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Pitt Rivers Museum

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The Museum displays archaeological and ethnographic objects from all parts of the world. It was founded in 1884 when General Pitt Rivers, an influential figure in the development of archaeology and evolutionary anthropology, gave his collection to the University. The General's founding gift contained more than 18,000 objects but there are now over half a million. Many were donated by early anthropologists and explorers. The collection includes extensive photographic and sound archives which contain early records of great importance. The Museum continues to collect through donations, bequests, special purchases and through its staff and students, in the course of their fieldwork.

Series associated with Pitt Rivers Museum

Behind the Scenes at the Oxford University Museums
Messy Realities - the Secret Life of Technology
Pitt Rivers Museum
# Episode Title Description People Date
1 See-touch-think-wonder Stories, objects and pictures as methods of engagement in research in assistive living technologies. Gemma Hughes, Joe Wherton, Beth McDougall 12 Nov 2019
2 Technology, aging and progression: from amulets to robots Discussions about the protective powers of amulets, alarms and jewellery are interrupted by the arrival of a cuddly robot. Gemma Hughes, Caitlin Pilbeam, Jozie Kettle, George Leeson 12 Nov 2019
3 Living objects - ageing bodies Researchers and community members go behind the scenes at the Pitt Rivers Museum to learn more about the care and ethics involved in conservation. Caitlin Pilbeam, Jozie Kettle, Jem Uden, Andrew Hughes 12 Nov 2019
4 Technologies: love or hate them? The context of the Pitt Rivers Museum stimulates discussion about human-technology relations. Gemma Hughes, Joe Wherton, Laura van Broekhoven, Sara Shaw 12 Nov 2019
5 The magic of everyday technologies Exploring how everyday objects support health and wellbeing: medicines containers and mobility aids. Gemma Hughes, Caitlin Pilbeam, Beth McDougall, Jozie Kettle 12 Nov 2019
6 Introducing Messy Realities: the Secret Life of Technology Professor Trisha Greenhalgh and colleagues discuss what assistive living technologies are and how they engaged the public in exploring assistive living technologies at the Pitt Rivers Museum. Gemma Hughes, Trisha Greenhalgh, Jozie Kettle, Beth McDougall 12 Nov 2019
7 Mobile in Museums Theodore Koterwas, Mobile Development Team Lead, IT Services, gives a short talk for Oxford University Museums Staff Conference Theodore Koterwas 31 Oct 2016
8 Celebrating Diversity: An LGBTQ+ Tour of Oxford University’s Museums and Collections Beth Asbury, Assistant to the Director and Administration Team, Pitt Rivers Museum, gives a short talk for Oxford University Museums Staff Conference. Beth Asbury 31 Oct 2016
9 Quantifying and Mitigating Human Generated Vibration in Museum Exhibits Daniel Bone, Deputy Head of Conservation, Ashmolean Museum, gives a short talk for Oxford University Museums Staff Conference. Daniel Bone 31 Oct 2016
10 Interacting with Artefacts, Oxfordshire Collections Project Stephen Barker, Oxfordshire County Council Museums Service, gives a short talk for Oxford University Museums Staff Conference. Stephen Barker 31 Oct 2016
11 A year in the Zoology Collection Mark Carnall, Collections Manager (Life Collections), Museum of Natural History gives a short talk for the Oxford University Museums Staff Conference. Mark Carnall 21 Oct 2016
12 Memories under the microscope: collaborations between Oxford University Partnership Museums and University of Oxford research departments Helen Fountain, Reminiscence Officer, Oxford University Museums and Kate Hamblin, Senior Research Fellow, University of Oxford Institute for Population Ageing give a short talk for the Oxford University Museums Staff Conference. Kate Hamblin, Helen Fountain 21 Oct 2016
13 VERVE: Connecting the public with displays at the Pitt Rivers Museum Beth McDougall and Madeleine Ding, VERVE Team, Pitt Rivers Museum give a short talk for the Oxford University Museums Staff Conference. Beth McDougall, Madeleine Ding 21 Oct 2016
14 Joint Museums Youth Forum Project Sarah Lloyd and Carly Smith-Huggins, Education Officers, Museum of Natural History give a short talk for the Oxford University Museums Staff Conference. Sarah Lloyd, Carly Smith-Huggins 21 Oct 2016
15 Cabinet: Integrating Text and Object in Oxford Teaching Giovanna Vitelli, Director, University Engagement Programme, Ashmolean Museum gives a short talk for Oxford University Museums Staff Conference. Giovanna Vitelli 21 Oct 2016
16 Why community groups work with museums Nicola Bird, Community Engagement Officer, Oxford University Museums gives a short talk for the Oxford University Museums Staff Conference. Nicola Bird 21 Oct 2016
17 Discussing Penicillin Marie-Louise Kerr, Penicillin Exhibition Curator, Museum of the History of Science gives a short talk for the Oxford University Museums Staff Conference. Marie-Louise Kerr 21 Oct 2016
18 Transportation Transformation Andrew Hughes, Move Project Team Leader, Pitt Rivers Museum, gives a short talk for the Oxford University Museums Staff Conference. Andrew Hughes 21 Oct 2016
19 Dodo Roadshow Scott Billings, Digital Engagement Officer, Museum of Natural History gives a short talk for Oxford University Museums Staff Conference. Scott Billings 21 Oct 2016
20 Body Arts: The Panará People Dr Elizabeth Ewart of the University's Institute of Anthropology and Jaanika Vider, a former student, discuss body adornment and identity in Amazonia,. Elizabeth Ewart, Jaanika Vider 22 Aug 2011
21 Body Arts: Feathers, Beads and Paint Professor Peter Rivière and Director of the Pitt Rivers Museum, Dr Mike O'Hanlon, discuss decorative applications of feathers, beads and paint to the body,. Peter Rivière, Mike O'Hanlon 22 Aug 2011
22 Body Arts: Scent, Pain and Exchange Professor Jeremy MacClancy of Oxford Brookes University talks to Helen Hales of the Pitt Rivers Museum about themes including scent and perfume,. Jeremy MacClancy, Helen Hales 22 Aug 2011
23 Body Arts: The Naga People Dr Vibha Joshi, a specialist in the Naga culture of northeast India, and Julia Nicholson from the Pitt Rivers Museum look at the unique traditions of hair and body ornaments,. Vibha Joshi, Julia Nicholson 22 Aug 2011
24 Body Arts: The Experience of Decoration Professor Howard Morphy of the Australian National University talks to Helen Hales of the Pitt Rivers Museum about the body as a canvas and the internal experience of external decoration, notably in the context of Aboriginal Australia. Howard Morphy 22 Aug 2011
25 Body Arts: The Flexible Body The Museum's Director, Dr Mike O'Hanlon, and Professor Stanley Ulijaszek from the University's Institute of Anthropology discuss how the body can be shaped both physically and metaphorically and the idea of bodily norms. Mike O'Hanlon, Stanley Ulijaszek 22 Aug 2011
26 Body Arts: Henna - The Plant that Binds Anthropologist and filmmaker Udi Mandel Butler and Alan Mandel explore the art of Henna in Birmingham. Udi Mandel Butler, Alan Mandel 15 Aug 2011
27 Body Arts: Travelling Ink Through conversations with leading tattooists from around the world, this film explores the artistry, philosophy, meaning and history of tattooing at the site of the 2010 London Tattoo Convention. Udi Mandel Butler, Alan Mandel 15 Aug 2011
28 Body Arts: Kakau and Batok Talk: Tattoos from Hawaii and the Philippines At the conclusion of her fieldwork in the mountains of northern Luzon in the Philippines, anthropologist Analyn Salvador-Amore filmed an encounter with Hawaiian tattoo practitioner Keone Nunes and a Butbut tattoo practitioner Whang-ud. Analyn Salvador-Amore 15 Aug 2011
29 Body Arts: Bodies Beautiful Four women from Oxford take a course in film-making with local film-maker Sharon Woodward from Oxford Film and Video Makers. They explore the changing cultural meaning of body decoration in British society. Rosalind Miles, Sara Parsons, Cait Sweeney, Louise Webster 15 Aug 2011
30 Body Arts: What is Body Art? Sixth-form artists from Cheney School search out the decorated and opinionated residents of Oxford to get their views on Body Art. Pitt Rivers Museum 15 Aug 2011
31 Body Arts: Tatau and Ta Moko Maori artist George Nuku and Samoan artist Rosanna Raymond talk about the significance of traditional Polynesian tattoo designs and some of the stories behind them. George Nuku, Rosanna Raymond 15 Aug 2011
32 Shrunken Heads at the Pitt Rivers Museum The display of shrunken heads at the Pitt Rivers Museum fascinates many visitors. In this podcast, Dr Laura Peers, curator, explains where they come from, why they were made, and the curatorial issues involved in displaying them. Laura Peers 24 Jun 2011
33 Introduction (4) to the Pitt Rivers Museum Writing cabinet and boats. Andrew McLellan, Kate White 21 Jun 2011
34 Introduction (3) to the Pitt Rivers Museum Lights and folk. Andrew McLellan, Kate White 21 Jun 2011
35 Introduction (2) to the Pitt Rivers Museum A sense of discovery. Andrew McLellan, Kate White 21 Jun 2011
36 Introduction (1) to the Pitt Rivers Museum A guide to the unique displays of this intimate museum. Andrew McLellan, Kate White 21 Jun 2011