Archaeological Archives
Archaeological archives are frequently being held in temporary storage because too few museums or local authority stores have space, curators or requirement to accept them. FAME are working with our partners across the heritage sector to help solve the problem.
FAME undertook an extensive survey in 2012 of the problem for long-term storage of archives, and found there were 9000 homeless archives that had not been accepted by a museum or other repository. The artefacts, analysis and records undertaken in order to comply with a condition of planning permission, are frequently being held in temporary storage indefinitely by commercial archaeological organizations because too few museums or local authority stores have space, curators or requirement to accept these archaeological archives. Since 2012 the problem has become worse resulting in the potential value of archaeological archives being denied to the nation.
FAME are working with our partners across the heritage sector to help solve the archives problem.
- With Historic England we are looking for long term solutions to archive capacity;
- With the Association of Local Government Archaeological Officers we are discussing how to ensure archive issues are dealt with up-front during pre-planning application discussions, and how conditions can be better drafted to ensure deposition occurs;
- With the Society for Museum Archaeologists we are investigating how transfer of title can be simplified.
News and Updates on Archives
FAME position statement on archaeological archives
A survey of archaeological archives held by UK archaeological practices
Undeposited archives: we need your responses
Archaeological archives: joint FAME, SMA and ALGAO Statement of Intent
Presentations from ‘Trouble in Store’
Trouble in Store: facing up to the archaeological archives crisis
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