Destroying Nature: Histories of people and environments at the Great North Museum: Hancock

This trail highlights objects from the Museum’s permanent exhibitions through the lens of environmental history.

A taxidermy falcon attacking a heron

Dates

Saturday 26 July - Sunday 28 September

Visitor Information

Price

Free to take part. For more information, please visit the Welcome Desk.

Locations of the object labels 

About

A Trophy of a Changing Ecosystem 

Sophie Vintin 

This trophy head of a Thomson’s gazelle (Eudorcas thomsonii) was collected by British hunter-naturalist Abel Chapman in 1904 near the Enderrit River, in what was then British East Africa. During the colonial era, European hunters prized these heads of gazelles as status symbols, removing them from a landscape already undergoing change. 

Since this gazelle was killed, human activity has reshaped the East African landscape making safe habitats and food sources harder to come by. Expanding farmland and infrastructure have destroyed habitats, while changing rainfall patterns due to climate change make survival even more difficult. Once a common sight in eastern Africa, Thomson’s gazelles are now facing a population decrease that could threaten their existence. 

As the threat to their survival grows, protecting these gazelles requires urgent action and a long-term commitment to preserving their habitats. 

Explore a self-led trail that invites you to take a fresh look at objects from the Museum’s permanent exhibitions through the lens of environmental history - the study of the changing relationship between people and nature. 

This trail has been developed by History students from Newcastle University’s School of History, Classics and Archaeology. They were challenged to research objects on display in the Museum and re-write their labels. What can these artefacts tell us about the interaction of people and nature in the past? We hope that by drawing attention to human impacts on environments in history, we can re-think our future.

Destroying Nature is led by Dr Kristin Hussey and Dr Clare Hickman from Newcastle University alongside the Great North Museum: Hancock team. It is the result of a second-year undergraduate module on Environmental History taught in the School of History, Classics and Archaeology.

Object labels: 

Japanese Spider Crab

The remarkable Japanese Spider Crab is one of the largest known arthropods on the planet. Collected by Captain Henry St. John of the Royal Navy in 1877, this crab travelled all the way from Misaki, South Japan to the Museum right here. What makes this crab so extraordinary? The secret lies in the giant legs in-front of you.

When John Hancock opened the crab’s crate, two of its legs were mysteriously missing. Some of the legs that you can see are models. The story goes that the sailors who caught the giant crab ate the legs...however it may also have been some hungry locals in Japan who got their hands on them!

The Royal Navy were in Japanese waters in 1877 to protect military interests during the Satsuma rebellion. However, military missions often led to environmental exploration, such as the capture of this striking creature of the ocean. Captain Henry led surveys on Japanese marine life, aboard his ship ‘HMS Sylvia.’ He was accredited for ‘arduous surveying work in Japanese waters,’ and went on to publish a book about his environmental discoveries. Marine life plays a significant role in naval history, and without Henry’s voyages, this crab would not have become part of our museum collection.

Zara Jenkins

Little Blue Penguin

Do some animals have more value than others?

For the last 200 years, Aotearoa’s (known to us as New Zealand) landscape has been rapidly evolving due to colonization. Europeans have seen New Zealand as useful farming land for centuries. This has drastically changed the landscape of the country. The reduction of native species biodiversity is therefore a big problem. Alien species are of major concern to the Māori people. Pets and pathogens brought by Europeans are one of the biggest threats to native species decline. Island birds are most significantly impacted.

Little Blue penguins are viewed as spiritual animals by the Māori people. They have had little say on the conservation of their native species, although today there is more discourse on their protection. Native species are therefore put above alien species like stoats and rats. Grouse are however not native to New Zealand, but grouse and similar animals have been seen as valuable commodities.

Does this mean animals need to be of value to humans to have the right to live?

Annabelle Arnold

Dualities of Imperialism: Masculinity and the Period of Scientific Enlightenment

Is trophy hunting a representation of a hunter’s great achievements, or a declaration of brutality?

Many of the taxidermy animals you can see in the Living Planet gallery would have originally been hunting “trophies”. Since the 1800s, museums in places like Newcastle have been large collectors of natural history. During the Victorian era, British imperialists from the nineteenth to early twentieth century have long been fascinated by the taking of material artefacts from colonised places such as India and British East Africa. Hunting as a practice was taken up by those of wealthy backgrounds in order to flaunt their affluence as well as reinforce their masculinity. However, it was also justified by the pursuit of driving scientific knowledge of different species.

Understanding the context behind who owned these “trophies” can help us to better grasp how ingrained imperialistic culture is in our broader society. While today we are conscious of presenting displays that reflect British imperialism, we should also look to challenge such representations of histories by unpacking the narrative behind who owned these items and their connections to natural history within the museum.

Lewis Thompson

What is Trophy Hunting?

Despite being one of the Arctic’s strongest predators, polar bears are becoming endangered. As temperatures continue to increase, polar bears are at risk of becoming extinct as their habitats melt. Not only do polar bears face challenges from global warming, but they are also in danger of being hunted by people, especially for trophy hunting.  

Although it is less common now, in the past these bears were hunted for sport and taken home to be displayed. This bear was collected during a whaling expedition from Newcastle to Greenland in 1835. Polar bears were both a danger and a source of meat for sailors of these journeys. While the reason for this bear was killed is unknown, we can still see how human intervention has impacted this bears life span. Although many countries have banned polar bear hunting, Canada enables indigenous communities to continue to hunt them for resources like food and clothing. However, this permission is sometimes exploited by trophy hunters. 

Can we justify hunting like this for learning? Without, museums would be very empty, and we would not encounter specimens like this however does this mean trophy hunting should continue? 

Katherine Williams 

Extinction as man-made: the case of the dodo  

The dodo was a large flightless bird from the island of Mauritius. The last confirmed sighting of a dodo was in 1662, just 64 years after their discovery by European colonisers. The dodo tells a powerful story about the threat of human-driven extinction. 

Dodos were hunted by humans for meat. Predators such as rats, cats, and dogs were also introduced by colonisers to the island. These animals contributed to their extinction by eating their chicks and their eggs, which they only laid once a year in nests on the ground. Going extinct so soon after being discovered, dodos gained a reputation as slow, fat, and stupid birds. However, recent research suggests that they were slimmer than we thought, and similar in intelligence to pigeons.  

What you see here is a model of a dodo from the early 1900s made by taxidermists Rowland Ward. It is made out of dyed pigeon and ostrich feathers. It is only a guess at what a dodo looked like. In fact, there are no surviving complete dodo skeletons anywhere in the world, and most models are based upon partial skeletal reconstructions.  

Abigail Carr, PhD Candidate, University of Leicester 

What happens when a species thrives without natural predators? 

Deer overgrazing damages trees, shrubs, plants, and rare habitats like the Caledonian Pine Forest. This endangers birds, insects, and small mammals, like the vulnerable red squirrel. 

With no natural predators, deer numbers must be controlled. One solution is culling, but could nature provide an answer? Wolves were once crucial to the ecosystem, naturally targeting and managing deer populations. However, humans hunted them to extinction in Britain during the seventeenth century. Could reintroducing them help restore Scotland’s ecological imbalance? 

Deer populations have exploded over the last 200 years, largely due to human influence. Afforestation, changing agricultural practices, global warming and the extinction of predatory species have all contributed to this. Historically, elitist game hunting is also to blame. Through exclusive hunting rights and deliberate population management, it has ensured a steady supply of deer for sport. In the nineteenth century, non-native species like North American Wapiti were introduced to Scotland to breed larger trophy-worthy deer, further impacting populations. 

Human exploitation of nature has led to both species’ extinction and population booms, each with lasting consequences. How do we prevent further damage? 

James Whiteside 

Tools made with red deer antlers  

Here you can see three tools which have been made from the antlers of the red deer. The hammer, pick and mattock were everyday tools for Iron Age people living in Britain. These objects tell a story about thousands of years of hunting and the interaction between people, wildlife and the landscape. 

Red deer (Cervus Elaphus), Britain’s largest land mammal, have roamed Northumberland woodlands for 11,000 years. Their impressive antlers have long symbolised strength and wild beauty, inspiring family crests, legends, and songs. But beyond their image, the story of the red deer reveals how humans have impacted the environment. As forests were cleared for agriculture and estates, they were hunted for food and sport and exploited by the wealthy as a sign of power. By the eighteenth century, red deer in England were close to extinction. However, Victorian breeding efforts and the expansion of forests allowed their population to recover. Today, red deer are once again widespread, however they are currently unprotected from hunting. 

These antler tools, shaped by nature and human hands, reminds us that the relationship between people and wildlife is not just part of history, but an ongoing story of adaptation and survival. Today red deer are most commonly seen in deer parks throughout the country, be sure to visit and see them for yourself! 

Zara Jenkins 

A Harpoon from the ‘Unicorn of the Sea’  

This nineteenth century harpoon was crafted from a narwhal tusk, a prized material in Inuit culture. With a bone peg bound by sinew and leather, this harpoon was designed to be attachment to a throwing board allowing it to be propelled. This design made it a powerful tool for hunting. For generations, Inuit hunters have relied on narwhals for food and materials, skilfully using harpoons like this to survive in the harsh Arctic environment. 

Today, the Arctic is changing. As valuable ice melts due to climate change, narwhals face increasing threats. Rising ship traffic disrupts their echolocation, making it harder for them to navigate and hunt in the dark sea. At the same time, shifting ice patterns challenge Inuit hunting traditions, disrupting a way of life that has been practiced for centuries. 

Protecting narwhals and supporting Inuit traditions is becoming increasingly important as communities and scientists work together to find solutions for a rapidly changing Arctic. 

Sophie Vintin 

The ahu ʻula  

This ahu ‘ula is a re sacred feathered cloak from Hawaii, traditionally worn only by royalty and chiefs (aliʻi nui). Directly translated, ahu ‘ula means sacred garment for the upper torso. It was made by knotting thousands of bird feathers into a woven netting made of olona vine fibre. This cloak and others like them were highly important ceremonial dress pieces which were worn by only the highest rank of chief on the island. This ahu’ula was donated to the museum by Newcastle industrialist William Row in about 1835. 

The feathers you can see are from two different species of beautiful bird’s native to Hawaii: the ōʻō (Moho nobilis) and the Mamo (Drepanis pacifica). The use of feathers is particularly interesting, as Hawaii is a volcanic island the people had no access to rich minerals, therefore bird feathers were regarded as the most valuable material to use for such an important piece. They demonstrated wealth. Each chief had their own bird catcher who would adventure out and retrieve these exotic brightly coloured birds specifically for stripping them of their feathers to make these magnificent pieces of ceremonial clothing. 

These two bird species are now extinct, due to the use of their feathers for these cloaks, disease introduced by colonists and the destruction of their habitat. The ahu’ula are rare and they could not be re-created today. 

Matilda Courtauld  

Kiribati armour and weapons 

Kiribati coconut armour is a highly effective form of armour made by people in the Oceanic region. This example originated in the small Micronesian archipelago of Kiribati. These suits were made throughout the nineteenth century using the toughest material they had access to on the islands .... coconut fibre. 

The Pacific islands don’t have many natural resources available on them, so the coconut palm is a crucial resource. This armour was created to be able to withstand an attack from weapons, such as those made with shark teeth; another natural material used by the Kiribati people to help defend themselves. The armour itself was also sometimes completed by gauntlets edged with shark teeth. 

Which shark teeth did they use? There were two shark species teeth were commonly found - The Spot-Tail and the Dusky. These two-shark population are now no longer found in surveys taken on the reef population surrounding the Gilbert Islands. Since the nineteenth century these sharks have reduced in population due to hunting and changes to the ocean environment. 

Matilda Courtauld  

What is the price of what you wear? 

This is a Cree-made ‘Tockey’ jacket. It is crafted from moose hide and decorated using horse-hair cuffs and beads. An Indigenous woman named Sehwahtahoe made this as a gift for a European settler, based on the style of an English ‘grey coat’. The jacket demonstrates the cross-cultural exchange of colonisation and embodies the indigenous community’s’ harmony with nature. 

For indigenous communities, every part of the environment was a part of their spiritual family. No part of this moose was wasted. Hides like this became waterproof clothing while the meat nourished families, and bones became tools. Hunting was guided by balance and necessity. For Native Americans moose hides meant warmth and tradition. But European settlers changed this. European traders saw the natural beauty of the Americas as a way to get rich—this changed the ways hunting worked. Animals were hunted for gain and not because they needed to be. 
 
Today, billions of clothes are thrown in landfill, many unworn. If indigenous communities once wove sustainability into every stich, why do we still cling to systems which our planet cannot sustain? This jacket suggests it is time to reconsider our relationship with the environment around us. 

Luke Kininmonth 

Hunting on a melting planet  

Since migrating from Canada to Northeast Greenland in the late fourteenth century, Inuit communities have adapted to life in harsh, icy environments. People sailed in kayaks such as this to hunt seals and walruses to use for food, clothing and hunting equipment. 

Changes in the climate have disrupted the hunting rituals of Inuit people in the past, both during the cold temperatures of the Little Ice Age and in more recent warmer spells that reduced sea ice cover. This impacted levels of biodiversity and disrupted ecosystems in the water which affected the times at which Inuit people could hunt. When ice in the sea melts too early seals don’t have enough time for their coats to fully develop before entering the water. This means that when they are killed, their skins are unable to be used for clothing and trade as they are not thick enough.
 
Here we can see how climate change not only impacts when Inuit people were able to hunt but also the quality of their catch. Is it fair that they should have to adapt to the impacts of climate changes that are not their fault? 

Katherine Williams  

A Trophy of a Changing Ecosystem 

This trophy head of a Thomson’s gazelle (Eudorcas thomsonii) was collected by British hunter-naturalist Abel Chapman in 1904 near the Enderrit River, in what was then British East Africa. During the colonial era, European hunters prized these heads of gazelles as status symbols, removing them from a landscape already undergoing change. 

Since this gazelle was killed, human activity has reshaped the East African landscape making safe habitats and food sources harder to come by. Expanding farmland and infrastructure have destroyed habitats, while changing rainfall patterns due to climate change make survival even more difficult. Once a common sight in eastern Africa, Thomson’s gazelles are now facing a population decrease that could threaten their existence. 

As the threat to their survival grows, protecting these gazelles requires urgent action and a long-term commitment to preserving their habitats. 

Sophie Vintin 

A real merman? 

Is this how you imagined a ‘merman’ would look? 

There are several surviving specimens of ‘mermen’ in UK museums today, dating from the 1800s. This model is actually made from papier-mâché on the top, which has been moulded, painted brown, and covered in hair to look like a monkey. The bottom half is made of fish skin, and the jaw inside the papier-mâché head is also from a fish. 

This strange-looking object was likely made in Japan. It is thought to represent a Ningyo – a half-monkey half-fish creature from Japanese folklore. Ningyo were considered to be bad omens for those who caught them. However, it was also believed that if you ate one, it would grant immortality and health. 

Models such as this might have been sold as good luck charms or put on display as entertainment. But they were not made just to trick people – they also served to represent something which some people believed existed. Would you have been convinced by this merman? 

Abigail Carr, PhD Candidate, University of Leicester 

“Pretty Sparkie! Clever Little Boy!” 

To the public Sparkie Williams (1954-62) was known as the celebrity ‘talking’ green budgie. Sparkie had a vocabulary of over 500 English words, a record deal, advertising contract and the winner of the BBC Cage Bird Contest in 1958. Like other animals which exhibit human traits, such as horses that can count and an (alleged) talking mongoose called Gef, Sparkie was given special status. Is this because we value animals that act like us more than those who act like their own species? What does that say about how humans view themselves? 

This isn’t the whole story though. To his owner and trainer, Mrs Mattie Williams, he was much more than that. She said that Sparkie had become far more than a companion; he had become part of her life. 

Pets like Sparkie are examples of the complexities of human-animal relationships. Although there are always power dynamics between the owner and their pet, they can also develop deep emotional connections to each other. We might consider celebrity Sparkie as a bird who learnt to cleverly mimic human language, but Mattie herself saw them as having two-way meaningful conversations. Where do we draw the line between ourselves and other animals? 

Dr Clare Hickman, Reader in Environmental and Medical History 

The Untold Story of the Big Bad Wolf 

There is a story that we humans commonly tell about wolves. Fairytales such as Little Red Riding Hood say that wolves are dangerous and are the villain of the story. However, what if we are the villains of their tale? 

In medieval England, grey wolves roamed the forests: hunting deer, cattle and smaller rodents like rabbits or rats. When the Norman conquest began in England in 1066, they brought over an extensive hunting culture, with wolves quickly becoming known as ‘vermin’. Unfortunately, due to this, these wolves fell victim to near extinction in the late 14th century. Eager to control hunting grounds and protect deer for consumption, royal officials would pay wolf hunters known as luparii to eliminate them in their land. The wolves were their enemy. 

As a result of the characterisation that we applied to wolves, they have become completely extinct in England. It is imperative that we encourage the repopulation of wolves in order to protect the species from going extinct globally. While there has been some discussion about re-introducing the wolf to the UK, so far there are no firm plans to do so. 

Olivia Roberts and Daisy Gettins 

Natural Northumbria 

Balancing conservation with respect for Indigenous rights

For centuries, indigenous peoples have depended on whales for survival and valued them culturally, hunting them sustainably. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, European commercial whaling dramatically changed this, driving whales to near-extinction. 

This sperm whale jaw was collected by Captain William Lisle of the Lady Amherst – a whaling ship sailing in Southeast Asia. The museum’s records indicate it was donated in 1840, although it likely was acquired on a voyage between 1824 and 1827. By this period, European whalers had hunted whales for decades, killing thousands for their valuable natural resources. During the nineteenth century, whale oil rendered from blubber, became widely used in European industry. In 1817, over 200 streetlights in Newcastle burned whale oil. This commercially driven overexploitation of whales devastated indigenous communities by disrupting food sources and hunting traditions. Consequently, whale populations reached dangerously low levels by the twentieth century.  

Today, the International Whaling Commission protects whales from commercial whaling, while simultaneously regulating indigenous subsistence whaling. Such conservation acknowledges not just environmental concerns but also the cultural connections between Indigenous peoples and the ecosystems they have historically stewarded. These connections were previously disrupted by colonial capitalist ambitions.  

Can justice be served to both nature and culture?  James Whiteside  

How Can We Ensure That Hedgehogs Don’t Become the Next Generation’s Dodo? 

A much-loved part of our society is declining in population due to the rapid expansion of our cities, towns and villages: the hedgehog. The population of hedgehogs is estimated to have decreased by 500,000 since 1995! This has been accelerated by industrialisation and consumerism in the last 200 years. Despite the love that our country has for hedgehogs, we have failed to protect them from the harsh brick and mortar environment we have left them in. 

But how is a hedgehog like a dodo? The dodo became extinct for similar reasons. Human activity prevented the species from maintaining or growing their population. Extinction due to human activity is a historical issue that must be addressed. Humans are destroying the hedgehog population by building houses in their natural habitats – in other words by deforestation and the destruction of green spaces. 

We can do our bit to help biodiversity in our own back gardens. Many people create wildlife corners in their gardens to encourage small animals to rest and eat in a safe environment. You can do this for hedgehogs by supplying shreds of dead wood and food in your own garden. 

Daisy Gettins 

Northumberland’s last truly wild cattle?

Chillingham cattle have lived Northumberland since the 1300s, offering us a rare glimpse into England’s medieval landscape. With their striking white coats, red ears, and impressive horns, they are often seen as magical reminders of wild Britain. But how wild are they really? 

Once free-roaming, the herd in now enclosed within Chillingham Park, with fewer than 200 surviving today. Despite their small numbers, they have avoided the typical health issues seen in inbred populations, surviving through centuries of isolation. Yet their isolation is not ‘natural’: humans play an important role in their maintenance. Today, the herd lives in a protected area, and are closely watched to prevent extinction. But does this mean they’re not truly wild anymore? Their survival now depends on human care, yet they are still seen as symbols of purity and strength. But do these ideas reflect what it means to be wild, or are they just how people imagine wild animals? 

This cow on display was donated sometime between 1831 and 1921. Today, the Chillingham cattle remind us of wild Britain - but are they really wild? Looking ahead, should we continue to protect them, or let them live freely again? 

Toby Durrant 

God Save the Mute Swan! 

What makes a creature deserving of royal status? In the case of the swan, it’s no surprise that such a graceful and majestic bird holds this honour. With its striking white feathers, bright orange bill, and long, curved neck, the swan has long symbolised beauty and nobility. 

The swan’s neck isn’t just for show; it helps the bird forage efficiently, deep beneath the water’s surface. These qualities have made the swan property of the British crown since the medieval times, reflecting royal attributes of grace, loyalty and strength. 

Like the monarchy itself, swans have also faced significant challenges. Human conflicts threaten their existence, as some cultures see them as a nuisance and invasive, leading to population control. Pollution and habitat destruction also pose significant risks to their survival. As their name suggests, mute swans are quieter compared to other swan species, gliding gracefully across open waters. Yet, their calmness contrasts with their fiercely protective and territorial nature. 

Today, like the swan on display, they remind us of the delicate balance between power, tradition, and conservation. 

Toby Durrant 

Will your children ever see a bee? 

In this display you can see two different kinds of bumblebee. Both red- and white-tailed bumblebees are common in Northumbria today. They are known as ‘social bees’ – burrowing underground or under stones. With their furry bodies, colourful markings and distinctive ‘buzz’, bumblebees are well loved characters in many stories. They also play an essential role in our ecosystem as pollinators. 

But the bees are in trouble—our farms continue to destroy our rich nature. Harmful pesticides that confuse bees replace flower filled meadows. 97% of our wildflower grassland has been lost since World War Two. Today, more than 25% of bumblebee species are threatened with extinction. As we try to dominate our world, we make it more dangerous for these beloved pollinators. 

In the past century, humans have sacrificed animals and green spaces to industry and control. Without urgent change, bees like these will be lost forever and with them the delicate balance we need to survive. Both their survival, and ours, depend on choosing harmony with nature, not dominance over it. 

Luke Kininmonth 

An Unexpected Neighbour 

In Britain today red squirrels face extinction. They only remain on offshore islands and large conifer forests in England and Scotland. Their familiar counterpart, however, the grey squirrel, flourishes and remains a staple in woodlands throughout Britain. Victorians introduced the grey squirrel to the British Isles in the late nineteenth century and they have made their home here ever since. 

Because of this introduction, competition between the squirrels has become deadly. The native red squirrels survive on ripe acorns most commonly found in broadleaf forests with oak trees, yet the grey squirrel can eat a much wider range of food for its survival. To make matters worse, a disease known as parapoxvirus is deadly to the red squirrel but often asymptomatic in the grey. 

But is any of this the grey squirrel’s fault? After all, they did not ask to be brought to a new home. 

Olivia Roberts 

The Struggle with the Quarry, 1851, John Hancock 

Is this an artwork or a ‘true’ representation of nature? 

The Struggle with the Quarry is one of the most famous pieces of taxidermy in the world. It was created by naturalist John Hancock for the Great Exhibition of 1851. It broke with the way that nature had traditionally been portrayed. Rather than a calm, still representation of a single animal, Hancock added drama to his compositions – almost like a painting. His approach earned him the nickname, ‘the father of modern taxidermy’. 

Did this scene actually happen? Probably not. It is more likely a representation from Hancock’s imagination. When we look at taxidermy in museums, we often get the impression we are seeing an animal or a bird as we would encounter them in the wild. However, this piece reminds us that taxidermy is a particular vision of the natural world – crafted by the artist to create a particular experience for the viewer. 

Dr Kristin Hussey, Lecturer in Environmental History 

Destroying our Landscape for a Fossilised One 

This Sigillaria tree fossil was collected from coal measures in North Biddick, just outside Newcastle. Coal is formed by swamp plants, like the one that became this fossil, which existed in the North East over 300 million years ago. In a process called coalification, decomposing plants become organic sedimentary rock – or coal. There are not an infinite number of fossils like this. These take millions of years to form, and this is what makes coal a non-renewable energy source. Since the Industrial Revolution, we have mined these veins of coal on a huge scale to burn as an energy source. 

Mining has dramatically altered the natural and human landscape. Opencast mining is a method of digging or blowing up surface soil and layers of rock to reach coal veins. This causes the destruction of animal habitats and plants. Restoration plans are underway, yet these require the transplantation of plants and soil from other areas of the country. Coal mining and processing also releases metals and gasses into the ecosystem. This is damaging to the local environment and the global climate. 

Is it worth blasting and contaminating our natural landscape for an energy fuel that we will run out of? 

Grace Nelson 

The Exploits of Imperial Britain  

This ivory hair pin was excavated by the famous archaeologist Sir William Flinders-Petrie in the early 1920s. Flinders-Petrie is remembered as one of Britain’s most famous Egyptologists. He also was a eugenicist who believed that white Europeans were superior to other peoples. We can see his archaeological work as being a part of British imperialism.  

Britain colonised parts of Africa in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It exploited the land, people, and animals within Africa for the growth of its wealth. This has dramatically affected local cultures and the environment into the present day. Britain created museum exhibitions to establish power over colonised lands and their resources. Although objects like this one were created in the distant past, their presence in British museums reminds us of the reach of colonialism through formal and informal conquest.  

Do British museums tell us enough about their part in colonialism? 

Grace Nelson  

The trail is supported by an Outreach and Engagement Project Grant from the British Society for the History of Science (BSHS).