The Ancient World Lives at Sao Paulo Museum de arqueologia e etnologia

The Sao Paulo Museum de arqueologia e etnologia was created in 1989 as a part of the Universidade de Sao Paulo’s initiative between the Institute of Pre-History and the departments of Archaeology and Ethnology of the State of Sao Paulo and the collection of Plinio Ayrosa of the Department of Anthropolgy. These groups and individuals gathered together to create an archaeological and ethnologically focused museum, one that would collect Brazilian indigenous history and combine it with a study of the Mediterranean world and the Near Eastern civilizations.

Today, there are over 120,000 works of art at the Sao Paulo Museum de arqueologia e etnologia, belonging to both permanent museum exhibits and also pieces from private collections dating back to the early 19th century. The museum has also gathered together its own share of acquisitions, including pieces from Italian museums.

The Museum’s intention is to bring together these pieces, preserve them, and educate those who are willing to learn about their place in history and the past from which the art was created. Archaeological and ethnological study helps the people of today to better understand who they are and where they came from – and it was the university’s hope that this museum would do just that.

The archaeology and ethnic museum of Sao Paulo also holds many educational programs, both centered around learning about the broader cultures from which the art pieces came, but also helping to understand how this applies in today’s society – in business, politics, daily interactions, and so forth. If anything, the museum is fully dedicated to increasing Brazilian understanding of its own history, thereby enhancing the people’s patriotism to their own country. In fact, there are even post-graduate study programs offered here, such as the Program of Archaeology and Museum Studies Specialization.

The Sao Paulo Museum de arqueologia e etnologia also holds exchange programs with other schools around the world, and even elementary school children are invited on tours throughout the museum! It is not unusual to see a blend of all kinds of people at the museum – young and old, locals and foreign visitors, from all corners of the world!

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