Studying the Archaeological Collections

Instructions for Material Requests concerning the Archaeological Collections

Follow these instructions when ordering archaeological collections to be viewed. A correctly prepared material request speeds up its processing. We do not process requests that are incorrect or lack necessary information.

Exhibition and research loan requests must be submitted to the Finnish Heritage Agency’s Registry at kirjaamo@museovirasto.fi.

1. Who may request archaeological collections for study
   • Students: those using materials for their thesis work from the Master’s level (pro gradu) onwards
   • Researchers: postdoctoral researchers, grant-funded researchers, research groups
   • Museum professionals: professionals implementing exhibitions
2. Submit your request via the Permit and Collection Service using the Material Request form. Requests submitted by other means will not be processed.
   • The Archaeological Collections are subject to access restrictions. Access may be granted for a justified purpose by clarifying the intended use of the materials. The Finnish Heritage Agency may refuse to provide materials for viewing. Free use of materials may be restricted, for example, by the poor condition of the materials.
   • The terms of the Permit and Collection Service can be found here: Palveluehdot
3. Formulating your request
   • Identify objects as precisely as possible using their KM numbers.
   • The format of the object number matters:
     • The number must be in the form KM1234:56, i.e., the KM prefix and numbers written together without spaces. There is a colon between the main number and the sub-number.
     • If the main number has only one object, you must still use a sub-number, i.e., the format is KM1234:1.
     • Using the correct format ensures that our logistics system recognises the number, making processing faster.
   • Attach an object list in Excel or CSV format to the “Attachment” field of the Material Request form in the Permit and Collection Service.
   • The form must include at least the columns: object number, object name, and site name.
   • In the Material Request form of the Permit and Collection Service, you can also add object numbers directly in the “Identifier” field. Use the same KM1234:56 format.
4. The service is subject to a fee for everyone except Master’s thesis and doctoral researchers.
   • The service is invoiced according to the Finnish Heritage Agency’s price list. The price is based on the time spent handling the objects.
   • Payments are made online through the Permit and Collection Service. We will provide a cost estimate for the materials request, which must be approved before the request is processed.
   • Separate materials requests related to the same research project are considered as a single whole and invoiced accordingly.

If your research project involves studying the Archaeological Collections, we hope you will contact us already at the planning stage at ark.kokoelmat@museovirasto.fi. We can then provide a preliminary cost estimate that can be attached to a potential grant application.