Alan Vince Archive
Medieval Pottery Research Group, 2010. https://doi.org/10.5284/1000382. How to cite using this DOI
Data copyright © Joanna Vince unless otherwise stated
This work is licensed under the ADS Terms of Use and Access.
Primary contact
Andrew
Sage
Hon Secretary
Medieval Pottery Research Group
c/o Museum of London Archaeology
46 Eagle Wharf Road
London
N1 7ED
England
Resource identifiers
- ADS Collection: 1000
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1000382
- How to cite using this DOI
Overview
Securing archives at risk: The Alan Vince Archaeological Consultancy Archive
In 1999, Alan established his own archaeological consultancy after gaining extensive archaeological experience at Southampton University, the Department of Urban Archaeology of the Museum of London (1980-1988), the City of Lincoln Archaeology Unit (1988-1995) and the Department of Archaeology at the University of York (1995 - 1999).
One issue arising from the sad and untimely death of Dr. Vince in 2009 was the fate of the material, data and documentation he collected during his working life. Amongst this archive is digital material, scientific data and samples (in the form of thin sections and the results of ICPS analysis), correspondence and reports, that retains research potential and is of value to future archaeological enquiries. Much of this material relates to the study of medieval ceramics, both pottery and ceramic building material, although other periods from prehistoric to post medieval are also represented. Amongst this work are three major projects funded by English Heritage - the UK Thin Section Database, Northern White Wares Project, and the Northumbrian Anglo-Saxon Pottery Project. In his lifetime Alan Vince amassed some 5,000 thin sections and scientific samples.
The Medieval Pottery Research Group, funded by English Heritage, undertook a comprehensive audit of the Alan Vince Archaeological Consultancy archive and made recommendations for the future security of the important elements of it. Dr. Vince's widow agreed to transfer title and copyright to the final curators of all the archive elements finally distributed as part of this project. Items were returned to individuals and institutions where appropriate. Archives lacking contact/commissioning information or belonging to commercial units which are no longer in existence were deposited with English Heritage. Thin section slides and off-cuts, ICPS powders and associated paperwork were deposited with the British Museum. Of the digital files, Alan's ceramic databases, reports and website were identified as critical items for archiving, including the AVAC ceramic catalogue, Ceramic Chemical Composition Database and his unpublished grey literature reports. These were submitted to ADS in January 2009.
