Scientific collections and archives

The University of Bordeaux has a substantial number of scientific collections comprising reference specimens or scientific instruments required for research and teaching activities on the various campuses of the university, at the Floirac Observatory or at the Bordeaux Museum of Ethnography.

Links below in French

  • Bordeaux Museum of Ethnography

    The collections of the Museum of Ethnography include approximately 6,000 objects from the non-European world, mainly from Asia, most of which were collected in the late 19th century. (in French)

  • Collection of astronomy and astrophysics

    The Bordeaux Astronomical Observatory, founded in 1878, houses instruments, a large collection of astronomical photographs, books and journals, archive files, furnishings and miscellaneous objects. (in French)

  • Collection of animal biology

    Inherited from the collections of the University of Bordeaux Institute of Zoology and private donations, the animal biology collections hold some real treasures. (in French)

  • Oceanic core sample archives

    These archives contain a large number of core samples, i.e. cylindrical sections of sediment, which are used to help understand global climate change. (in French)

  • Paleontology collection

    The University of Bordeaux has a very rich paleontological collection of great scientific interest. (in French)

  • Botanical collections

    The Botanical Garden is home to approximately 1,800 plant species belonging to over 180 families. A wide range of trees and specialist plant collections in 26 beds are labelled and on display there. (in French)

  • Geology collection

    The University of Bordeaux has the only complete and representative French collection of the geological series of the Aquitaine region, the largest French sedimentary basin. The collection is of obvious national interest. (in French)

  • Prehistoric collections

    The Prehistoric collections are at the core of the activities conducted in the PACEA laboratory, given that all their research work is based on objects from archaeological digs. (in French)

  • Biological anthropology collections

    The PACEA laboratory has a large human bone archive, from a variety of geographical and chrono-cultural origins, which references the biological characteristics of past populations. (in French)