The dust covers have come off and the showcases are once again gleaming to show off the fascinating collection of cultural treasures housed in the Pitt Rivers Museum, writes Phil Clee.

The exhibits go on view once again in South Parks Road this weekend after a year's programme of restoration and refurbishment.

These days, with global commerce, international e-mail conferencing and satellite link-ups, the world has never been a smaller place.

Millions of people on every continent - including many races in remote lands virtually unheard of even half a century ago - have now gained new knowledge and a fascinating insight into how other cultures exist at the dawn of this 21st century. But long before technology dissolved the barrier between races, knowledge of the world's most distant nations was brought home to Oxford.

Countless visitors to Oxford - not to mention generations of its citizens and students - have gained an invaluable insight into world culture through one of Oxford University's most popular public attractions, the Pitt Rivers Museum.

Founded in 1884 by Lt Gen Pitt Rivers, an important figure in the development of archaeology and evolutionary anthropology, the original collection centred on the general's gift of 18,000 objects, but has now grown to more than half a million artefacts.

Linking the ancient with the modern, contemporary British craftmakers have been invited to exhibit work alongside recycled objects borrowed from the collection, such as a First World War German helmet turned into a headhunter's dance hat by the fierce Naga tribe in India. The exhibition, entitled Transformations: The Art of Recycling, and designed by artist Robert Race, challenges the myth that recycling is a new trend invented by the West. Other works on view will include a basket made from packing tape, and a spectacular chandelier made from Pyrex cups and glasses.

Opening on Saturday, the exhibition will be at the museum until autumn 2001.

While the exhibits in the main collection remain largely untouched, it is hoped the restoration to the building will improve access to, and enjoyment of, its collections.

Improvements include new lighting, paintwork and the conservation of larger exhibits, which should allow visitors to appreciate the collection more easily.

The new roof, with its sophisticated insulation, will help preserve the collections for the century ahead. And the redecoration will provide a fresher and more airy feel for the visitor, without detracting from the museum's unique Victorian atmosphere.

The director of the Pitt Rivers Museum, Dr Michael O'Hanlon, said: "The past year's building work is testament to the University's commitment to its museums as the University's shop window for the wider community.

"This is reflected in the substantial grant which the Heritage Lottery Access Fund has announced that it is making to the Pitt Rivers and its neighbour, the University Museum."

Story date: Tuesday 21 March

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.