Sphere and Now
Dec. 20, 2024
By Stephen Lang
Stephen Lang, Lyons Keeper of Collections in the Asian Section, shows us where the Penn Museum’s crystal ball ranks among the top 10 largest crystal balls in the world.
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Dec. 16, 2024
By Stephen Lang
Discovering Local Wisdom from Southeast Asia
As part of the “Year of Botany,” Penn Museum is curating a vast collection of ethnographic materials collected near the UNESCO site of Ban Chiang in Thailand.
Nov. 25, 2024
By Quinn Russell Brown
Archaeology, Adventure, and Spycraft
George H. McFadden—a Penn Museum Research Associate who ferried spies from Alexandria to Cyprus during World War II—is the subject of a new biography.
Nov. 01, 2024
By Conservation Department
What Does a Penn Museum Conservator Do?
Ask a Conservator Day is an annual chance to shed light on the critical—but often invisible—work of conservation professionals. Penn Museum Head Conservator Molly Gleeson shares answers to some frequently asked questions about the profession.
Oct. 15, 2024
By Charlotte Williams
The Paper Trails of Archaeological Labor
Throughout the 20th century, American archaeologists announced a mesmerizing series of major discoveries in Central America. Looking back at the archives, a common theme appears: The archaeologists listened to local knowledge and relied on local labor.
Sep. 27, 2024
By Jo Tiongson-Perez
The Skywatchers
From charting stars that measured time in Ancient Egypt to surveying space with digital telescopes today, Penn Museum’s Egyptologist Jennifer Wegner and The Franklin Institute’s Chief Astronomer Derrick Pitts take us through a timeless continuum of reaching for the skies.
Aug. 30, 2024
By W.B. Hafford
The Case of the Disappearing Lion-Men
Archaeologist W.B. Hafford shares how the team encountered and solved an archaeological mystery during recent excavations at the ancient Assyrian city of Nimrud.