3rd Floor

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General view of the Third floor — Image by Alex Tran, alextranphotography.com.

World Cultures Exhibit on the Third Floor

The third floor will certainly captivate your attention with its historical and cultural content. It is also along the mezzanine where you will find the best views to admire the impressive architecture of the Museum. Looking down on the 2nd floor, you might discover specimens that you could not see when you were exploring the Dawson gallery!

What to look for on this floor?

Hominid Evolution

What makes us human?

Humanoid skull The first section of the 3rd floor is dedicated to an overview of hominid evolution. Discover the changes in physical characteristics in human species like Australopithecus afarensis, Homo habilis, Homo erectus, Neanderthal and modern humans. Learn about the diversity of the human family tree through our collection of replica skulls belonging to our ancient relatives.

Physical traits are not the only thing that makes us human. Behavior and culture also make human species unique. For example, the perfection of making and using tools is one of the things that sets humans apart from other species. On display you will find a selection of stone tools, which provide evidence of how early humans lived, innovated and made objects. Different artifacts in our display include points, scrapers, hand axes, blades, and hammer stones dating as far back as 2.6 million years ago.

Selection of tools

World Cultures

The World Cultures Gallery was designed to celebrate cultural diversity through the presentation of material from McGill University’s exceptional collections. During your visit, you will discover objects from Africa, Asia, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Oceania and the Americas dating from the Paleolithic to the 20th century.

Greek coin

Our displays address various historical and cultural themes inspired by the collections, such as early writing systems, ancient coins, Graeco-Roman theatre, Sri Lankan eye treatment and medical practice, Chinese dentistry, betel and kava use in the South Pacific, fieldwork in Papua New Guinea and African musical instruments. The exhibits are also meant to explore important questions relating to object identification, authenticity in the museum setting, and the tourist market.

Kana Sanni Yakka Mask, Sri Lanka — Image by A. Gibbs.

Ancient Egypt

Canopic Jar, Egypt The Ancient Egypt Collection is one of our most popular exhibitions. The displays explore the funerary rites and beliefs of the ancient Egyptians, and feature three human mummies, individuals who lived in Egypt approximately 2000 years ago.

Join us in demystifying the practices surrounding mummification and preparation for life after death. Admire the various ceremonial and religious objects that accompanied the deceased including amulets, stone vessels, and funerary masks.

Funerary maks, Egypt — Image by A.Gibbs.

Detail on a coffin, Egypt — Image by Torsten Bernhardt.

Can you find these?

When you are at the museum, try to find these artefacts! You'll discover so much more along the way!

Image	description
	Jug, Syria
	Samurai armor, Japan
	Thumb piano, Angora
	Human mummy, Egypt

Land Acknowledgement

McGill University is on land which has long served as a site of meeting and exchange amongst Indigenous peoples, including the Haudenosaunee and Anishinabeg nations. We acknowledge and thank the diverse Indigenous peoples whose presence marks this territory on which peoples of the world now gather.

The Redpath Museum's director EDI statement.

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