BC Archaeology
At the Royal BC Museum, our BC Archaeology collection cares for more than 215,000 artifacts that represent 10,000+ years of history—including everyday tools, clothing, and art from the people who called these lands home.
Why This Work Matters
Artifacts are like time capsules. They help us learn how people lived, what they ate, and where they lived. Many of our items are stone tools, beads, and kitchenware from everyday life. Studying these pieces helps us connect with BC’s deep history and understand how human life has changed over thousands of years.
Helping Science and Conservation
Our work supports students, researchers, and communities. Archaeologists use the collection to compare artifacts, study old tools, and learn about past cultures. We share the collection in exhibits, school programs, tours, and online resources. We also teach people about techniques we use to do our work, like using chemical “fingerprinting” on stone tools to find out where the rock came from.
Growing the Collection
Since 1886, the museum has collected artifacts from all over BC. Today, 99% of the collection represents Indigenous cultures, including stone flakes, bone tools, beads, petroglyph rubbings, and excavation records. These artifacts are carefully catalogued with details about when and where they were found. We add new items through field research and community partnerships.
Learning and Outreach
We want everyone to discover BC’s ancient history. We share the collection and our work through exhibits, school programs, talks, and digital tools.
Get Involved
You can engage by exploring our online collections, volunteering, or attending events and learning programs—your participation helps us share and celebrate BC’s human history.
While we prepare to move to PARC Campus in Colwood, we are temporarily limiting the number of new items we bring into the collection. However, exceptions may be made for items of cultural significance, research purposes, and repatriation of Indigenous collection items.