• Skip to content
  • About Accessibility on our website
University of Aberdeen
  • Study
    • Undergraduate
      • Undergraduate Degrees
      • Subject Areas
      • Go Abroad
      • Finance and Funding
      • How to Apply
    • Postgraduate Taught
      • Postgraduate Degrees
      • Online Degrees
      • Part-time Study
      • Finance and Funding
      • How to Apply
    • Postgraduate Research
      • Research Areas
      • PhD Opportunities
      • Finance and Funding
      • How to Apply
    • Online Learning
      • Online Degrees
      • Short Courses
      • Study Subjects
      • How Online Learning Works
      • Fees and Funding
      • Close
  • About
      • Campus
      • Maps and Directions
      • Staff Directory
      • Contact Information
      • News
      • Events
      • History
      • Facts & Figures
      • Schools and Institutes
      • Strategy and Governance
      • Management
      • Coronavirus (Covid-19)
      • Close
  • Research
      • Explore our Research
      • Impact
      • Find a Centre or Institute
      • Facilities
      • Postgraduate Research Study
      • Research Jobs
      • Research Support
      • Close
  • Alumni & Giving
    • Alumni
      • Stay in Touch
      • Get Involved
      • Benefits and Services
      • Alumni Hub
      • Events and Reunions
      • Our Alumni
    • Development Trust
      • Make a Difference
      • Apply for Funding
      • Giving
      • Close
  • Business
      • Close
      • Development and Training
      • Facilities and Expertise
      • Working with Students
      • Collaboration
      • Funding
      • Business Contacts
      • Close
  • Quick Links
    • Student Resources
      • MyTimetable
      • MyCurriculum
      • MyAberdeen
      • Student Hub
      • Student Email
      • Student Channel
      • Infohub Opening Hours
        Mon - Thu
        09:00 - 17:00
        Fri
        10:00 - 17:00
        Sat - Sun
        Closed
        Email: infohub@abdn.ac.uk
    • StaffNet
      • Working Here
      • Management Information Systems
      • Teaching & Learning
      • Policy & Governance
      • Staff Email
    • Our Website
      • Study
      • About
      • Research
      • Alumni & Giving
      • Business
    • Popular
      • For Students
      • For Staff
      • Online Store
      • ePayments
      • Jobs
      • Library
      • Staff Directory
      • IT Services
      • A to Z
      • Close
Search Menu
Search Our Website

Or Browse:

  • Contacts
  • A to Z
  • Staff Directory
University Museums
  • About Us
  • Exhibitions
  • What's On
  • Search the Collections
  • Research and Teaching
  • Visit Us

Human Culture Collections

  1. University Home
  2. University Museums
  3. Search the Collections
  4. Human Culture Collections

Scottish History and Archaeology | Scientific Instruments | Coins and Medals
Non-Western Archaeology and Ethnography | Fine Art | European and Mediterranean Archaeology

Scottish History and Archaeology">

Scottish History and Archaeology

From Mesolithic flints to 20th century farm tools, the main strengths of the collection lie in North-East prehistory, Scottish militaria and University history, while there are also important collections of recent historical items and folk-life material. The archaeological collection is now the principal depository of prehistoric and early historic material from the North-East, building on the collections of funerary assemblages from eastern Scotland.

Certain groups of material also have excellent supporting documentary material. At the heart of the militaria collection is the The Gordon Collection, including medals associated with members of the Gordon clan and militaria formerly associated with the House of Gordon.

Scientific Instruments">

Scientific Instruments

The collection of around 3,000 historical scientific instruments is one of the most diverse collections of historical scientific instruments in any British University, closely associated with teaching and research in natural philosophy. The 18th and 19th century objects cover numerous subject areas, notably astronomy, surveying and navigation, statics and dynamics, properties of matter, pneumatics and hydraulics, electrostatics, current electricity and magnetism, optics, heat, acoustics, meteorology.

The 20th century collection is a major strength, including additional themes such as

  • X-rays
  • Electronic instruments and measurements
  • Measuring radioactivity
  • Precision instrumentation
  • Computational machines
  • Optical equipment
More information
Coins and Medals">

Coins and Medals

Alongside the excellent series of Classical coins, including the Newnham Davis Greek coin collection, there are many commemorative and prize medals, trade tokens, jetons, beggars’ badges and British military medals. The wide-ranging series of Scottish-minted coins starts with an early 12th century silver penny of David I and continues to 1709.

There are also several thousand coins from the Upperkirkgate, Aberdeen hoard, over 1,000 medieval European hammered coins, 1,500 British milled coins and 9,000 coins from India, China and elsewhere, with almost 10,000 communion tokens from most parishes in Scotland and elsewhere in the British Empire.

Non-Western Archaeology and Ethnography">

Non-Western Archaeology and Ethnography

The University’s ethnographic collections are among the three largest in Scotland, with the collections from Central America being the largest and those from North America, East Africa, South Africa and Australia in second place. The collections from West Africa, South Asia, Melanesia and Polynesia are almost as important in such terms.

The importance of the collection is enhanced by quality of specific collections and their association with collectors, such as those from Papua New Guinea and surrounding islands made by the first British Administrator, Sir William McGregor. The European collections are dominated by the 1930s Balkan collections of Margaret Hasluck.

Fine Art">

Fine Art

The areas of greatest strength in the collection are Early Modern Scottish painting, 17th-20th century portraiture and 19th century prints, including works by

  • George Jamesone
  • Cosmo Alexander
  • Charles Whyt
  • Anne Forbes
  • Angelica Kauffman
  • James Giles
  • George Reid
  • Alberto Morrocco

The collections of landscapes include works by many important artists, including

  • James Giles
  • Horatio McCulloch
  • William MacTaggart
  • Joseph Farquharson
  • Gordon Bryce
  • James Morrison

Other recent donations and purchases have built on the collection of 20th century works by Scottish Colourists that was established by the bequest from Eric Linklater.

European and Mediterranean Archaeology">

European and Mediterranean Archaeology

The internationally significant collections from Egypt are the second-largest in Scotland, with over 4000 items, mainly the gift of Dr James Grant. There are also excavated assemblages from Egypt, Palestine and Mesopotamia. There is a notable highlight in Ancient Greek ceramics, complementing the impressive Greek and Roman coin collections.

The important early 19th century collections of Dr Robert Wilson from Italy, Greece, Egypt and Mesopotamia are particularly enhanced by their association with his library and archives held by the University.

Breadcrumb

  • University Home
  • University Museums
  • Search the Collections

In This Section

  • Search the Collections
  • Human Culture Collections
  • Natural History Collections
  • Medical Collections
  • Conservation
  • Connecting Collections

Quick Links

Our Website

  • Study
  • About
  • Research
  • Alumni & Giving
  • Business
  • News
  • Events

Popular

  • For Students
  • For Staff
  • Online Store
  • Jobs
  • Library
  • Staff Directory
  • IT Services
  • A to Z
  • Campus Maps
  • For Students
  • For Staff
  • Sitemap

Contact Us

University of Aberdeen
Address
University of Aberdeen
King's College,
Aberdeen,
AB24 3FX
Phone
Tel: +44 (0)1224 272000
  • Contacts
  • A to Z
  • Maps and Directions
  • Staff Directory

Connect With Us

  • YouTube
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Weibo
Top of Page
  • Privacy Statement
  • Accessibility
  • Cookies
  • Slavery & Human Trafficking Statement
  • Freedom of Information

The University of Aberdeen is a charity registered in Scotland, No.SC013683