Up to standard: planning the needs of an archaeological archive

Abstract

Records and finds from over 1200 sites excavated in London during the past 25 years have recently come under the curatorial care of the Museum of London, generating one of the largest and most diverse archaeological archives in Europe. The museum's Conservation Department, which has been involved in the project from the beginning, is setting up a programme to bring both finds and documentation materials up to agreed standards for study and long-term care. This paper describes these standards and progress to date. The potential of the archive as a resource for evaluation of past conservation techniques is also discussed.