About

The mission of the WSU Museum of Anthropology is to promote understanding of human cultures through research, education, and stewardship of archaeological collections and ethnological materials from the Northwest and beyond. 

Staff are engaged in activities related to this mission, including collection maintenance and rehabilitation of archaeological materials and ethnographic collections, teaching and outreach, and providing opportunities for research within the collections.

The museum is an official repository for archaeological collections and associated archival materials that meet the curation standards from 36 CFR 79 in compliance with federal and state mandates. Currently, the museum curates materials from more than 1,600 archaeological sites. Pacific Northwest collections are primarily from sites in the Columbia Plateau in eastern Washington State, a reflection of the WSU Department of Anthropology’s role as a center for scholarship and interdisciplinary archaeological science in the region.