Research in the Social History Collections Department aims to interpret the history of South Africa through extending knowledge of the relationship between material culture and social life. Research findings will be made accessible to diverse audiences through publications, educational materials, and public programmes.

Currently research is divided into eight fields:

• Pre-colonial archaeology
• Historical archaeology
• Maritime archaeology
• Colonialism and resistance
• Domestic and family life
• Economy, trade and technology
• Culture and identity
• Contemporary history