Archaeological Collections Conservation and Care

Archaeological collections encompass a wide range of objects and materials, spanning from prehistory to modern times. The conservation of these collections has evolved from being expert-led to increasingly involving community-based approaches. This new area of focus for the Getty Conservation Institute’s Collections department aims to address the challenges associated with such collections—many of which are stored in varied contexts, often with limited or no resources for preservation or interpretation for broader audiences. 

Our focus is on conducting projects based on needs assessments with the goal of advancing conservation practice and care of these collections, while fostering cross-disciplinary dialogue. We collaborate with key stakeholders, including local communities, to build capacity for caring for their collections, advancing knowledge, and developing innovative conservation approaches and methods.