Destination's Journey

Category: Archaeology

  • Machu Picchu at the Australian Museum Sydney

    Machu Picchu at the Australian Museum Sydney

    Machu Picchu at the Australian Museum Sydney

    Open until the 23rd of February 2025 at the Australian Museum in Sydney, Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru is a unique opportunity to experience Andean culture in Sydney. With over 130 artifacts from five Peruvian Empires to see it’s an amazing experience.

    Getting There

    The Domain carpark is the closest secure parking spot to the museum, being only a ten-minute walk away.

    Getting there using Sydney’s public transport system is easy, with the Museum, St James and Town Hall train stations all within a ten-minute walk of the museum. Bus stops along Elizabeth Street, next to Hyde Park are another great option to get there.

    Tickets

    Access to the exhibition is by paid ticket. As this is proving to be very popular, it’s advisable to book ahead online to ensure you get in.

    The Exhibition

    Everyone starts with a short audio-visual presentation explaining the history and mythology of the Peruvian Empires. It concentrates primarily on the Mocha-culture and its hero-god Ai Apaec.

    Once the presentation is complete, access to the displays is left to your own timing. An hour is recommended, but it would be easy to take longer. The initial exhibits show the beautiful craftmanship used to make jewelry, pottery and other objects. Many of them depict the struggles of Ai Apaec who ensures the return of the rains each season.

    The final exhibits are magnificent gold funerary and religious regalia. Only the most important members of society were allowed to wear these gold and silver items. Being buries with them carried their status into the after life.

    What Did We Think?

    If you have an interest in history or South America, this is a must-see while it’s in Sydney. The amazing range of exhibits, particularly the gold regalia makes this a highly recommended exhibition to visit.

    Stele representing a Goddess Chavin Culture 1250 BCE - 100 BCE
    Stele representing a Goddess Chavin Culture 1250 BCE – 100 BCE
    Crystal drop necklace Moche Culture 100-800 CE
    Crystal drop necklace Moche Culture 100-800 CE
    Owl God ceramic pitcher Moche Culture 100-800 CE
    Owl God ceramic pitcher Moche Culture 100-800 CE
    Warrior Lord. Ceramic stirrup spout bottle. Moche Culture 100-800 C.E.
    Warrior Lord. Ceramic stirrup spout bottle. Moche Culture 100-800C.E.
    Flaring Bowl showing episodes of the mythological epic of Ai Apaec Moche Culture 100-800 C.E.
    Flaring Bowl showing episodes of the mythological epic of Ai Apaec Moche Culture 100-800 C.E.
    Priest's Head stirrup-spout bottle. Moche culture 100-800C.E.
    Priest’s Head stirrup-spout bottle. Moche culture 100-800C.E.
    Ear flares featuring a mosaic bird warrior Mocha Culture 100-800C.E.
    Ear flares featuring a mosaic bird warrior Mocha Culture 100-800C.E.
    Gold Crown. Chimu culture 1100-1470C.E.
    Gold Crown. Chimu culture 1100-1470C.E.
    Tumi, a ceremonial sacrifice knife. Moche Culture 100-800C.E.
    Tumi, a ceremonial sacrifice knife. Moche Culture 100-800C.E.
    Ceremonial Cup with Mythological Fertility Scenes Lambayeque Culture 700-1300 C.E.
    Ceremonial Cup with Mythological Fertility Scenes Lambayeque Culture 700-1300 C.E.
    Gold imperial regalia. Likely from one of the nine rulers of the Chimu Empire. 1100-1470C.E.
    Gold imperial regalia. Likely from one of the nine rulers of the Chimu Empire. 1100-1470C.E.
    Warrior's armour. Moche Culture 100-800C.E.
    Warrior’s armour. Moche Culture 100-800C.E.
    Funerary crown Vicus Culture 100-400 CE
    Funerary crown Vicus Culture 100-400 CE
  • Parbury Ruins

    Parbury Ruins

    Parbury Ruins

    Located on the corner of Pottinger and Windmill Streets in Millers Point, Sydney, the Parbury Ruins were uncovered during the construction of an apartment block. Once excavated and recorded by archaeologists, the developers modified their design to retain the ruins, preserving them.

    Access to the underground area is by appointment only, or during special open days. We booked tickets through Sydney Open, but they are also available from Museums of History New South Wales . If you are unable to book tickets, there are three windows displays showcasing broken ceramics and other items excavated from the ruins.

    The ruins consist of the footings of a two-bedroom cottage from the 1820s, as well as the remains of a stone kitchen with a fireplace and a sink. Outside the dwelling are remnants of a verandah and a well. The well had been filled in, but contained the remains of ceramics and other items, many of which are on display.

    Originally a dockworker’s home, the cottage was built of sandstone blocks cut by convicts from a local quarry. The cottage was probably demolished by the late 1860s or early 1870s when new wharves and bond stores were developed in the area.

    A guide took us through the ruins, explaining the history and likely uses of the different rooms. Access is by stairs, so is not wheelchair accessible. Once you have descended the stairs, you walk over the original floor and get a very close look at the sandstone structure.

    This was a fun visit and it’s great that the ruins have been preserved for the future.

    Original outside wall area Parbury Ruins
    Original outside wall area looking over the ruins to the entrance at ground level
    Kitchen area Parbury Ruins
    Kitchen area
    Fireplace in the kitchen area
    Fireplace in the kitchen area
    Holes for floor beams in the wall for the upper story
    Holes for floor beams in the wall for the upper story
    Filled in well Parbury Ruins
    Filled in well
    Artifacts on Display
    Artifacts on Display
  • Discover Ancient Egypt in Canberra

    Discover Ancient Egypt in Canberra

    Discover Ancient Egypt At The National Museum of Australia in Canberra

    On display until 8 September 2024 at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra, Discover Ancient Egypt displays fascinating artifacts from the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities (Rijksmuseum van Oudheden).

    What’s on Display

    Entering the museum, you are greeting by a statue of Anubis, the Egyptian god of funerary rites, protector of graves, and guide to the underworld. From here, the displays take you through the lives of ancient Egyptians, with an emphasis on the funerary process.

    Statue of Anubis at the Entrance to the Australian Museum Discover Ancient Egypt in Canberra
    Statue of Anubis at the Entrance to the Australian Museum

    Stelae

    Used for a variety of purposes, stelae are stone or wooden slabs containing information. Uses included burial markers placed outside tombs, monuments that commemorated special events, the marking of boundaries or made offerings to gods. As such they provide a great inside to the thinking of the Egyptians.

    Funerary stela of Hor, Late period 26th Dynasty c.664-525 BCE
    Funerary stela of Hor, Late period 26th Dynasty c.664-525 BCE
    Limestone offering stela of Khu and his family, Middle Kingdom, 12th Dynasty, c.1878-1843 BCE
    Limestone offering stela of Khu and his family, Middle Kingdom, 12th Dynasty, c.1878-1843 BCE
    Stela of Pamaaf, showing Pamaaf making an offering to Re-Horakhty and a figure of Ptah-Sokar-Osiris Discover Ancient Egypt in Canberra
    Stela of Pamaaf, showing Pamaaf making an offering to Re-Horakhty and a figure of Ptah-Sokar-Osiris
    Limestone offering stela, 12th Dynasty, c.2080-1940 BCE Discover Ancient Egypt in Canberra
    Limestone offering stela, 12th Dynasty, c.2080-1940 BCE

    Sarcophagi and Coffins

    This was one of the largest parts of the display, with 10 coffins on display. The detail of the decorations used on them really has to be seen to be appreciated. Not only are the outsides covered, but the interior as well.

    Also in this section, were several mummies. To demonstrate the latest scientific techniques used an interactive display allowed us to see what a 3D scan revealed. This meant that the interior and composition of the mummy could be determined without unwrapping and damaging the body inside.

    Cartonnage of Nehemsu, 22 Dynasty, 943-746 BCE
    Cartonnage of Nehemsu, 22 Dynasty, 943-746 BCE
    Inner coffin of Amenhotep - High Priest of Amun, 21st Dynasty 1076-944 BCE
    Inner coffin of Amenhotep – High Priest of Amun, 21st Dynasty 1076-944 BCE
    Detail of the Inner coffin of Amenhotep 1076-944 BCE Discover Ancient Egypt in Canberra
    Detail of the Inner coffin of Amenhotep 1076-944 BCE
    Coffin of Haytemhat, Late Period 722-332 BCE
    Mummy cover of Khonsuhotep, Third Intermediate Period 1076-944 BCE
    Mummy cover of Khonsuhotep, Third Intermediate Period 1076-944 BCE
    Inner coffin of Khonsuhotep, Third Intermediate Period 1076-944 BCE
    Inner coffin of Khonsuhotep, Third Intermediate Period 1076-944 BCE
    Coffin of Haytemhat, Late Period, c.722-332 BCE Discover Ancient Egypt in Canberra
    Coffin of Haytemhat, Late Period, c.722-332 BCE

    Canopic Jars

    During the mummification process, the internal organs and brain were removed. As these would be needed in the afterlife, they were stored in canopic jars. On display, were a series of jars, showing how the designed changed from square boxes, to stone jars.

    Canopic chest, Late Period, 722-322 BCE Discover Ancient Egypt in Canberra
    Canopic chest, Late Period, 722-322 BCE
    Three canopic jars
    Three canopic jars

    Burial Goods

    To ensure the dead enjoyed the afterlife, the tombs contained objects they would need. This could be as simple as a model of a boat, or a complex diorama showing the making of bread and the brewing of beer, to ensure that these were is plentiful supply.

    Winged scarab, representing the rising sun
    Winged scarab, representing the rising sun
    Tomb statue of Hormin 19th Dynasty, 1290-1213 BCE
    Tomb statue of Hormin 19th Dynasty, 1290-1213 BCE
    Pyramidion of Pauty, New Kingdom 1539-1077 BCE
    Pyramidion of Pauty, New Kingdom 1539-1077 BCE
    Ship model 722-322 BCE
    Ship model 722-322 BCE
    Model Granary, Middle Kingdom 1980-1760 BCE Discover Ancient Egypt in Canberra
    Model Granary, Middle Kingdom 1980-1760 BCE

    What Did We Think?

    This was a fantastic exhibition and highly recommended to anyone who likes archaeology or ancient history. Laid out with plenty of detailed descriptions, the displays are amazing. If you’re in Canberra while it’s on, it’s a great way to see Egyptian artifacts without leaving the country.

    Replica of the Rosetta Stone
    Replica of the Rosetta Stone

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