The Historical Archive of Antiquities and Restorations (HAAR) is the main agency responsible for the preservation, safekeeping, classification and documentation of administrative correspondence produced from the establishment of the Archaeological Service in 1834 until the year 2014. Furthermore, individual archival collections of archaeologists and architects have been donated and kept in recent years at the hospitable premises of the building situated at 22, Psaromiligkou Street in the Kerameikos area.
Our archival cultural reserve activities are complemented by openness actions. Particular emphasis is placed on aiding scholarship and continuously improving both physical and digital accessibility. Over the last decade, pupils, students, scholars, academics, professionals of all specialisations and citizens have consulted the archival artifacts. To date, approximately 10,000 archival boxes have been recorded. The majority of archival material, including recent acquisitions, has been classified, while digital recording and documentation work remains ongoing. Numerous publications, studies, doctoral theses, conferences, symposia, colloquiums, speeches, partnerships, exhibitions, digital programmes, educational activities, and guided tours have been carried out in order to promote historical knowledge.
The HAAR is one of the most important public historical archives which, after many relocations, was permanently housed in 2008 in a specially designed privately owned building. The two-story refurbished building – a former printing house – meets all the specifications of a well-equipped space intended to preserve historical artifacts: it features repositories, a controlled air-conditioning system, fire safety, an organised laboratory for the conservation of hard-copy material, a reading room, an exhibition space and offices.
