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Archaeology
'Collections of objects housed in museums and in private ownership are normally referred to as ‘archaeological' if they have been found buried in the ground or recovered from under water. They can be of any age, from Stone or Bronze-Age axes to Egyptian ceramics and figurines; Greek or Roman antiquities to cannon-shot and other objects from historic shipwrecks. Community archaeology and the popular hobby of metal-detecting are also producing collections of metal and other ‘finds', and mainstream archaeological excavations and investigations produce thousands of artefacts of many material types every year'. Extract from Care and conservation of archaeological materials (Icon)Find out more about caring for ...
Archaeological collections
- Pre-entry procedures (MDA) offers advice to ensure that the organisation is accountable for acquisitions or notification of potential acquisitions that occur before the items enter the organisation's premises. This can often apply to archaeological material.
- Bulk Accessioning (MDA) similarly offers guidance on whether and how to allocate one accession number to a large group of similar items, such as an archaelogical archive.
- This guide to Numbering (MDA) includes a section specific to numbering archaeology.
- Documentation Timescales (MDA) includes case studies relating to archaeological collections.
- Read a case study from The National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside on using archaeological material in handling collections.
- Go to Care and conservation of archaeological materials (Icon) on Collections Link for basic guidance aimed at those caring for these objects.
- Go to Standards in the Museum Care of Collections: Archaeological Collections (MGC) on Collections Link for detailed guidance on best practice aimed at specialist curators and conservators.
- Find out about relevant subject specialist networks in this field. There may be more than one network which is relevant to this subject, so this link takes you to the main networks page.
Other resources:
- The Institute of Field Archaeologists (IFA) is the professional institute for archaeologists.
- The Council for British Archaeology (CBA) is an educational charity working throughout the UK to involve people in archaeology and to promote the appreciation and care of the historic environment for the benefit of present and future generations.
- The Archaeological Resource Guide for Europe (ARGE) database contains links to evaluated internet resources (mainly web pages, but also other resources such as discussion lists) concerning European archaeology.
- Internet Archaeology is the first fully refereed e-journal for archaeology and publishes articles of a high academic standing which utilise the potential of electronic publication. Internet Archaeology is published by the Council for British Archaeology and hosted by the Department of Archaeology at the University of York.
- The Archaeology Data Service (ADS) supports research, learning and teaching with high quality and dependable digital resources. It does this by preserving digital data in the long term, and by promoting and disseminating a broad range of data in archaeology.
- Potsherd contains a large amount of information about pottery. It includes the Atlas of Roman Pottery.
- Longworth, Christine & Wood, Barbara ed. Standards in Action: Working with Archaeology, Cambridge, MDA and Society of Museum Archaeologists 2000
Contacts:
- Contact the Archaeology Group run by the Institute of Conservation (Icon).
Treasure Act and other relevant legislation:
- The Treasure Act 1996 requires all finders of objects designated as 'treasure', to report the finds. Finds must be reported within 14 days. The act operates in Northern Ireland, but the procedures differ from England and Wales. Scotland is not covered by the Treasure Act, but by Treasure Trove law. Find out more about procedures in Northern Ireland and Scotland on Collections Link.
- The Cultural Property Advice website offers guidance on all aspects of legislation relating to this subject, much of which will be of use to those holding archaeological collections.
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