ancient West Mexico... Read More »

Spring Semester Operations Update

February 9, 2021

The Museum of Anthropology remains closed to the public indefinitely due to the COVID-19... Read More »

MOA Announces New Virtual Lunch & Learn Series

February 9, 2021

The Museum is excited to launch a new Virtual Lunch & Learn series this spring. At noon on the... Read More »

Events

Virtual Lunch & Learn: Heritage or DNA? A Discussion of Cultural Identity

April 29, 12:00 - 1:00pm

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ostrich egg canteen

Artifact of the Month

Each month we select a different artifact in the museum to highlight. See what we’ve picked for this month!

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Apr 15

Open

With our latest #CulturesUpClose post, you can learn about #Polynesia and make your own grass skirt!

Traditionally, Polynesian cultures used strips of natural fibers, barks, leaves, and other materials to create various types of skirts that accentuated dancer's movements. This one in the MOA collection is from #Samoa.

All of our Cultures Up Close activities are available via the 🔗 in our bio.

#wdumoa #wfu #MuseumFromHome

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Apr 14

Open

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Apr 12

Open

#Ramadan begins this evening. It is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting. Ramadan commemorates the first revelation of the scriptures to Muhammad. This annual observance is regarded as one of the Five Pillars—or core beliefs/practices--of Islam. Food and drink are served before the sun rises and after the sun sets each day and the act of fasting is meant to redirect the heart away from worldly activities.

Ramadan Mubarak is an Arabic greeting that translates to Blessed Ramadan, which is what we wish all of our Muslim friends today and throughout the month.

You can learn more about Islam through our Faith: Five World Religions virtual exhibit.

#RamadanMubarak #RamadanMubarak🌙 #Islam

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Apr 9

Open

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Apr 7

Open

We are now scheduling summer education programs for childcare and summer camp groups! Offered via Zoom or as outreach at locations within 30 miles of the Museum, our programs this year focus on animals. Each program includes reading a story, seeing related objects from our collection, and completing a craft project. Available programs are "Animal Safari," "Storytelling with Totem Poles," and "Australia, Animals, and Dots."

Email us at moa@wfu.edu to find out about fees, other information, and to schedule your program!

#wfumoa #MuseumEducation

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Apr 5

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Apr 1

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Eggs seem to be everywhere at #Easter, including in our April #ArtifactOfTheMonth a San ostrich egg canteen.

The San people of southern Africa have lived in the region of the Kalahari Desert for thousands of years. Formerly called “Bushmen,” a label that is now recognized as both racist and sexist, the term San actually refers to a diverse collection of hunter-gatherer groups with historical and linguistic ties. Although they are traditionally nomadic people, in recent years many San have settled in larger groups near water sources or joined neighboring communities.

Ostrich eggs like this one from Botswana have traditionally been used by the San as canteens. Having a method to store water is incredibly important in the desert, and ostrich eggs provide a means to accomplish that. Additionally, ostrich eggs are very nutritious, equivalent to about two dozen chicken eggs. Acquiring an egg, however, is not an easy task because ostriches can slash with their long talons. Successful hunters locate an ostrich nest and either wait for the vigilant adults to leave or use a high-risk strategy of scaring it away.

Once collected, a small hole is made in the egg to drain the contents to eat, and the egg is cleaned and filled with water when available. The hole is then resealed with beeswax. The eggs are often decorated with simple designs as this one is. The filled eggs are buried along frequently traveled paths to provide drinking water while hunting and foraging. The San also make jewelry from pieces of broken ostrich eggshells.
This ostrich egg canteen is currently on exhibit in "Animal Origin: Tokens and Tools from Faunal Remains."

Robby Outland (’21) contributed to this post.

#wfumoa #wfu #sanpeople
#sanpeoplebotswana
#easteregg #ostrich #ostrichegg

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Mar 31

Open

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Mar 29

Open

ICYMI last week's Virtual Lunch & Learn, "Pacific Objects from the Ortiz Collection" is now up on YouTube! A 🔗 to our channel is in our bio.

#wfumoa #wfu #MuseumFromHome

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Museum of Anthropology

The Museum is open to the public Tues.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Special arrangements can be made for groups and events.
Admission is free. Donations are gratefully accepted.

336.758.5282
moa@wfu.edu

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Museum of Anthropology

Explore Global Cultures

News

MOA Artifacts Inspire Upcoming WFU Hackathon

Spring Semester Operations Update

MOA Announces New Virtual Lunch & Learn Series

Events

Artifact of the Month

wfumoa

MOA E-Newsletter

Museum of Anthropology

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