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Welcome to the Online Database for Objects in the Collections of the Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford.

The online database provides access to all the information held by the Museum about the objects in its collections. Users are asked to bear in mind, however, that this is a working database and not a catalogue. Thus not all the entries are complete and many contain a variety of errors, from typos to misidentifications. It should also be noted that the Museum uses the database to preserve all the information ever recorded about its collections, including details that are now known to be incorrect.

Users are also asked to note that much of the wording contained in the database has come directly from historic documents and thus some of the terminology may now appear outdated and even offensive. The historical value of seeing how objects were perceived at the time they became part of the Museum’s collections (or even before) is an important part of their history, which is why such information is preserved in the records. In addition, users may also wish to know that the database includes records for objects that are considered secret or sacred by some communities.

To search the database, access the Search Menu, using the appropriate button above.

The Museum is always pleased to receive further information about the objects in its collections and corrections to the database entries. These should be sent to the Head of Collections, Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PP, or emailed to objects.colls@prm.ox.ac.uk

Resources for Research Visitors are available at http://www.prm.ox.ac.uk/researchnotes.html

Information about the Museum’s Photographic Services are available at http://www.prm.ox.ac.uk/researchservices.html