Anthropology museums are dedicated to the study of humanity, its culture and its development over time. They are often located in universities, research institutions, or other museums and serve as a repository for artifacts, objects of cultural significance, and research materials related to anthropology, the study of human behavior and culture. Anthropology museums can focus on a particular region or culture, on a specific time period, or on a specific theme, such as archaeology, material culture, or cultural diversity.

The purpose of anthropology museums is to provide an educational, research, and public resource for the study of human behavior and culture, both in the past and present. Many anthropology museums offer a variety of educational programs and exhibits, including lectures, seminars, workshops, and field trips. Some anthropology museums also provide access to library and archival materials, as well as to digital resources. Anthropology museums typically have a permanent collection of artifacts and objects related to their focus area.

These collections may include archaeological material, ethnographic artifacts, materials from various cultures, or objects related to a particular region or culture. These museums also often have special collections of photographs, manuscripts, maps, and other documents related to their focus. In addition to their permanent collections, most anthropology museums also have special exhibitions.