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Welcome to the Penn Museum blog. First launched in January 2009, the Museum blog now has over 800 posts covering a range of topics in the categories of Museum, Collection, Exhibitions, Research, and By Location. Here you’ll hear directly from our staff and Penn students about their work, research, experiences, and discoveries. To explore the Museum's other digital content, visit The Digital Penn Museum.


“When the Sap Starts Running in the Spring, the Blood Starts Running in Our Men”

By: Lucy Fowler Williams

Probably one of the fastest growing games in the world, it seems that everyone wants to play lacrosse. The Iroquois Confederacy or Haudenosaunee will field a team at the World Outdoor Championship Games to be played this summer in Denver (July 9-19). In 2015 they will host 16-18 countries competing in the Indoor Box Lacrosse […]

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Onondaga Nation and Swedish Engineers Join Hands on Global Food Production

By: Lucy Fowler Williams

Native American economic initiatives are influencing our world today…here is a terrific example! A new economic initiative in Indian Country that moves beyond the sale of tobacco and casinos is Plantagon, an innovative international partnership with Native American principles at its core. We heard about it from Oren Lyons, Faithkeeper of the Onondaga Nation (in […]

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Ur Digitization Project: April 2014

By: Brad Hafford

Artifact of the month Spotlight on Field Number U.10183 (Museum Number B17249) ‘goddess-handled’ jar In our recent investigations of pottery from Ur housed at the Penn Museum we have seen more than 1300 pieces, measuring, describing, photographing, recording condition, and making repairs or other treatments for those in need. In some cases we are removing […]

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Archives Photo of the Week: Penn Relays

By: Eric Schnittke

April 24th marks the start of the 2014 Penn Relays. For those unfamiliar, the Penn Relays is the oldest and largest track and field event in the United States. The event is held annually at Franklin Field, which is directly across from the Penn Museum. The archives is one of the wings closest to the field, […]

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Would You Like to See Samoa?

By: Lee Roueche

It is spring break for some this week, but it definitely doesn’t feel like sunshine and Mai Tais today in Philadelphia. For those of us stuck at our desks, here is a short clip from our archival film collection to get you dancing and thinking of vacation! Shot in 1940, this travelogue film documents the […]

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Let’s Go Fly a Kite!

By: Jennifer Reifsteck

The Family Second Sunday series is one of the programs that I manage here at the Penn Museum, and it’s easily my favorite.  Each month from September through May, I get to create a craft inspired by an artifact or area of the world represented by the Museum.  Then I get to teach it to […]

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Jugs that rattle and roll

By: Sara Levin

Continuing my condition survey of artifacts from Lapithos, Cyprus, I came across what seemed like a dull-looking Iron Age jug recently. But when I picked it up my ears perked—there were small objects rattling around inside. It may not be as pretty, but I realized that this jug is similar in shape and size to the rattling flask from Kourion […]

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Poetry Read aloud at fireside: Sacred Ground II

By: Lucy Fowler Williams

By: Suzan Shown Harjo Opening Celebration March 1, 2014 Native American Voices: The People – Here and Now Sacred Ground II Eagles disappear into the sun surrounded by light from the face of Creation then scream their way home with burning Messages of mystery and power some are given to snake doctors and ants and […]

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Mission: Corn Cakes and Jam

By: Ilene Rosen

The development and creation of Culinary Expeditions: A Celebration of Food and Culture Inspired by Penn Museum Treasures, a new book available May 5, was a labor of love by a host of Penn Museum staff, Women’s Committee volunteers, and other volunteers throughout the Museum. Museum docent and Women’s Committee member Cheryl Baker pulled together […]

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Association for Asian Studies Conference 2014 – Joyce White Keynote Speaker

By: Beth Van Horn

“It was a dark and gloomy night” on March 29th…….but despite the rainy weather, about 400 people came out to hear Dr. Joyce White’s talk, “Hot Pots, Museum Raids, and the Race to Uncover Asia’s Archaeological Past” at the Association for Asian Studies Annual Conference in Philadelphia. Sponsored by the Henry Luce Foundation and the […]

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