Finding an archaeological repository: a practical checklist
An object, a field notebook, photographs and a digital model may have different custodians. A good repository inquiry starts with the research question and the documentation already available.
Updated 31 October 2026 · archaeology.pro editorial
Identify the collection, not just the object
Prepare a concise description with any accession number, project name, collector, date and published reference. State which details are documented and which are uncertain. Do not invent a findspot to complete a form. Begin with a laboratory or repository in our directory; TARL illustrates an institution concerned with collections and records, while ADS is a digital repository.
Ask before visiting or depositing
Ask whether the institution holds the material, accepts research inquiries and requires appointments. Request its current access, deposit and imaging policies. Keep physical custody, digital access and permission to reuse images as separate questions. A model viewable online is not evidence that the original object is available for handling or that its images can be sold.
Build a traceable research trail
Record the institution, contact date, identifiers and source links. Preserve supplied metadata alongside your notes. Compare catalogue descriptions with independent research rather than treating a single label as authentication. Our Augustus record demonstrates how a digital presentation can document reported information while leaving identification and provenance limits visible. Use the DAA/CDA framework to distinguish the asset, its documentation and its rights.