Introducing EarthMuseum

Welcome to EarthMuseum, where you can explore a growing collection of curated global stories that reconnect heritage with its physical locations and the communities to which it belongs.

EarthMuseum offers both a fascinating journey and a powerful demonstration of a dynamic new approach to storytelling about our shared past. From artefacts preserved in museum collections and heritage sites at risk, to soldiers remembered far from home and songs passed down through generations, each story reveals connections that span places, people, and time.

There are countless opportunities to deepen our understanding of the world’s past and present through creative, immersive storytelling. EarthMuseum brings these connections to life, helping us discover how our histories continue to shape the world we share today.

Metropolitan Museum of Art Collections

Explore the world through the stories of extraordinary objects from The Met Museum’s collection. Our unique experience links artefacts to the locations where their histories and cultural significance come to life, creating a richer understanding of the people and places behind them.

Thanks to The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s commitment to open access, many collection images are available online and in the public domain. Follow these connections across continents and centuries, then continue your journey on The Met’s website for deeper insights and additional discoveries.

Zimbabwe Heritage at Risk

Zimbabwean heritage specialist Taurai Mudzudzi shares a selection of significant heritage sites across his country that are increasingly at risk from conflicting land use, neglect, and environmental change.

Through these compelling stories, Taurai issues a call for greater awareness, protection, and support for Zimbabwe’s rich community heritage. Too often overlooked and undervalued in contemporary society, these places hold profound cultural, historical, and social significance. They are not only witnesses to the nation’s past but also lie at the heart of Zimbabwe’s enduring sense of identity, belonging, and collective memory.

These stories were curated while Taurai was a student on the MA in Cultural Heritage and Archaeological Resource Management at the University of Winchester, UK.

World Shipwrecks (pre-1700)

Dive in and explore a world of heritage beneath the sea.

Since the earliest days of human history, people have been explorers, venturing into the unknown in search of new lands, opportunities, and places to call home. Crossing the oceans has been a vital part of this story of migration, trade, discovery, and cultural exchange.

Many who undertook these often perilous journeys survived to share their experiences, passing their stories down through generations. Yet countless others were not so fortunate. Some perished through choice, seeking adventure or opportunity; others were forced onto the seas through conflict, slavery, displacement, or hardship.

The shipwrecks scattered across the world’s oceans stand as powerful reminders of these lost lives and the families and communities they left behind. Beneath the waves lie stories of courage, tragedy, resilience, and hope.

In this curated collection, we remember those who never completed their voyages and honour their contribution, however brief, to our shared human history.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Discover some of the world’s most extraordinary places through this curated selection of UNESCO World Heritage Sites on EarthMuseum.

Recognised for their Outstanding Universal Value, UNESCO World Heritage Sites represent humanity’s shared cultural and natural heritage. From ancient cities and sacred landscapes to breathtaking natural wonders and remarkable archaeological treasures, these places tell the story of our planet and the people who have shaped it across thousands of years.

This collection invites you to explore sites that have been recognised for their exceptional importance to humanity, transcending national boundaries and belonging to us all. Through their stories, we gain a deeper appreciation of the diverse cultures, histories, traditions, and environments that connect communities around the world. As many of these sites face challenges from conflict, climate change, urban development, and tourism pressures, understanding and valuing their significance has never been more important.

Join us on a journey across continents and centuries as we celebrate the places that help define our collective human heritage and inspire future generations to protect them.

Aotearoa New Zealand Soldiers

A quiet churchyard in the village of Brockenhurst, near Southampton in the United Kingdom, is the final resting place of young soldiers from Aotearoa New Zealand.

Buried thousands of miles from their homeland, these men of both European and Māori ancestry served during the First World War and fought on the battlefields of northern France. After being wounded in action or weakened by illness, they were transported to the New Zealand No. 1 General Hospital at Brockenhurst for treatment and recovery.

Despite the dedicated efforts of the hospital’s doctors, nurses, and support staff, many did not survive. Far from home and their loved ones, they made the ultimate sacrifice in service.

Today, their memory is honoured each year on ANZAC Day by communities in both Aotearoa New Zealand and Brockenhurst.

This curated collection commemorates their lives by digitally reconnecting them with the places where they were born, lived, and grew up, celebrating the communities, landscapes, and memories that shaped them before war carried them far from home.

Sea Shanties

Sea shanties are far more than simple sailor songs. They represent a rich and shared cultural heritage that connected seafarers from diverse backgrounds through stories of danger, loss, adventure, longing, hardship, and hope.

Life at sea and on inland waters was often perilous. Sailors faced constant uncertainty as calm waters could be transformed by violent storms with little warning. Long voyages brought isolation, exhausting labour, and the ever-present risk of injury or death. In these challenging conditions, camaraderie, teamwork, and mutual support were essential for survival.

Sea shanties served many purposes. They helped crews coordinate their work, lifted spirits during difficult journeys, and provided a way to share experiences and emotions. Through song, sailors expressed their fears, celebrated their successes, and maintained connections to the homes and loved ones they had left behind.

Today, these songs offer a valuable window into maritime life and the wider communities that depended upon the sea for trade, travel, and livelihoods. While some lyrics reflect attitudes and language of their historical period that may be considered outdated or insensitive today, sea shanties remain an important part of our maritime heritage, preserving the voices, experiences, and traditions of generations of seafarers.

The Sea Shanties stories on EarthMuseum have been curated by Joe Neal, a volunteer and postgraduate student at the University of Winchester.