Explore the rich diversity of humans and cultures through the exciting collections at Penn State’s Matson Museum of Anthropology. Penn State’s Anthropology Department is a world leader in the fields of biological anthropology, archaeology, and human behavioral ecology, and the Matson Museum tells the story of these exciting fields through objects from around the world from the ancient past to the present. This behind-the-scenes tour includes a look at student-produced exhibits and a peek into the rich collections in storage in the new Susan Welch Liberal Arts Research Building which opened in spring 2025.

Dr. James Doyle is the director of the Matson Museum and associate research Professor of anthropology. He is an archaeologist and museum professional who has organized major exhibitions on arts of the ancient Americas, participated in public outreach initiatives, and conducted archaeological and conservation fieldwork on ancient Maya sites in Guatemala. Formerly a curator at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Dr. Doyle obtained his MA and Ph.D. in anthropology from Brown University.