Crisis and Opportunity - Archaeological archives as a problem and a solution скачать в хорошем качестве

Crisis and Opportunity - Archaeological archives as a problem and a solution

Manda Forster and Sam Paul The long-term storage and curation of archaeological archives in England presents both significant challenges and potential opportunities for the heritage sector. Recognised as a crisis in archive storage capacity, legacy archives affect both private archaeological companies and regional museums, with many facilities at or beyond capacity and unable to accept new material from developer-funded excavations. Financial projections indicate steady sector growth into the 2030s, driven by construction industry trends, suggesting the archive storage crisis will only intensify as increased development activity generates additional material requiring long-term curation. This paper presents findings from a group of projects delivered under the Future for Archaeological Archives programme, with oversight of Historic England (2020-2025), investigating sustainable solutions for archaeological archive storage. While current systems face capacity and accessibility issues, archaeological archives also represent an underutilised resource that could deliver substantial public benefit if properly managed. The research proposes the creation of a National Collection of Archaeological Archives (NCAA) as a solution, incorporating a centralised digital catalogue, standardised protocols, and dedicated expert support. Consultation with museum professionals, researchers, and stakeholders revealed broad support for the concept while highlighting concerns about implementation, particularly regarding impacts on existing regional stores and institutional sustainability. We argue that while archaeological archives present significant storage and curation challenges, they also offer opportunities for transformative change in heritage management, research accessibility, and public engagement with archaeology.