The Museum also serves as a repository for archaeological collections acquired during research conducted by UCLA faculty, staff, students, and other professional archaeologists. Documentation of the collections includes artifact catalogs, excavation notes, maps, and photographs. These collections serve primarily as an archive for teaching and research. The Museum is compliant with guidelines mandates by the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) and has been signaled out by the State of California for its exemplary efforts.

Archaeological collection areas include:

California
Collections from approximately 1100 sites, mostly in Southern California.

Southwest
Significant collections from the Rainbow Bridge-Monument Valley Expedition of 1933-1938 and several Parowan Fremont sites in Utah excavated in the 1950's, and other Anasazi and Hohokam sites.

Mexico
Includes objects from 218 sites, mostly in western and central Mexico.

Sudan
The Nubian/Egyptian fortress site at Askut is the source of approximately 60,000 artifacts excavated by UCLA archaeologist Alexander Badawy in conjunction with the Aswan High Dam Salvage Campaign, 1962-1964.

Old World stone tool collection
Includes tools from Europe and the Middle East.