Practical Preventive Conservation Training: The Packaging of Archaeological Collections
As part of the Jaussen & Savignac Programme, supported by Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne in partnership with the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), Master 1 students in Archaeology and Preventive Conservation took part, from 11 to 13 May 2026, in a practical training course dedicated to the packaging and management of archaeological collections, held at the Institut d’Art et d’Archéologie of Paris 1, on rue Michelet.
The training, supervised by Prof. François Giligny, Dr Claire Betelu and Dr Charlotte Martin de Fonjaudran,, forms an integral part of the programme’s applied approach, which combines theoretical teaching, technical methods training and professional practice.
Practical Training at the Heart of Preventive Conservation
Over the course of three days, the students were introduced to the different stages involved in the care and management of archaeological collections. In particular, they worked on object observation, the assessment of their conservation condition, the identification of risks associated with storage, and the selection of appropriate packaging solutions.
The practical exercises enabled them to apply the principles addressed in their preventive conservation courses, while developing a critical understanding of storage methods, the materials used and the conservation conditions required for collections.
This approach is fully aligned with the objectives of the programme, whose second semester includes a course dedicated to the methodology of archaeological collections conservation, as well as a practical module on the packaging of archaeological collections.
From Observation to Practice
The students worked on the observation and analysis of existing packaging solutions, the documentation of objects, the identification of their conservation needs, and the consideration of solutions designed to ensure their protection and long-term monitoring.
They were therefore encouraged to consider the choice of materials and supports, the adaptation of packaging systems to the characteristics of individual objects, and the importance of accurate documentation to ensure the traceability and monitoring of collections.
Beyond acquiring technical skills, these exercises encouraged a deeper understanding of the challenges of preventive conservation, particularly the prevention of deterioration, the handling of objects, and the adaptation of storage solutions to the specific needs of each collection.
An Experience Supporting Collection Management
Master 1 students Faisal Sawlan, Renad Alqahtani and Wissal Ghounaim, together with Mayssa Abdulkadous, a Master 2 student, were thus able to develop their skills through an approach directly applied to the management and conservation of archaeological collections.
This practical training represents an important stage in their academic and professional development, enabling them to connect the scientific knowledge acquired in class with the professional skills, methods and reasoning required in preventive conservation.
It also illustrates one of the fundamental objectives of the Jaussen & Savignac Programme: to provide students with both theoretical and technical training, directly connected to the professional realities of archaeology and the conservation of collections.
