Thursday, April 24, 2014

Livingstone Museum, Zambia

The Livingstone Museum is located in the heart of the city of Livingstone.  Established in 1934, the Livingstone Museum is the oldest and largest of the four national museums in the country.  The museum holds a vast archaeological collection among which is evidence from the biggest trade market in central Africa and excavated finding of prehistoric Broken Hill man.  It also holds the largest collection of the biodiversity of Zambia as well as a rich ethnographic collection dating back to the early 20th century.  The museum also holds a vast collection of David Livingstone memorabilia, has one of the oldest libraries in the country and an extensive archive.
 The present Museum building was first opened in November 1950, although extensions have been added over the years. In 2003 the building underwent structural renovations and the public exhibitions were given a complete overhaul, bringing them up to date and enhancing them with modern and artistic ideas to make them more attractive to the visitor.
Collections:
The Museum holds the national collections in Archaeology, Ethnography, Art, History and various branches of Natural History. These collections comprise Zambia's largest collection of cultural artefacts and natural history specimens.  Among these is a large collection of artefacts relating to Dr. David Livingstone, from whom it got its name.
 Ethnography Section
The section contains the largest collection of cultural artefacts in Zambia, making up a total of over 12,000 collections.  These include basketry, blacksmith items, pottery and woodwork products.  It also holds a sizeable number of witchcraft objects and photographs on various aspects of local life from as far back as the 1920s.
 History Section
The section is the custodian of materials related to the traditional culture and the history of the people of Zambia. The section has in its collection, which numbers over 12,000 historical objects, rare historical documents, relics and obsolete firearms. The section's highly prized collections include Government publications of both the United Kingdom and the British South Africa Company (BSA Co.), North-eastern and North-western Rhodesia reports, Northern Rhodesian Government records, records related to the struggle for independence, Independence Day celebrations, economic, social and political activities in Zambia since independence in 1964 to the present. Others include historical manuscripts, photographs, newspapers (dating back to 1905), cheques, money and postal orders, stamps, historical maps, books, paintings and memorabilia related to Dr David Livingstone, including his hand written letters, some of which are on exhibition.
 Archaeology Section
The section holds about 10,000 site collections with over 350,000 archaeological artefacts from stone age to the iron age periods from all over Zambia.  Important collections include artefacts from Kalambo Falls, Mumbwa Caves and Ingombe Ilede.

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