Workshop: Provenance data for archaeological objects: specific features, sources, methods, challenges

Provenance data relating to archaeological objects is a key component of information for their scholarly interpretation, legal assessment and ethically responsible handling. It forms the basis for addressing questions of origin, ownership history, collection contexts, routes of transfer, and the handling of illicit trade, looting and colonial acquisition contexts.

The workshop aims to bring together interdisciplinary perspectives on provenance data for archaeological objects and to discuss current research, methodological approaches, and digital and institutional practices. Particular attention will be paid to the recording, analysis and reuse of provenance data in museums, collections, archives and research projects.

Call for Papers:

Contributions may address the following aspects, amongst others:

• Methodological approaches to provenance research in archaeology
• Sources relating to archaeological objects: excavation documentation, collection archives, auction catalogues, dealer archives
• Digital recording, modelling and standardisation of provenance data
• Uncertainties, gaps and ambiguities in archaeological provenance information
• Archaeological provenance data and the legal framework
• Dealing with archaeological objects of unclear or problematic provenance
• Linking archaeological provenance data (Linked Open Data, standardised data, ontologies)
• Best practices from museums, collections and ongoing research projects

The workshop is aimed at researchers and practitioners from the fields of:
archaeology, museum and collection research, provenance research, digital humanities, law, archiving and librarianship, as well as related disciplines.

Submission of papers

Interested parties are invited to submit abstracts of no more than 300 words.

Please include:

• Title of the contribution
• Name(s), institutional affiliation (if applicable), email address
• Brief description (research question, sources, methodology)

Submission deadline: 14 August 2026

Notification of acceptance: by 1 September 2026

Presentation formats

• Short talks (20 minutes + discussion)
• Project or workshop reports (10 minutes + discussion)

Presentations and abstracts will be shared in a Zenodo community.

When: November 12 - 13, 2026
Maximum number of participants: 25

Contact & Chair
Angela Berthold
TA2 Collecting in NFDI4Objects
a.berthold@smb.spk-berlin.de