Project « From archaeological site to museum: managing objects found on digs »

Taking in finds from recent digs, their long-term preservation, incorporating them into their collections and displaying them to different audiences are all on-going challenges faced by archaeological museums.

Responsible for the preservation of regional archaeology, Mariemont has over the years received objects found on many digs in the Hainaut region (Trivières, Fontaine-Valmont, Liberchies, etc.). Initial work on the collections in 2009/2010 evaluated and numbered the archaeological objects.

A new initiative is planned to take account of changes in the preventive preservation standards and the rules governing the registration and storage of the objects. It will include devising a labelling protocol for archaeological assets that takes account of several parameters (the representative nature of the collection, their storage conditions and suitability for museum display).

Partnerships: N. Authom, G. Dumont, O. Vrielynck, C. Ansieau (Wallonia Heritage Agency (AWaP)), Pr L. Verslype, F. Vilvorder (CRAN-UCL), Pr A. Dierkens, N. Paridaens (CRéA-Patrimoine ULB), Pr L. Van Wersch (ULiège),  Pr. F. Martin (UNamur),  F. Hamonic (Saint-Germain-en-Laye National Archaeological Museum and Estate), Archéopass (network of professionals of the archaeological museums in the Wallonia-Brussels Foundation), ArchéoMuse (network of professionals of the archaeological museums in France)