Creative Europe
Desk UK
for Culture

Archaeological archives consist of all material deemed worthy of retention generated by any type of archaeological project. This includes the historic artefacts as well as the written, drawn, and photographic records and the digital data about the site and its associated finds collection.
The successful preservation of the archive for the future benefit of the people of Europe depends on the implementation of best practice in creating, compiling, transferring and curating the results of every archaeological project. In 2008 The Europae Archaeologiae Consilium held a symposium on archaeological archiving, which revealed that many member countries shared common problems. The most pressing issues are the provision of good access to archaeological archives, setting and sustaining digital archive standards, wide variations in archaeological recording practice and maintaining good curatorial practice in order that historic artefacts and collections can be best preserved, displayed, accessed and circulated within Europe in accordance with the Treaty of Valletta, 1992.
The proposed manual for the creation, compilation, transfer and curation of archaeological archives, will bring together the recommendations of existing country and state-specific standards and guidance documents, provide standards where none currently exist, and provide guidance for implementation of shared best practice in all the participating countries.