The archival material kept at the Historical Archive of Antiquities and Restorations (HAAR) consists of approximately 12,000 archival files. It extends from 1834 up to and including 2014. Its archival artifacts (documents, photographs, drawings, books and objects) record the systematic interventions of the Archaeological Service to protect the monuments of Greece. The bulk of the Historical Archive consists of administrative correspondence, mainly between the Central Archaeological Service and regional archaeological ephorates, foreign archaeological schools and institutes, public and private bodies, as well as citizens. The majority of documents concern cases relating to the unearthing, safekeeping and protection of ancient and Byzantine mobile monuments, their exhibition at museums and in collections, their publication, the study and promotion of archaeological sites and monuments and, finally, actions for their inclusion in a legal protection regime. Equally important are artifacts documenting the steps taken by the Greek state for combating antiquities smuggling, for supervising antiquities shops and private collections, for the production, distribution and export of replicas of ancient works of art, and for the issuance of authorisations for study, photography and filming within museums and archaeological sites.
The archival material from the 19th century until the year 1909 follows a mixed classification, both thematic and geographical. From 1910 to 1966, the archival artifacts have been archived both thematically and chronologically. The year 1966 was a landmark in the administrative history of the Archaeological Service, as it saw the establishment of the Directorate-General of Antiquities and Restoration. At the time, the classification of the administrative correspondence produced by thematic categories was definitively discontinued and space-time classification (per year for each area of antiquities) commenced. This classification method, which continues to be applied to date, has further evolved over the years.
In 1973, as service needs increased, the Agenda was established for the first time as a key service tool for managing the ever-growing administrative correspondence. This practice, which ensured archiving uniformity, shaped the structure of the archival material preserved and remains in use to this day. The classification of cases handled by the central Service continued per year and per regional service of antiquities, and was further enriched through the attribution of a unique file number (f.). Thus, for example, during the year the new classification system was put in place, the Ephorate of Antiquities of Athens received the archival code F.01/1973.
The archival material preserved also contains data on expropriations, administrative and financial issues, while the proceedings of the Sessions of the Archaeological Councils from 1899 to 1989 and several other archaeological committees are very important for the administrative history of the Archaeological Service.
A large photographic archive consisting of black-and white-photographs of buildings is also kept at the HAAR as a distinct and standalone archive. This photographic archive is the collective result of an interdisciplinary working group formed in 1978 by decision of then Minister of Culture and Science Dimitris Nianias. The Working Group, whose main task was to compile the Archive of Monuments of Greece, proceeded with photographing neoclassical and other old buildings in Attica and throughout Greece (Aegina, Beroea, Edessa, Thessaloniki, Naoussa, Nafpaktos, Nafplio, Serifos, Skyros, etc.). The task was completed in record time under the coordination of Evangelia Protonotariou-Deilaki, then head of the Directorate of Monuments and Publications Archives (DMPA), and civil engineer Nikolaos Theotokatos. The black-and-white photographs are accompanied by photo and film inventory sheets, contact prints and negatives.
The collections of artifacts of deceased and retired officers of the Archaeological Service constitute a further category of historical artifacts. These collections were taken over by the HAAR during just the past decade. These are the remains of the personal archives of Apostolos Arvanitopoulos, Io Zervoudaki, Evangelia Protonotariou-Deilaki, Petros G. Kalligas, Zoe Evangelou, Melpo I. Pologiorgi, Yannis Sakellarakis and Efi Sakellaraki. By following each step of their lives from their University years until retirement, one obtains valuable information about both their work and their action, as well as the social conditions of their era.
Finally, the HAAR also houses the inactive archive of the abrogated Société Anonyme with the name ‘Unification of the Archaeological Sites of Athens (EACHA S.A.)’, which has been active for twenty years (1994-2014).
