Analíticas de los Fondos Museográficos

Analysis of Museum Collections for researchers

Researchers wishing to carry out analyses of items held in state-owned museum collections at the National Museum of Underwater Archaeology must submit a signed application addressed to the museum's management, emailing the form to the following address: documentacion.arqua@cultura.gob.es. The application must include the following:

• Introduction of applicant (full name, ID card number, postal address, telephone number, e-mail address, academic qualifications, CV and academic institution where the research project is to be carried out).
• Justification of the analytical research project (objectives and purpose), detailing the analyses to be carried out.
• Project director(s) and brief CV(s) of each.
• Identification of the individuals who will carry out the analyses. Type of analyses (with description as detailed as possible of the sampling process, location, measurements and analytical techniques).
• A list of the museum items subject to analyses, detailing their inventory numbers, dimensions, weight and two or three photographs of each piece.
• Estimated time it will take to carry out the analyses.
• The place where the analyses are to be carried out and the storage and security conditions.
• An indication of whether the study involves the transfer of museum collections. If so, provide the details of the transfer (means of transport, type of packaging, location where the items will be kept, environmental and security conditions at the location) and proof of an insurance policy covering the transfer of the goods from the time they leave the museum until their return upon completion of the analyses.
• A commitment to provide the museum with a copy of the results of the research as soon as their work at the museum has been completed; this will be added to the library's collection. This includes providing a digital copy, as well as copies of any photographs taken of the objects, granting the rights of reproduction, distribution, public dissemination and transformation of the same to the National Museum of Underwater Archaeology, on a non-exclusive basis. By doing so, the researcher commits to the shared use of the results of the study, which will be made available to the museum as part of the documentation of the artefact studied. For all graphic documentation, the applicant must sign the Commitment Document. The Museum, for its part, will respect the researcher's right to recognition of their authorship, identifying in all cases, unless expressly stated otherwise, the author of the works.

If the analysis of state-owned museum collections is to be carried out outside of Spain, authorisation will be required from the Junta de Calificación, Valoración y Exportación de Bienes del Patrimonio Histórico, a governmental body. In such cases, the applicant must complete the European Union Export Application Form.

In the specific case of analyses of museum collections belonging to the Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia, the applicant must also complete the Form for carrying out analyses of museum collections belonging to the the Region of Murcia. In the event that the analyses involve the transfer of goods out of the museum to elsewhere in Spain, the applicant must sign ANNEX I. Release conditions, as the release must be previously authorised by Order of the Director General of Cultural Heritage. If the nature of the goods so requires, an all-risk insurance policy must be taken out, with the Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia named as the beneficiary. The conditions of transport and proper packing of the goods must also be reported. If the artefacts are to leave Spain, authorisation will be required from the Spanish Historical Heritage Assets Classification, Valuation and Export Board, which is dependent on the state governing body. In such cases, the applicant must complete the European Union Export Application.

The artefacts will be handled in accordance with the conditions established by the museum to guarantee their preservation and their safety.

The National Museum of Underwater Archaeology will not allow any analyses to be carried out without express authorisation from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport or from the Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia. If this authorisation is granted, an appointment must be made sufficiently in advance to carry out the analyses. These will take place preferably on Mondays when the museum is closed, except in exceptional circumstances.

If the results are published, the authorship and museum of provenance of the goods shall be expressly indicated and two copies of the publication shall be provided, one to the Library of the National Museum of Underwater Archaeology and the other to the Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia.

The study for which the analyses are carried out is the intellectual property of the authors, although they grant the Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia the right to reproduce, distribute and publish it.