Tucked behind the neo-Gothic façade of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History lies a world of anthropological wonder: the Pitt Rivers Museum. Unlike traditional museums, which tend to organize exhibits by culture or chronology, the Pitt Rivers displays its vast collection by object type—bringing together similar items from cultures across the globe to allow for comparison, contemplation, and curiosity.
Housing over half a million artefacts, from shrunken heads to ceremonial masks, tools, musical instruments, religious icons, and weapons, the museum offers an unparalleled insight into the breadth and depth of human creativity and culture. More than just a cabinet of curiosities, the Pitt Rivers is an academic powerhouse and a place that invites visitors to reflect on humanity’s diverse ways of living, surviving, and finding meaning.
Origins and Founding
The museum owes its origins to General Augustus Henry Lane-Fox Pitt Rivers (1827–1900), a British army officer, ethnologist, and pioneering archaeologist. Pitt Rivers was deeply interested in the development of human tools and technologies. He believed that by collecting and comparing objects from different cultures and historical periods, one could trace the evolution of human thought and innovation.
In 1884, Pitt Rivers donated his personal collection—around 22,000 items—to the University of Oxford, on the condition that a permanent teaching museum would be established and that a lecturer in anthropology would be appointed. The university agreed, and the Pitt Rivers Museum was born. The collection was originally housed in a single gallery behind the Museum of Natural History, but it soon grew to occupy multiple levels.
Today, the collection has expanded to include over 500,000 objects, 300,000 photographs, and 20,000 manuscripts, making it one of the most significant anthropological museums in the world.
A Unique Display Philosophy
What sets the Pitt Rivers Museum apart is its typological rather than geographical or chronological organization. Objects are grouped by type—shields, masks, spears, toys, textiles, charms, musical instruments—regardless of their country of origin or era.
This arrangement allows visitors to compare similar objects across different cultures. For example, a case displaying lamps includes oil lamps from Ancient Greece, whale oil lamps from the Arctic, and kerosene lamps from 19th-century Europe. In one display, you can see fire-making tools from the Arctic, Africa, Asia, and South America side by side, providing a global perspective on how different peoples have solved common problems in distinct ways.
This comparative method reflects Pitt Rivers’ belief in cultural evolution, a 19th-century concept that suggested societies progress from “primitive” to “civilized” stages. Although this perspective has since been critiqued and rejected by modern anthropology, the museum has retained the original display style as a historical artefact in itself—while now offering critical interpretation and context for visitors.
Highlights of the Collection
The museum’s collection spans every continent and hundreds of cultures, representing aspects of daily life, ritual, belief, art, and innovation. Some of the most fascinating and talked-about objects include:
1. Tsantsas (Shrunken Heads)
Among the most infamous items in the museum are the shrunken heads from the Jivaroan peoples of the Amazon. These tsantsas were made from the heads of enemies and used in ritual practices. In recent years, the museum has reevaluated the ethics of displaying such human remains and has removed some from public view, highlighting the ongoing conversations around decolonization and repatriation.
2. Amulets and Charms
One entire case is devoted to charms and amulets meant to ward off evil, bring luck, or ensure protection. This includes everything from European crucifixes and St. Christopher medallions to African talismans and Native American medicine pouches. The collection reveals the universality of spiritual belief and the human desire for safety and good fortune.
3. Masks and Ritual Objects
The museum holds an incredible collection of masks used in festivals, religious ceremonies, theatre, and funerals. These come from all over the world—Japanese Noh masks, African ceremonial masks, Native American headdresses—each carrying deep cultural meaning and artistry.
4. Weapons and Armour
From Maori war clubs and Japanese samurai swords to European medieval armour and Zulu spears, the weapons collection spans millennia and reveals the ingenuity of human craftsmanship in both conflict and ceremony.
5. Everyday Objects
Not all objects are extraordinary. Many are tools, toys, cooking utensils, and clothing—objects of everyday life that offer insight into how people live, work, and play. From Inuit snow goggles to Pacific Islander fishing nets, these items highlight the adaptability and inventiveness of human communities.
Architecture and Atmosphere
Walking into the Pitt Rivers Museum is a sensory experience unlike any other. Its dim lighting, wooden cabinets, and packed display cases evoke the feeling of stepping into a 19th-century explorer’s study or a Victorian cabinet of curiosities. Glass-topped cases are crammed with hundreds of items, often arranged in dense rows, requiring careful observation and reflection.
The multi-level interior features narrow galleries and mezzanines, accessible by wrought-iron staircases. Labels often include handwritten or typewritten notes from early curators, adding a sense of historical continuity. The overall effect is one of discovery and exploration, in contrast to the minimalist displays of many modern museums.
Academic and Educational Role
As part of the University of Oxford, the Pitt Rivers Museum plays a key role in teaching and research. It serves as a resource for students in archaeology, anthropology, history, art history, and museum studies, and regularly collaborates with scholars from around the world.
The museum also supports PhD research, fellowships, and fieldwork, and its archives contain rich ethnographic data, audio recordings, photographs, and field notebooks from early anthropologists.
Public engagement is central to the museum’s mission. Programs include:
- Hands-on workshops and events
- Storytelling sessions and family days
- Talks and lectures by experts
- Interactive exhibits and digital media
Through these initiatives, the museum seeks to make anthropology accessible and relevant to audiences of all ages and backgrounds.
Ethics, Colonialism, and Decolonization
Like many ethnographic museums, the Pitt Rivers is increasingly involved in debates about the colonial context of its collections. Many artefacts were acquired during the British Empire’s expansion, often without the consent of the communities they came from. This legacy has led to calls for repatriation, particularly of human remains and sacred or looted objects.
The museum has responded with a commitment to ethical review, collaboration with source communities, and transparent dialogue. Some items have already been returned, while others are undergoing evaluation. The museum has also taken steps to revise and update its labelling and interpretation, confronting uncomfortable truths while striving to remain a place of respectful inquiry.
Recent Developments and Modernization
In recent years, the Pitt Rivers Museum has embraced digital technology, creating virtual exhibitions, interactive online catalogues, and educational resources that reach global audiences. It has also updated its signage and labels to reflect inclusive and contemporary perspectives on its collections.
In 2020, the museum made headlines by removing the shrunken heads from public display, a decision made in consultation with representatives of Indigenous communities and informed by ethical museum practices.
The museum is also reimagining its role in the 21st century—seeking to become a space not only for showcasing artefacts but for storytelling, cultural exchange, and social justice.
Conclusion
The Pitt Rivers Museum is unlike any other institution in the world. It is a place where visitors can encounter the ingenuity, beauty, and complexity of cultures across the globe—often side by side in surprising and illuminating ways. Its dense displays and atmospheric galleries invite slow, thoughtful exploration, rewarding those who linger with stories of human innovation and tradition.
At the same time, it is a museum in motion—actively engaged in questioning its origins, reevaluating its collections, and embracing a more ethical and inclusive future. In a world that is both increasingly interconnected and divided, the Pitt Rivers serves as a vital space for reflection on our shared humanity and diverse histories.
