Frequently Asked Questions

Not all collections and archives are available online. Records are posted online as objects and archives are described, classified and digitised.

Some records sometimes refer to groups of objects or specimens. Like most museums dedicated to disciplines such as geology, zoology, archaeology, ethnology, etc., the Musée des Confluences is characterised by the digital importance of its collections. Sets that are deemed ‘uncountable’ are sometimes inventoried in batches rather than piece by piece or specimen by specimen when this is of no practical or scientific interest.

Finally, descriptive records of audio and audiovisual recordings can be consulted on the portal without their associated documents.

The information in the records is completed and updated as needed or during the specific study of a collection.

For example, ‘old’ scientific names are those that appear on specimen labels or inventory records. These obsolete names are useful for documenting objects, searching for ‘types’ (the standard specimen used as a reference by the scientific community for any new species described) or historical specimens. Names are updated with current nomenclature when specimens are reviewed by scientists. The old name is retained, but the updated name becomes the primary name.

The vernacular name is the common name used to refer to an animal or plant. It is also referred to as English name, the colloquial name, the country name, the popular name or the farmer’s name (for example, the vernacular name for Passer domesticus is sparrow).

For a truly effective and more reliable search, it is best to use the scientific name, either by typing it directly into the search bar or by selecting the ‘Scientific name’ search criterion. You can easily find existing scientific names on the web.

A small number of vernacular names have already been entered into our database, but most of the specimens we keep do not have one; only the most common and easily recognisable species (mammals, birds, etc.) and species of agronomic or economic interest have one. This name sometimes refers to an entire family or genus and not just the species to which the specimen belongs. It may even refer to several different species that are not directly related. Furthermore, while there is only one valid scientific name used worldwide, the same animal may have several common names in use in France alone.

You may send us a suggested correction, additional information, or any other update concerning an object or archive record by sending a message from the contact page.

You can write to us using the form provided on each notice or contact us, quoting the item’s inventory number or reference code.

The images are licensed under Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND. The terms of use are as follows: credit associated to the images must be given, commercial use of the images is prohibited, and transformed or modified images may not be shared under any circumstances.

You may refer to an object or archive document in your research by citing the mandatory references at the end of the record, correctly identifying an object by its prefix and inventory number, and identifying an archive document by its reference code.

You may use the data, images and documents on the portal for personal use.
If your project is to be published, the CC-BY-NC-ND licence applies to all data used.

The collections of the Musée des Confluences are sourced from donations, bequests, purchases and field missions in cooperation with local partners.

The museum chooses to incorporate new objects or specimens based on their scientific, historical or artistic interest and their suitability for the museum’s scientific and cultural project. Proposals are first submitted to an internal committee, which ensures that checks are carried out to document the history of the items. They are then submitted to the museum’s board of directors for approval. Finally, in order to acquire the status of ‘Musée de France’ collections, the objects must be presented to a regional scientific commission responsible for acquisitions, headed by the Regional Directorate for Cultural Affairs (DRAC).

The museum’s collections belong to the public domain of the public authority and are therefore, as such, inalienable and imprescriptible.

In addition to the public archives it produces, the Musée des Confluences also preserves private archives, which are enriched by gifts, donations, bequests and purchases. The inclusion of a private archive collection is chosen on the basis of its scientific, artistic or historical interest and its consistency with the themes, collections or history of the institution. The choice is made in consultation with the curators, then submitted to an internal committee and approved by the museum’s board of directors.

Like the collections, all of the museum’s archives are inalienable and imprescriptible.

The Musée des Confluences holds public collections that are inalienable and imprescriptible. Under the French Heritage Code, the Musée des Confluences does not have the power to return property on its own initiative, and French law does not currently allow for the return of objects. Discussions are underway at French and European levels to promote dialogue and provide a legal framework for this issue.

In 2012, like other European institutions, the Musée des Confluences returned two toi moko (Maori heads) under the provisions of Law No. 2010-501 of 18 May 2010 authorising the return of Maori heads from France to New Zealand.

The creation of tangible and intangible collections in the field enables close collaboration with the indigenous peoples partnering in the project and allows objects documented through photography and video, among other means, to be added to heritage collections. This combination of documentary data provides a better understanding of the object in its original cultural context.

In the natural sciences, field excavations and collections facilitate the entry into the collection of targeted and often previously unseen material. The methodologies put in place enable the collection of a wealth of information that will prove essential for the scientific exploitation of the specimens collected.

These methods of enriching the collections directly in the field are carried out in accordance with the ethical standards promoted by the International Council of Museums (ICOM), in line with the guidelines set by the institution’s acquisition policy and with the existing object collection at the Musée des Confluences.

The reserves are not intended to be open to the public in order to ensure the proper conservation and security of the collections.

The objects in storage are intended to be displayed in temporary exhibitions at the Musée des Confluences or in other venues. They are also incorporated into the permanent exhibition when certain sections are renewed.
The objects, specimens and archives are intended to serve the purpose of knowledge and may be studied on request, by appointment only, as part of specific and justified projects.

To request access to the collections or archives on site, please write to us.

Many of the animals are old and come from the former natural history museum in Lyon. In the past, they were purchased from merchants, donated by collectors or hunted. From the mid-19th century onwards, specimens that had died at the parc de la Têt d’Or’s zoo in Lyon also began to enrich the museum’s collections. Today, the animals preserved by the museum died in various zoos; when the species is protected, a certificate attests to the legality of the specimen. Finally, some may also come from donations from customs authorities or High Courts (France) that have seized them.

There are coherent sets of documents called fonds or accruals. These sets are produced by the same person or institution. To help users navigate these fonds, archivists produce finding aids (called ‘inventories’ in the portal). These allow users to browse through an entire fonds. Items, on the other hand, describe a specific document or small set of documents in detail.

If you think that an object or archive in your possession may be of interest to the museum, please write to us. Please attach photos, a description of the object or archive, and how you obtained it.