Archaeological Archive – Documentation Collection
In 1951, Edit B. Thomas laid the foundations for the systematic archaeological sites register, which led to the establishment of the Documentation Collection. From the outset, the scope of the collection extended to archaeological documentation from excavations conducted throughout Hungary. During the first four years, excavation reports and related documentation were arranged in alphabetical order; Hungarian-language manuscripts of articles published in foreign languages were filed under the letter X. From 1960 onwards, the system was changed to a chronological arrangement based on the year of submission.
The current scope of collection is defined in the official list in accordance with the provisions of Government Decree No. 68/2018 (IV. 9.). The collection registers and preserves excavation reports and documentation from various types of archaeological investigations. Its holdings currently exceed 23,000 inventoried items and over 30,000 accessioned records, and continue to grow significantly each year. As a result, it constitutes the largest archive and repository of archaeological fieldwork, excavations, and field surveys in Hungary.
The most valuable and frequently consulted part of the collection consists of documentation created before 1945, primarily by the staff of the Hungarian National Museum. In addition to their informational content, these materials also possess considerable museological value. The collection further includes a map library, containing large-scale drawings and maps highlighted within the documentation.
Contact: Zsófia Török, torok.zsofia@hnm.hu, and Laura Rácz, racz.laura@hnm.hu
Research of the Archaeological Archive is available by appointment.
Drawing by József Huszka of the fresco of Saint Ladislaus in Sepsikilyén (today: Chilieni, Romania), MNMKK MNM Central Archive, Archaeological Archive – Documentation Collection
MNMKK Central Archive, Archaeological Archive – Documentation Collection
Letter sent by József Hampel to Antal Lechner, pharmacist, about the Roman bronze tablet in Beremend, 1901, MNMKK Central Archive, Archaeological Archive – Documentation Collection
Surface plan and section drawing of Trench 2 from the 1927 excavation of the Bronze Age site at Tószeg by Lajos Márton. MNMKK MNM, Central Archive, Archaeological Archive – Documentation Collection.
