Penn Museum

Penn Museum A million world wonders. 10,000 years of human history. Exploring our shared humanity✨Now On View: Eastern Mediterranean Gallery

We have more in common than we think—our past, present, and future paths are all intertwined. What does the Code of Hammurabi have to do with the U.S. constitution? How can archaeology help to predict climate change? And what radical social changes accelerated by ancient plagues could be replicated in a post-COVID world? Home to over a million extraordinary objects from Africa, Asia, the Americas,

and the Mediterranean, since 1887 the Penn Museum has been uncovering our shared humanity. In bridging archaeology, the study of objects made by humans, with anthropology, the science of humanity, we chart a course for finding one’s own place in the arc of human history. We are dedicated to telling powerful stories from around the world. And nowhere else in the Western Hemisphere will you be greeted by a 3,000-year-old, 25,000-pound Egyptian sphinx! The Penn Museum sparks curiosity, wonder, and endless exploration. We invite everyone to join our incredible journey of discovery and dig deeper. Explore what's on view at: https://www.penn.museum/on-view/galleries-exhibitions . Admission is $18 for adults; $15 for senior citizens (65+); and $13 for children. Buy tickets in advance online at https://www.penn.museum/tickets/ . FREE for Museum Members, PennCard holders, teachers (with ID), U.S. military members & veterans (with ID), high school students (ages 13-19,) and children 5 and younger. Present ID at the desk to receive free admission. Check the "Plan Your Visit" page on the website for other special offers.
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⚡BREAKING NEWS in CNN: Grab a cold one 🍺 and get ready to read about this incredible archaeological find involving an an...
02/01/2023
Archaeologists find 5,000-year-old tavern -- including food remains -- in Iraq

⚡BREAKING NEWS in CNN: Grab a cold one 🍺 and get ready to read about this incredible archaeological find involving an ancient pub with a 5,000-year-old fridge!

researchers working in Southern Iraq just uncovered an ancient tavern, hidden just 19 inches below the surface. This amazing find sheds light on a historically overlooked “middle class" in Lagash, one of the oldest and largest cities in Mesopotamia.

"The fact that you have a public gathering place where people can sit down and have a pint and have their fish stew, they're not laboring under the tyranny of kings. Right there, there is already something that is giving us a much more colorful history of the city." —Reed Goodman, archaeologist from the University of Pennsylvania

Historically, archaeologists restricted ancient peoples to one of two categories—elite or enslaved. These views are outdated as Lagash’s residents were independent people thriving in urban neighborhoods.

Check out the full story from CNN: https://cnn.it/3wMdmWt

Eating out seems to have been as popular 5,000 years ago as it is today, with archaeologists in Iraq uncovering an ancient tavern dating back to 2,700 BCE.

02/01/2023

😎 REGISTRATION NOW OPEN 😎 for our popular Anthropology Camp. Summer adventure awaits for children ages 6-13!

Each week features an exciting theme, from Creating the World to Cracking the Code—plus hands-on workshops, expert talks, and gallery exploration. A limited number of scholarships are available.

Register today for a summer of fun! Don't wait - spots are filling up fast.

🔗 Register here: https://bit.ly/3Wn0PmS

Scholarship applications open through April 30.

🔍 It's  , and we are looking closely at the cracks on this tablet.In 1913, researchers discovered a fragment of a tablet...
01/31/2023

🔍 It's , and we are looking closely at the cracks on this tablet.

In 1913, researchers discovered a fragment of a tablet containing part of a Sumerian myth. They quickly found the remaining portions in the Museum collections and joined them together!

We are now able to read this remarkable account of two Sumerian deities, Enki and Ninhursag. Initial attempts to understand the tablet were a little off the mark and it took some thirty years for our knowledge of literary Sumerian to advance enough to provide a reliable translation of this myth.

See this tablet up close on your next visit to our Middle East Galleries. Book your tickets today: https://bit.ly/3Wl74sk

Tablet, Nippur, Iraq, ca. 1730 BCE, CBS 4561

01/30/2023

🧢 Bundle up for the last days of our sale! Save 15% on hats from the Penn Museum Shop using the code HATSSOFF15. Offer ends tomorrow January 31!

Keep warm in these beautiful wool beanies, hand-knit in Nepal!

Shop online at https://bit.ly/3X9e4sn or visit us on the Main level.

🦅 Getting our game faces on for the NFC Championship  Last weekend, visitors at CultureFest! Lunar New Year brought good...
01/29/2023

🦅 Getting our game faces on for the NFC Championship

Last weekend, visitors at CultureFest! Lunar New Year brought good luck to the Birds as they repped their Philadelphia Eagles gear 🏈

Visiting the on game day? Tag us to share your team spirit!

Hats off to Lu Denegre, Conservation Technician, as they prepared this Senegalese hat to go on view in the Africa Galler...
01/28/2023

Hats off to Lu Denegre, Conservation Technician, as they prepared this Senegalese hat to go on view in the Africa Galleries.

It is made of Twill plaited natural fibers and embellished with a design made of dyed leather strips, fabric and threads, as well as sporting a double decker leather fringe.

The delicate leather strap has been humidified to be gently re-flattened, and pXRF analysis was used to discover some of the pigments used to dye the leather decoration.

Continue celebrating with a visit to the Penn Museum Shop. Enjoy 15% off our hat selections using code HATSOFF15 from now through January 31!* Enter it online checkout or mention it onsite! Shop now: https://bit.ly/3rgiM8h

*Offer valid January 15-31, 2023 online and onsite. Cannot be combined with other offers or discounts.

Image 1: View of Hat, Senegal, ca. 1900, 2003-72-77
Image 2: top view of same hat
Image 3: The Senegalese hat during treatment; to the viewer’s left, the leather strap is being humidified and flattened; to the right, a Bruker Tracer 3 pXRF (portable x-ray fluorescence analyzer) is being used to identify dyes used on the leather

01/27/2023
Penn Museum Expedition Magazine

✨MEMBER PERK: , the Penn Museum Member magazine arrives at Member homes three times a year. It features articles showcasing the latest findings of archaeologists and anthropologists around the world, as well as special insight to the Penn Museum’s own field work, collections, and research.

The Fall 2022 issue featured an article, “At a Crossroads of Culture” that takes a closer look at the new Eastern Mediterranean Gallery, and its primary themes—coexistence and connection, power and conflict, and creativity and change.

Interested in receiving future issues of Expedition? Become a Penn Museum Member today: https://bit.ly/3Y6Pzwd

☀️ Registration for our popular   Anthropology camp opens February 1. Get ready for exciting weekly themes, workshops, g...
01/26/2023

☀️ Registration for our popular Anthropology camp opens February 1.

Get ready for exciting weekly themes, workshops, gallery exploration & more.

Spots go fast! Sign up for our e-news to be notified right when registration opens: https://bit.ly/3pFR6JE

How is history preservation in the U.S. shaped by our re-imagining of the past? Find out in our upcoming Great Lecture: ...
01/25/2023

How is history preservation in the U.S. shaped by our re-imagining of the past?

Find out in our upcoming Great Lecture: Histories of Historic Preservation in the United States.

Join Randall Mason, Ph.D., of University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of Design as he recounts and critiques shaping the development of built heritage and its preservation in the U.S.

📆 February 1, 6-7:30 pm
🔗 Virtual & In Person: https://bit.ly/3HhiqYX

The start of a new year marks a moment for looking back at what we’ve learned and begun to build. “Our Social Responsibi...
01/24/2023

The start of a new year marks a moment for looking back at what we’ve learned and begun to build.

“Our Social Responsibility” is a page we created to share areas of growth and ongoing efforts towards repair: bit.ly/3Hk4Tji

We care for over a million objects in the Museum’s collection, each with its own unique story—and every story has meaning for people and cultures from around the world. Our responsibility in shaping these narratives is an important part of our mission.

We have worked to confront an institutional past tied to colonialism and racism; to challenge processes and practices that marginalize others; and to develop an action plan for the future.

We are embarking on a museum-wide Strategic Visioning Process—in which diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) principles are central priorities.

As we commit ourselves to a broader vision of our shared humanity, we begin with these goals:

-Cultivate an inclusive culture
-Build culturally responsive engagement with diverse audiences
-Strengthen our ethical and teaching practices

As the work evolves, and our goals expand with Strategic Visioning, we will be sharing updates from this page throughout the year.

You are part of this journey.
Thank you for being a part of the Penn Museum community

We were thrilled to welcome players from the Philadelphia Wings to talk about the Indigenous roots of lacrosse. 🥍  fans ...
01/22/2023

We were thrilled to welcome players from the Philadelphia Wings to talk about the Indigenous roots of lacrosse. 🥍

fans even had the chance to meet and take photos with players Joe Resetarits, Blake McDonald, and Trevor Baptiste.

Couldn't make it? Visit our Native American Voices Gallery to dive deeper into why this sport is important for many Native American communities today: https://bit.ly/3rm2NIm

Happy   🎉 🐰Thank you to all of the families that celebrated CultureFest! Lunar New Year with us yesterday. Some of our f...
01/22/2023

Happy 🎉 🐰

Thank you to all of the families that celebrated CultureFest! Lunar New Year with us yesterday. Some of our favorite moments include visitors gearing up for the Lion Dance by the Penn Lions, all of the fantastic paper lanterns and art making in the Asia Galleries, and the beautiful performances by partners of the American Chinese Museum ACM.

Let the begin!

01/21/2023

🏈 🦅 Spreading big Philadelphia Eagles energy on playoff game day in style... with eagle artifacts!

Ring, Mediterranean, 50 BCE-400 CE, 29-128-2057
Wall Hanging, Japan, 29-96-406
Button Blanket, Canada, 95-25-1
Ornament, Russia, 399-200 BCE, 30-33-14.1

01/20/2023

TOMORROW is CultureFest! Lunar New Year, our annual all-day festival—OPEN TO ALL 🏮🎉 On January 21, enjoy art making, an artisan market, live music and performances!

Don't miss the grande finale: 🦁 Watch the Penn Lions () perform the traditional Lion Dance!

Many communities recognize Lunar New Year, including those who identify with Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, and Tibetan cultures. The holiday traditionally begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar, and ends 15 days later on the first full moon.

View the full lineup of events and book your tickets: https://bit.ly/3PJWp7O
Kids 5 & under FREE.

🏮🐰 This Saturday, hop into the Year of the Rabbit at our 42nd annual CultureFest! Lunar New Year. In partnership with th...
01/19/2023
Philly's Penn Museum Celebrates the Lunar New Year

🏮🐰 This Saturday, hop into the Year of the Rabbit at our 42nd annual CultureFest! Lunar New Year. In partnership with the American Chinese Museum ACM, we are thrilled to bring you a full day of family fun celebrating vibrant Asian traditions!

Get ready for art making, an artisan marketplace, live performances, and more!

Check out the full story via NBC10 Philadelphia: https://bit.ly/3ZLLOxA

Li Edwards speaks to Philly Live’s Sheila Watko about the American Chinese Museum teaming up with the Penn Museum this Saturday for a celebration of Chinese culture and the Lunar New Year.

🤳 Happy  ! We love seeing your museum adventures today and all year round.Don't forget to tag the  for a chance to be fe...
01/18/2023

🤳 Happy ! We love seeing your museum adventures today and all year round.

Don't forget to tag the for a chance to be featured on our channels!

Image Credits: [via Instagram] ; ; ; ;

We were thrilled to welcome members of the Suzhou Culture and Arts Centre together with The Philadelphia Orchestra! The ...
01/17/2023

We were thrilled to welcome members of the Suzhou Culture and Arts Centre together with The Philadelphia Orchestra! The group enjoyed a private tour in Mandarin, exploring our world-renowned collections, including the Asia Galleries. Thank you for choosing to kick off your Lunar New Year performance with Asian Performing Arts Council at the !

🎉 🐰 Keep the celebrations hoppin' for the Year of the Rabbit at our CultureFest! Lunar New Year this weekend. Bring the whole family for a full day of vibrant festivities, including art making, an artisan marketplace, live performances, and more!

OPEN TO ALL. Book tickets here: https://bit.ly/3PJWp7O
Kids 5 & under are free.

"We shall overcome because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice."—Dr. Martin Luther King, ...
01/16/2023

"We shall overcome because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice."—Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Address at the Washington National Cathedral, March 31, 1968.

Commemorating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with community programs and days of service is a yearly initiative led by Penn's African-American Resource Center (AARC).

Today, on Day, kick off the Day of Service with a FREE in person breakfast at 8 am! Meet guest speakers, Dr. David Johns and Senator Vincent Hughes and enjoy great entertainment by Amara J and her Band. Register: https://bit.ly/3ZmNDRy

Programs continue through January 26. From donation drives, story-times, and college workshops, there are many ways to participate.
See the full schedule of events: https://bit.ly/3Gu4Qjc

📷 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is greeted at the University Museum on "Law Day USA", May 1, 1965. Photo by Bernato, courtesy of the University Archives.



https://bit.ly/3GSt20a

🧢 Today is  !As a nod to all the hat lovers out there, our Penn Museum Shop has a special limited-time offer: Enjoy 15% ...
01/15/2023

🧢 Today is !

As a nod to all the hat lovers out there, our Penn Museum Shop has a special limited-time offer: Enjoy 15% off our fun hat selections using code HATSOFF15 from now through January 31!* Enter it online checkout or mention it onsite!

Rep our newest baseball cap or stay warm with a hand-knit wool beanies from Nepal.

Shop online or visit us on the Main level: https://bit.ly/3X9e4sn

*Offer valid January 15-31, 2023 online and onsite. Cannot be combined with other offers or discounts.

01/13/2023

🔎 Dig deep into the life and times of King Tutankhamun—or King Tut—and the famous excavation that shared Ancient Egypt's young pharaoh with the modern world.

Don't miss our upcoming , a virtual four-part course unearthing "King Tut's Tomb and Treasures"

Join Dr. David P. Silverman, Eckley Brinton Coxe, Jr. Professor of Egyptology and Curator of the Egyptian Section at the Penn Museum, as he talks about the excavation of this ancient tomb, revealed to be the richest in Egypt's Valley of the Kings!

📆 Four Thursdays, starting February 2
🔗 Register today: https://bit.ly/3Qvus42

No previous experience/knowledge required.

🥍 MEET & GREET! Join players from the Philadelphia Wings in our Native American Voices Gallery this Sunday, January 15 f...
01/13/2023

🥍 MEET & GREET! Join players from the Philadelphia Wings in our Native American Voices Gallery this Sunday, January 15 from 12–1 pm as they honor the roots of the .

Learn about the origins of lacrosse and its connections to the Indigenous team sport of stickball!

Book your tickets today: https://bit.ly/3XiBD1O

We want to see your ultimate selfies with players! Tag us for a chance to be featured.

01/12/2023
"Stolen Legacy" by Hannibal Lokumbe

In partnership with internationally-renowned artist, composer, and educator Hannibal Lokumbe, the Penn Museum is proud to present "Stolen Legacy," a libretto and musical commentary on the removal of art from the African continent.

"Stolen Legacy" is a multi-tiered experience that began with the artist visiting classrooms across Philadelphia and Camden to discuss his composition. Students were invited hear that performance come to life at the Museum today!

Starting tomorrow, everyone is invited to experience "Stolen Legacy"––FREE & OPEN TO ALL.

Jan. 13 - Join us for a thought-provoking artist & curator conversation
Jan. 14 - Hear the musical performance live

Due to popular demand, more seats have been added. Registration required: https://bit.ly/3Wx27vQ

This program is part of the Museum’s own reflective process about our institutional history, which is tied to colonialist and racist narratives, and our work to reconcile our past with restorative practices.

Don’t miss this provocative musical commentary and artistic work live at the Penn Museum, before it is permanently installed as an audio piece in the Africa Galleries.

NEXT WEEKEND: Celebrate the   🎉🐰 with CultureFest! Lunar New Year, our annual all-day festival on January 21.Many commun...
01/12/2023

NEXT WEEKEND: Celebrate the 🎉🐰 with CultureFest! Lunar New Year, our annual all-day festival on January 21.

Many communities recognize Lunar New Year, including those who identify with Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, and Tibetan cultures. The holiday traditionally begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar, and ends 15 days later on the first full moon.

Enjoy a full day of vibrant festivities, including art making, an artisan marketplace, live performances, and more!

Don't just take our word for it. PhillyVoice has the full story: https://bit.ly/3ViD5j8

We 💙 seeing snaps of your   visit!Thanks to  [via Instagram] for sharing this monumental moment with an alabaster carvin...
01/11/2023

We 💙 seeing snaps of your visit!

Thanks to [via Instagram] for sharing this monumental moment with an alabaster carving from Ashurnasirpal's palace at Nimrud––only in our Middle East Galleries!
Don't forget to tag us for a chance to be featured.

Book your tickets today with the link in our bio

📸:

An Update on the Burial of Black Philadelphians in the Morton Cranial Collection   As part of continued transparency aro...
01/10/2023

An Update on the Burial of Black Philadelphians in the Morton Cranial Collection

As part of continued transparency around the process for repatriation or burial of the Morton Collection, we are sharing updated information about 20 Black Philadelphians.

As the Philadelphia Orphans Court reviews a community-informed proposal to bury their cranial remains at a historic African-American cemetery, we will continue to share the next steps following a hearing scheduled for February 2, 2023.

Learn more and access the updated information here: https://bit.ly/3R8KAYx


Facts about the Morton Collection

- Transferred to the Penn Museum in 1966, the Morton Collection consists of over 1,300 crania, which were collected by Samuel Morton and others during the mid-19th century.
- The crania come from all parts of the world and range in date from ancient Egyptian times to the 19th century.
- As such, the Morton Collection needs to be treated as multiple smaller groupings, rather than as a single unit.
- A 2021 research report based on publicly available 19th-century archival records from the Morton Collection initially identified at least 14 individuals as Black Philadelphians based on Morton’s catalogues through 1849.
-However, recent research by the Penn Museum now identifies 20 Black Philadelphians—12 women and 8 men, including those added to the Collection after 1849.

About Selecting Eden Cemetery

- One of Greater Philadelphia’s earliest African-American burial grounds, Eden Cemetery has an open policy regarding the burial of persons from diverse religious beliefs.
- During a Community Advisory Group meeting on Nov. 3, 2021, the proposal to bury the Black Philadelphians in Eden Cemetery received consensus from those present.
- Selecting Eden Cemetery was informed by a 2020 court approval to proceed with the reinterment of human remains discovered at the African Friends to Harmony Burial Ground on Penn’s campus. When they learned about the burial site in 2019, Penn officials consulted with and followed the wishes of local community leaders and descendant church congregations, who recommended transferring any recovered remains to Eden Cemetery.

01/09/2023

Our new Eastern Mediterranean Gallery: showcases how life in the region began to change as people combined their knowledge and traditions, creating a nexus for innovation!

✨ CREATIVITY & CHANGE ✨

People in this region were inspired by each other. Take a look at the detailed faces of these figurines found in Cyprus—they came from molds based on the faces of imported Greek figurines of youths, women, and the gods Eros and Pan.

Find inspiration in our new gallery. Book your tickets today: https://bit.ly/3WMdO2z

Figurine, Kourion, Cyprus, 550-330 BCE, 54-28-63, 54-28-69

01/08/2023

👀 The Penn Museum’s set their eyes on history during their Student Gala in November.

Named after Clio, the Greek Muse of history, the Clio Society, a University of Pennsylvania student interest group explored eye symbolism in antiquity. From the classic Turkish Evil Eye to lesser-known eye symbolism in Babylonian amulets, Gala guests learned fun facts about ancient eyes and then made their own evil eye jewelry! 🧿

The Clio Society brings together students who share a common interest in and appreciation for museums, culture, and art. Members gain a greater understanding of world cultures, arts and culture professions, and the museum field. Interested in joining? All Penn undergraduate students are welcome. Apply here: https://bit.ly/3YLUJP3

Livestream our Second Sunday Culture Film this weekend from anywhere in the world.🎞 "At the Edge of the Bazaar" shares a...
01/06/2023

Livestream our Second Sunday Culture Film this weekend from anywhere in the world.

🎞 "At the Edge of the Bazaar" shares a glimpse of rural Uyghur craftsmen who use centuries-old techniques to transform raw materials like reeds and wood into fine merchandise sold at the local weekly market.

The film will be followed by remarks presented remotely by Darren Byler, Assistant Professor of International Studies, Simon Fraser University.

Second Sunday Culture Films is an independent documentary series, curated by Kate Pourshariati, Penn Museum Film Archivist, in association with the Wolf Humanities Center's 2022 - 2023 Forum on Heritage.

🎟 VIRTUAL ONLY. Registration Required. Pay what you wish: https://bit.ly/3CjgSKW

What happens when people sail across the seas and collaborate across geographic, political and religious lines? Innovati...
01/05/2023

What happens when people sail across the seas and collaborate across geographic, political and religious lines? Innovations are born. Unlike modern tech tools that often become quickly obsolete, these innovations have endured for the past 4,000 years!

Welcome to the EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN––an ancient that brought you the world's first alphabet, among other works of great creativity and ingenuity. With over 400 artifacts, the gallery holds amazing stories through themes of Coexistence & Connection; Creativity & Change, as well as Power & Conflict.

Let’s take a closer look at one of the themes:

🤝 COEXISTENCE & CONNECTION 🤝
People from around the Mediterranean met and traded goods in cities from Carthage to Palmyra. As they worked and lived together, their traditions and ideas mixed. They began to express their identities in new, creative ways.

Peer inside a cargo hold modeled after a wrecked 14th-century BCE Mediterranean ship, filled with pottery vessels like this ceramic flask from Cyprus.
Potters got creative when making these hybrid vessels. See how this merges the round-bottomed shape of a traditional flask with a pyxis (container) and lid?

Don’t miss our newly-opened multi-sensory gallery that lets you see, touch, and smell your way through the ancient history of a region, which today, includes Israel, the Palestinian Territories, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Cyprus. Book your tickets today: https://bit.ly/3GGD98p

No complete cult statues of Diana Demorensis Nemorensis from the temples at Nemi survive. This large marble head, howeve...
01/04/2023

No complete cult statues of Diana Demorensis Nemorensis from the temples at Nemi survive. This large marble head, however, is likely part of a monumental cult statue of Diana.

Marvel at the marble sculptures from the Sanctuary of Diana Demorensis Nemorensis on your next visit to the . Book your tickets today: https://bit.ly/3wwOymC

Sculpture, Statue, Lake Nemi, Latium, Italy, 125 BCE, MS3483

"A hidden gem nestled within the University City neighborhood on the University of Pennsylvania campus." — Condé Nast T...
01/03/2023

"A hidden gem nestled within the University City neighborhood on the University of Pennsylvania campus." — Condé Nast Traveler

Thankful to be recognized as one of Condé Nast Traveler's "The 13 Best Museums in Philadelphia" alongside of extraordinary museums that make our city (Philly's the only UNESCO World Heritage city in the U.S.) so amazing!

Make it a year of museum going! Check out our fellow must-see attractions: https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/best-museums-in-philadelphia

🏛️ TOP 13 MUSEUMS 🏛️

PAFA The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Museum of the American Revolution
African American Museum in Philadelphia
The Rosenbach
The Franklin Institute
Eastern State Penitentiary
Independence National Historical Park
Science History Institute
Penn Museum
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Barnes Foundation

Address

3260 South Street
Philadelphia, PA
19104

Arriving by SEPTA Public Transportation: 1. Subway surface (green line): number 11, 13, 34, and 36 to 33rd and Chestnut/Walnut Streets and 37th and Spruce Streets. 2. Buses 21 (with a stop at 33rd and Walnut/Chestnut Streets), 40 and 42 (with a stop at 33rd and Spruce Streets). 3. The University City rail station is located across Convention Avenue from the Museum; R1, R2 and R3 make stops at this station. 4. The Museum is a short walk from 30th Street Station and the 34th Street exit of the Market-Frankford subway. More info here: http://www.septa.org

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 9pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

(215) 898-4000

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⚡BREAKING NEWS in CNN: Grab a cold one 🍺 and get ready to read about this incredible archaeological find involving an ancient pub with a 5,000-year-old fridge!

researchers working in Southern Iraq just uncovered an ancient tavern, hidden just 19 inches below the surface. This amazing find sheds light on a historically overlooked “middle class" in Lagash, one of the oldest and largest cities in Mesopotamia.

"The fact that you have a public gathering place where people can sit down and have a pint and have their fish stew, they're not laboring under the tyranny of kings. Right there, there is already something that is giving us a much more colorful history of the city." —Reed Goodman, archaeologist from the University of Pennsylvania

Historically, archaeologists restricted ancient peoples to one of two categories—elite or enslaved. These views are outdated as Lagash’s residents were independent people thriving in urban neighborhoods.

Check out the full story from CNN: https://cnn.it/3wMdmWt
😎 REGISTRATION NOW OPEN 😎 for our popular Anthropology Camp. Summer adventure awaits for children ages 6-13!

Each week features an exciting theme, from Creating the World to Cracking the Code—plus hands-on workshops, expert talks, and gallery exploration. A limited number of scholarships are available.

Register today for a summer of fun! Don't wait - spots are filling up fast.

🔗 Register here: https://bit.ly/3Wn0PmS

Scholarship applications open through April 30.
🔍 It's , and we are looking closely at the cracks on this tablet.

In 1913, researchers discovered a fragment of a tablet containing part of a Sumerian myth. They quickly found the remaining portions in the Museum collections and joined them together!

We are now able to read this remarkable account of two Sumerian deities, Enki and Ninhursag. Initial attempts to understand the tablet were a little off the mark and it took some thirty years for our knowledge of literary Sumerian to advance enough to provide a reliable translation of this myth.

See this tablet up close on your next visit to our Middle East Galleries. Book your tickets today: https://bit.ly/3Wl74sk

Tablet, Nippur, Iraq, ca. 1730 BCE, CBS 4561
🧢 Bundle up for the last days of our sale! Save 15% on hats from the Penn Museum Shop using the code HATSSOFF15. Offer ends tomorrow January 31!

Keep warm in these beautiful wool beanies, hand-knit in Nepal!

Shop online at https://bit.ly/3X9e4sn or visit us on the Main level.
🦅 Getting our game faces on for the NFC Championship

Last weekend, visitors at CultureFest! Lunar New Year brought good luck to the Birds as they repped their Philadelphia Eagles gear 🏈

Visiting the on game day? Tag us to share your team spirit!
Hats off to Lu Denegre, Conservation Technician, as they prepared this Senegalese hat to go on view in the Africa Galleries.

It is made of Twill plaited natural fibers and embellished with a design made of dyed leather strips, fabric and threads, as well as sporting a double decker leather fringe.

The delicate leather strap has been humidified to be gently re-flattened, and pXRF analysis was used to discover some of the pigments used to dye the leather decoration.

Continue celebrating with a visit to the Penn Museum Shop. Enjoy 15% off our hat selections using code HATSOFF15 from now through January 31!* Enter it online checkout or mention it onsite! Shop now: https://bit.ly/3rgiM8h

*Offer valid January 15-31, 2023 online and onsite. Cannot be combined with other offers or discounts.

Image 1: View of Hat, Senegal, ca. 1900, 2003-72-77
Image 2: top view of same hat
Image 3: The Senegalese hat during treatment; to the viewer’s left, the leather strap is being humidified and flattened; to the right, a Bruker Tracer 3 pXRF (portable x-ray fluorescence analyzer) is being used to identify dyes used on the leather
✨MEMBER PERK: , the Penn Museum Member magazine arrives at Member homes three times a year. It features articles showcasing the latest findings of archaeologists and anthropologists around the world, as well as special insight to the Penn Museum’s own field work, collections, and research.

The Fall 2022 issue featured an article, “At a Crossroads of Culture” that takes a closer look at the new Eastern Mediterranean Gallery, and its primary themes—coexistence and connection, power and conflict, and creativity and change.

Interested in receiving future issues of Expedition? Become a Penn Museum Member today: https://bit.ly/3Y6Pzwd
☀️ Registration for our popular Anthropology camp opens February 1.

Get ready for exciting weekly themes, workshops, gallery exploration & more.

Spots go fast! Sign up for our e-news to be notified right when registration opens: https://bit.ly/3pFR6JE
How is history preservation in the U.S. shaped by our re-imagining of the past?

Find out in our upcoming Great Lecture: Histories of Historic Preservation in the United States.

Join Randall Mason, Ph.D., of University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of Design as he recounts and critiques shaping the development of built heritage and its preservation in the U.S.

📆 February 1, 6-7:30 pm
🔗 Virtual & In Person: https://bit.ly/3HhiqYX
The start of a new year marks a moment for looking back at what we’ve learned and begun to build.

“Our Social Responsibility” is a page we created to share areas of growth and ongoing efforts towards repair: bit.ly/3Hk4Tji

We care for over a million objects in the Museum’s collection, each with its own unique story—and every story has meaning for people and cultures from around the world. Our responsibility in shaping these narratives is an important part of our mission.

We have worked to confront an institutional past tied to colonialism and racism; to challenge processes and practices that marginalize others; and to develop an action plan for the future.

We are embarking on a museum-wide Strategic Visioning Process—in which diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) principles are central priorities.

As we commit ourselves to a broader vision of our shared humanity, we begin with these goals:

-Cultivate an inclusive culture
-Build culturally responsive engagement with diverse audiences
-Strengthen our ethical and teaching practices

As the work evolves, and our goals expand with Strategic Visioning, we will be sharing updates from this page throughout the year.

You are part of this journey.
Thank you for being a part of the Penn Museum community
We were thrilled to welcome players from the Philadelphia Wings to talk about the Indigenous roots of lacrosse. 🥍

fans even had the chance to meet and take photos with players Joe Resetarits, Blake McDonald, and Trevor Baptiste.

Couldn't make it? Visit our Native American Voices Gallery to dive deeper into why this sport is important for many Native American communities today: https://bit.ly/3rm2NIm
Happy 🎉 🐰

Thank you to all of the families that celebrated CultureFest! Lunar New Year with us yesterday. Some of our favorite moments include visitors gearing up for the Lion Dance by the Penn Lions, all of the fantastic paper lanterns and art making in the Asia Galleries, and the beautiful performances by partners of the American Chinese Museum ACM.

Let the begin!
🏈 🦅 Spreading big Philadelphia Eagles energy on playoff game day in style... with eagle artifacts!

Ring, Mediterranean, 50 BCE-400 CE, 29-128-2057
Wall Hanging, Japan, 29-96-406
Button Blanket, Canada, 95-25-1
Ornament, Russia, 399-200 BCE, 30-33-14.1
TOMORROW is CultureFest! Lunar New Year, our annual all-day festival—OPEN TO ALL 🏮🎉 On January 21, enjoy art making, an artisan market, live music and performances!

Don't miss the grande finale: 🦁 Watch the Penn Lions () perform the traditional Lion Dance!

Many communities recognize Lunar New Year, including those who identify with Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, and Tibetan cultures. The holiday traditionally begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar, and ends 15 days later on the first full moon.

View the full lineup of events and book your tickets: https://bit.ly/3PJWp7O
Kids 5 & under FREE.
🏮🐰 This Saturday, hop into the Year of the Rabbit at our 42nd annual CultureFest! Lunar New Year. In partnership with the American Chinese Museum ACM, we are thrilled to bring you a full day of family fun celebrating vibrant Asian traditions!

Get ready for art making, an artisan marketplace, live performances, and more!

Check out the full story via NBC10 Philadelphia: https://bit.ly/3ZLLOxA

🤳 Happy ! We love seeing your museum adventures today and all year round.

Don't forget to tag the for a chance to be featured on our channels!

Image Credits: [via Instagram] ; ; ; ;
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