Destination archaeology

1798 - Future

November 21 2025 - February 7 2027

The exhibition Destination Archaeology invites visitors to discover how science shapes our understanding of the past. Aboard a time-traveling machine, the public is transported back to the 19^th century and journeys through the grand history of archaeology. It approaches ancient civilisations through the eyes of that era and explores the ideas that emerged from them.

Between 1798 and 1914, archaeology underwent a transformation. From Napoleon's Egyptian campaign to the discovery of lake dwellings in Switzerland, as well as the excavations of ancient, prehistoric and medieval sites, this new knowledge spread rapidly among the population and gave rise to stereotypes that the 20^th and 21^st centuries inherited. Will these clichés continue to influence us in the future?

Designed by the MCAH in collaboration with the Naturéum, this exhibition invites visitors to step into a time-traveling machine for an immersive experience covering more than 1,200 m², blending objects, images, science and imagination. It features five key dates, from 1798 to 1914, during which archaeology was invented and transformed, questioning the links between scientific knowledge, nationalist ideologies and representations of the past.

Over 1500 objects

Destination archaeology. 1798-Future recounts how these new forms of knowledge were built, based on 19^th-century discoveries in the Vaud region and across Europe, at the intersection of the past and the natural sciences. The exhibition also offers a critical counterpoint on these acquired knowledge, showing their profound transformation thanks to recent advances in genetics, dating and conservation-restoration.

To support these statements, the exhibition highlights over 1500 objects, human remains and specimens from the MCAH and Naturéum collections, dating from the Palaeolithic to the 21^st century and originating from Egypt, Greece, Italy, France and Switzerland.

Open every day except Monday
Grandes Salles (2^nd floor)